MR BLAIR is set to make amends for losing his season-opener back in May, looking every part to land the LC McKenzie Memorial going a furlong shorter back among overnight allowances horses tomorrow afternoon.

Noel Ennevor's runner went too fast on last, returning off a seven-month lay-up, and paid the price at a mile, beaten by HAIL THE GENIUS, TOBAGO and PLEASURE FLIGHT after setting a six-furlong split of 1:11.2 into the lane.

MR BLAIR, who had worked exceptionally well for his return, weakened after turning for home, dragging the others into a super-fast final time of 1:38.4.

Ennevor has not gunned MR BLAIR as he surprisingly did in May when the chestnut colt clocked 1:40.2 from the gate for a mile, the last seven in 1:26.2, in addition to 1:14.3 for six furlongs nine days later.

Instead, he has had MR BLAIR working easy in the mornings, primed to turn on the heat on rivals with leading rider Dane Nelson aboard.

MR BLAIR should be able to get away from rivals on his bridle and open up into the lane where he will have to be caught.

If there's to be an upsetter, FIRST LADY must be considered. She won ridiculously easy when fitted with a figure-eight on last, clocking an unchallenged 1:13.2 among non-winners-of-four, and has only 49.0 kilos after galloping 1:29.3 at exercise last Saturday morning.

Champion jockey

Champion jockey Omar Walker is set to close the three-win gap on Nelson tomorrow as he has a three-timer lined up on the 12 racecard - BURNING CIELO in the first at 1200 metres, IT IS WRITTEN in the ninth at 1820 metres and ORION in the 11th at 1400 metres.

BURNING CIELO looked pretty smart when hanging on to beat American-bred SKITTLE QUEEN at 1400 metres on May 30 and should be good enough to turn back PATTA and company at 1200 metres.

The Wayne DaCosta-Walker combination should see to the ninth event for which IT IS WRITTEN has been tuned to the second.

DaCosta watched the three-year-old gelding gallop five and a half furlongs in 1:07.0 two Sundays ago, breaking away from the winning post, almost exactly where he will start tomorrow.

Note how IT IS WRITTEN closed seven lengths on BRUCEONTHELOOSE and stablemate THE GUMMER in the 2000 Guineas. Saturday's 1000-metre sprint, a close third to TOP COMMANDER was just a warm-up for tomorrow's race.

Walker should close the card with Patrick Lynch's ORION, who went up against top-level claiming speedsters at 1200 metres on May 25 but should be far more comfortable in an easier pace at 1400 metres among non-winners-of-four.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players should close out their bets with RIP CURRENT in the fourth, BULLET TRAIN in the fifth and RUM DEAL in the sixth.