by Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

PERCY HUSSEY's REX TIPOU should put away rivals in tomorrow afternoon's seventh race at 1500 metres for non-winners-of-two after his storming finish behind IN THE PRIME on New Year's Day.

Returning off a seven-month lay-up at 1200 metres, REX TIPOU, a lightly-raced four-year-old making his third career start, straightened seven lengths fourth behind IN THE PRIME and was fast catching the Wayne DaCosta speedster when the post intervened.

A nine-length winner on debut over 1100 metres last May, REX TIPOU disappointed a week later, finishing fifth as a 7-5 favourite behind ROMEZ, RUSH TO VICTORY and SOY GRANDE at 1200 metres.

Hussey, who has been doing well with a fresh string of horses since the back-end of last season, tuned REX TIPOU nicely for his return on New Year's Day but watched as his runner failed to tag the race-fit IN THE PRIME.

With his brother, Charles, replacing the improving apprentice, Rayan Wilson, REX TIPOU will get maximum assistance from the saddle and should have no problems with the distance despite having not ventured beyond 1200 metres in his three starts to date.

Anthony Nunes' SMOOTH DUDE, who was highly fancied to make a winning comeback off a 14-month lay-up on December 22, is bound to command some of the betting.

However, the grey colt failed to impress off his lengthy rest, outsped at 1000 metres straight by TIMOTHY SCOTT, finishing a length second behind an average final time of 1:00.0.

REX TIPOU has good pace and should take command of the event and should make every post a winning one under Charles Hussey.

Jackpots at $1.5m

BOY YOU GLITTER rocked punters at odds of 12-1 in Saturday's eighth race, resulting in Super-6 payouts of $168,823 whereas the Pick-9 was not caught and will be back at its $1m guarantee, starting at the third event.

The Super-6 starts with its $500,000 minimum payout at the sixth event in which Richie Todd's BALLROOM DANCER is expected to go all the way after being outclassed by PREMIUM VELOCITY at 1000 metres round on January 1.

The three-year-old filly has only raced twice and also showed promise on debut, beaten two and three-quarter lengths by KIKO at 1100 metres.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players should also look to HIGH GRADE, who is back down in class on a $315,0000 tag for the 2000-metre Altamont V. Armond Memorial Cup after romping home by 10 lengths at 1820 metres when he last raced at the level on October 20.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's GOOD COMPANY also gets the nod over FIRST IN THE SAND in the 10th event for Open allowance runners at 1820 metres.

GOOD COMPANY, who placed third in the Superstakes, at odds of 99-1, behind MAJOR MAYER and MIRACLE MAN, before returning to slam Overnight Allowance horses in his subsequent race on December 8, packs too much pace for FIRST IN THE SAND.