Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

DEO VOLENTE found only COMMANDING CHIEF better on May 25, going 1500 metres, and should take out his eight rivals in tomorrow's overnight allowance at 1700 metres.

Hunting a hat-trick when stepping up to overnight allowance on May 25, DEO VOLENTE ran smack into down-in-class COMMANDING CHIEF, who had lost by a head to REASONABLE PRESS at a mile two weeks prior.

Running at odds of 7-1, DEO VOLENTE turned for home seventh in the 10-horse field and closed for second past the likes of RAGING PROSPECT and UPPA TUNE, who finished third and fourth, respectively.

That form of that race was played out on June 8 when UPPA TUNE made all at 2000 metres to beat RAGING PROSPECT and JAH LOVE.

DEO VOLENTE need only reproduce his May 25 effort to stamp his class at an ideal distance with his only possible threat being the four-year-old importee ARGUMENT DONE.

Conditioned by Anthony Nunes, ARGUMENT DONE returned off a six-month lay-up on June 8 to nail three-year-old local-bred CAMPESINO at the wire going 1200 metres.

The dark bay United States-bred colt is a late runner who will relish the distance. However, CAMPESINO's follow-up race last Saturday proved that he is no big shake.

Though a controversially disqualified winner, the Philip Feanny-trained gelding should have done much better than desperately holding on from PISCEAN ROCKET, who had suffered major interference heading into the half mile of the 1100-metre third race.

Therefore, with CAMPESINO's class in question, DEO VOLENTE, who ran past the likes of RAGING PROSPECT, UPPA TUNE and got within three and a half lengths of COMMANDING CHIEF, must be the horse to beat.

In addition, DEO VOLENTE, carrying 50.0 kilos, in the smooth hands of Cardenas, should get first run on ARGUMENT DONE (54.0). The weight advantage will be a big plus should it come to a stretch duel between the two.

Tomorrow's card looks tailor-made for form players with the likes of YES WE WILL in the second on a $250,000 tag, going 1800 metres.

TANTALOO, outbattled by SPARKLE HAVEN on last, won't be denied at 1500 metres in the third. SPARKLE HAVEN acquitted herself well up in class, finishing third behind ITALIANO and SAINT THERESA on Saturday.

ROCK 'A' WAY is sired to stay and ran way better at 1400 metres on June 15 than she did when debuting at 1100 metres two weeks earlier. At 1600 metres in the fourth, she should go one better after her battling loss, a furlong shorter, against MAMA BLOSSOM last time out.