AU - Alice Springs - Race 2

GREAT GUST (3) was a handy former Victorian-trained gelding who has made a great start to his local career with a win fresh up and a last-start second by a nose here just over 2 weeks ago. He slides down a grade from that run, and with the advantage of the pole position, he can jump straight back into the winners' circle. BRAT (2) was beaten by a head when finishing runner-up in a 4-horse field a fortnight ago. He is always a winning hope at this level and won't be far away. BETTER NOT FUSS (5) won over a mile 3 starts back but has not kicked on as expected in his next couple of runs over that trip. He drops back to 6f, and from a hand draw, he can make amends. MAGIC DEFENSE (7) won fresh up here by a nose when making it 4 wins straight on this track. Her 2 subsequent runs have been good, especially her latest when runner-up 2 weeks ago in a stronger field. She will be hard to hold out again. MATHEMATICS (4) broke a long win drought with a nose victory over 7f last start.