Laban’s form should prevail

DESPITE finishing three lengths behind MONEY MONSTER at five furlongs round on February 28, Richard Azan's LABAN appears to have maintained his form better, twice finishing ahead of his rival in subsequent races, which should hand the run-on sprinter Friday's overnight allowance at six furlongs.

MONEY MONSTER sprung to life on February 7, striking at odds of 3-1 with in-form claiming rider Youville Pinnock, his second run off a three-month lay-up, making all to beat AWESOME TREASURE by three-quarter length at six and a half furlongs.

Having had issues which had forced him to miss all of last year's classics, except a fifth-place finish in the 12-furlong derby, MONEY MONSTER, who had beaten AWESOME TREASURE as a non-winner-of-three, in a non-winners-of-three and-four mixed event, returned three weeks later to repeat at the same level, grabbing SALVATION at the wire, with EXCESSIVE FORCE finishing third.

Had done the chasing

It was in that event that LABAN, already a non-winner-of-three, had done the chasing, after being slowly into stride, and was used up trying to catch speedy SALVATION, leaving him winded inside the final furlong, where MONEY MONSTER closed with Pinnock to tag the faltering speedster by a head.

Having scored two narrow victories, tough races, off a three-month break, MONEY MONSTER was due a bounce and dropped form when brought back 11 days later, finishing five lengths behind third-place LABAN in a five-and-half furlong overnight allowance won by speed menace PATRIARCH.

LABAN was only denied second by ANOTHER BULLET rallying close home after being relegated to third in the stretch run. MONEY MONSTER's next outing, another 11 days later, also resulted in LABAN being head of him, approximately two and a half lengths, a five-furlong straight event won by SIR ALTON, beating ROJORN DI PILOT and SPARKLE DIAMOND.

LABAN, who had emerged from his February 28 fourth-place run behind his rival with a strong victory at six furlongs, upsetting imported LURE OF LUCY in 1:12.4, also appears to have preferred Azan's removal of the visor, winning and finishing ahead of MONEY MONSTER without the equipment.

Though allowing MONEY MONSTER six pounds for the rematch, LABAN, busier at exercise and enjoying better form, must get the nod at a distance he will again appreciate.