Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

HOMBRE faces a decent line-up, including recent winners REGAL SELECTION and EVANDER, but should still close out his hat-trick in tomorrow afternoon's Royal Dad Trophy race at 1820 metres.

The Noel Ennevor-trained runner showed class and versatility in his last two races, spread-eagling non-winners-of-two at 1820 metres in June before returning off a three-month lay-up on October 1 to nail FIRST LADY stealing home at 1200 metres.

REGAL SELECTION and EVANDER are bound to command significant portions of the betting after their victories on last.

However, their rivals were questionable with REGAL SELECTION getting the better of up in class horses, SPACEMAN and Billy Williams' filly, STAROFTHESEA, who failed to fire as the favourite at 1500 metres.

REGAL SELECTION looked strong in winning but it must be noted that the first half-mile of the event was slower than expected, 47.4, allowing the Morris Powell-trained colt to float down on rivals off the home turn.

Against HOMBRE, who chased a half-mile split of 45.4, sprinting FIRST LADY at 1200 metres, REGAL SELECTION will not be able to sit and wait for the race to come back to him.

He will be off his bridle too early, trying to keep pace, and should flatten out up the lane when the going gets tough.

Anthony Nunes' EVANDER outstayed ZUN ZUN at a mile on October 8, stalking and pouncing in the stretch run. ZUN ZUN did set strong splits, which EVANDER stuck to and quickened nicely to post a sharp 1:39.2.

Enough answers

However, HOMBRE not only has pace but stays as well and should have enough answers when EVANDER comes calling in the stretch run.

Keen punters should look out for a pair of American-breds in the event - PLATINUM VALLEY and SIR MATTHEW.

PLATINUM VALLEY is the far more experienced of the two with 12 starts, her best efforts being two second-place runs sprinting.

However, when stretched out at 1400 metres by trainer Carl Anderson on September 20, PLATINUM VALLEY was noted closing for fifth, almost six lengths behind GOOD CITIZEN in the CTL Imported Stakes.

Anderson has declared PLATINUM VALLEY to run in the figure-eight for the first time and she could very well be more distance-inclined than her handlers initially thought.

SIR MATTHEW, who is out for the second time, finishing third behind EVANDER and ZUN ZUN after being slowly into stride, should have learnt a lot from his first run locally and is not to be underestimated with that effort under his girth.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players should look to ME LLAMO in the third for a quick double after her awesome win among $240,000 claimers on October 8. Hopping a rung up the claiming ladder should be no problem for her after that big win.

MY THUNDER has worked like a winner for the fifth event, a one-mile race for three-year-old maidens, galloping 1:31.2 out of the chute last week Wednesday.

Close all bets with down-in-class QUEEN OF MY HEART in the seventh at 1200 metres, DIGI N' JIGGY in the eighth at 1000 metres straight and WHEEL N' DEAL in the 10th at 1000 metres round.