Jimmie, Star Writer

NOON IT IS returns off a two-month break in a cauldron of fire tomorrow afternoon, taking on Wayne DaCosta's BLAST THEM AWAY and TRADITIONAL PRINCE in the ninth event at 1200 metres.

The four-year-old United States-bred filly was an unlucky loser of December's Gold Cup, bumped at the gate by TRADITIONAL PRINCE and tailed off for the first five furlongs.

When set alight by Walker up the lane, NOON IT IS flew past rivals but found SAINT CECELIA full of running and bounding to the wire under Shane Ellis.

Returning off a deserved break for tomorrow's open allowance, NOON IT IS faces two tough contenders, Wayne DaCosta's BLAST THEM AWAY and the much-improved TRADITIONAL PRINCE, who has the handicaps stacked in his favour.

In 10 starts, only one horse has ever beaten BLAST THEM AWAY, that's SAINT CECELIA. In fact, DaCosta's runner has comprehensively beaten NOON IT IS in three meetings, including his first two starts as a two-year-old in December of 2011

The last time BLAST THEM AWAY got the better of Subratie's filly was June 16 last year in the grade-one Eileen Cliggott Memorial at 1300 metres.

However, whereas NOON IT IS came out of that race a much better horse and went on to compete in six other events for the season, BLAST THEM AWAY went missing for eight months and struggled on his return in overnight allowance company three weeks ago, ridden flat out to beat stablemate SIR VON.

That was a far cry from BLAST THEM AWAY's previous efforts, despite the ring rust gathered from an eight-month lay-up.

In addition, he's back with 57 kilos, giving away weight and hoping to win from in front, a tall task with TRADITIONAL PRINCE in at 47 kilos due to apprentice Prince Holder's three-kilo claim.

TRADITIONAL PRINCE ran a blinder in the Gold Cup with 52.5 kilos, dueling SAINT CECELIA and MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE on the lead in splits of 23.1 and 45.1 into the lane. He was still a clear second a furlong out before NOON IT IS came with her run.

Reporting 12lb lighter tomorrow, TRADITIONAL PRINCE won his last race at 1200 metres late November, beating RIO COBRE by a half-length. He won't be easily taken off the lead, nullifying BLAST THEM AWAY's chances with 57 kilos.

DaCosta seems set to counter with RIO COBRE, hoping to keep TRADITIONAL PRINCE honest. However, the script couldn't be any better for run-on sprinter NOON IT IS.

She relishes a strong pace and is well drawn at post-position five in a seven-horse field, not much traffic to negotiate down the backstretch.

With the speedsters at each other's throat for the first half mile and Omar Walker watching their every move, NOON IT IS should swoop down like a hawk when the early splits take toll in the stretch run.