Easy pickings for Toona Ciliata

TOONA CILIATA, who will never be heavier than 126lb at distances in excess of seven furlongs, no matter how many times he beats the same rivals, has been tossed another set of toys in Saturdays 'open allowance/graded stakes' at seven and a half furlongs.

Enjoying his guaranteed weight in the Viceroy Trophy a month ago, TOONA CILIATA ran the year's fastest mile, clocking 1:36.2 after getting rid of SIR ALTON in a six-furlong split of 1:09.4, winning by a haughty four lengths.

SIR ALTON returns at roughly the same weight. ROY ROGERS is up in class, sitting almost level with SIR ALTON. SENTIENT is down three pounds for an 11-length walloping from TOONA CILIATA in the Viceroy Trophy whereas KING ARTHUR reports 19 or so pounds lighter than his derby win but needs another 10lb to make up for the class needed to topple the country's top handicapper.

NIPSTER falls into the same boat with KING ARTHUR, both taking a leap from three-year-old company to face unrelenting pace from TOONA CILATA, who used 130lb to clock 1:19.2, chasing PATRIARCH off the lead at six and a half furlongs in July.

MARQUESAS caught the eye on his return to form on October 23, a marker race from which winners such as ROY ROGERS, PRINCESS ANNIE and Saturday's stunner, JAMAI RAJA, all emerged.

A runaway winner of the St Leger two years ago, MARQUESAS continues to look razor-sharp at exercise and will possibly be getting 16lb from TOONA CILIATA. He had clocked an impressive 1:45.0 for eight and a half furlongs, carrying 116lb, suggesting he could be back to his best and worth a shot at the exacta.