Campesino for Seek Back To School trophy

CAMPESINO should be rewarded for his consistency when he takes on 11 rivals, in the ninth running of the Seek Exercise Book Back to School Trophy, over 1,300 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Sponsored by Book Empire Limited, which has donated trophies to each of the 10 remaining races on the programme - all carrying the names of Seek products - the feature looks to be the ideal vehicle to provide the Philip Feanny-trained CAMPESINO with a deserving victory.

When last raced on May 22, CAMPESINO failed by a length to catch champion sprinter POKER STAR in the grade one Lotto Sprint Trophy over 1,100 metres, beaten in the fast time of 1:04.3.

The four-year-old colt has met and performed well against all the top horses in the country for the better part of a year and even with good form present in today's lineup, will not be easily denied with champion apprentice Linton Stedman reducing the weight to 55.0kg.

PRINCIPAL DANGER

CAMPESINO beat subsequent winner BRAWN rather convincingly over 1,200 metres some weeks ago and the Gary Subratie-trained BRAWN, with Aaron Chatrie again in the saddle, has been a revelation since. The American bred four-year-old colt looks the principal danger in a race where the 2015 Oaks winner MOM'S STUDENT and recent winner DREAMCOMETRUE should also run creditably.

CAMPESINO has worked very well in preparation for this trophy, galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1.07.3 and with the distance just perfect, should capture the major share of the $1-million purse.

Elsewhere on the card, TRADITIONAL PRINCE, who elected to bypass the Seek Trophy to run in the opening race over the round-five course for overnight-allowance horses, should easily outclass his five opponents for the Seek Pack Plaque as he now has little to beat.

I also like COMMANDING AVIATOR in the second, VIJEETA in the fourth, the unbeaten filly MISS FIESTY (working impressively) in the fifth, VISION in the seventh and COLORS OF WAR in the 11th and final.