Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

A razor-sharp EL PODEROSO should notch a quick double up in class in tomorrow's Seek Exercise Book trophy race, an open allowance at 1300 metres.

The Philip Feanny-trained United States-bred colt clocked the year's fastest time at 1300 metres last Saturday, 1:17.3, dismissing overnight allowance runners by six lengths with Winston Griffiths astride.

He's up in class tomorrow but is no stranger to open allowance where he has been competing, straddling graded stakes, since last December.

In fact, EL PODEROSO is out to repeat what he did last year, beat overnight allowance in October and take out open allowance on his following run.

EL PODEROSO has come on a ton this summer and has not been out of the frame since June 22 when failing to beat BLAST THEM AWAY by a length in the grade-one Eros trophy race at 1400 metres.

HUPOMONE was too speedy for EL PODEROSO to tag at 1000 metres round on July 13. Feanny's runner followed up with a stout- hearted third at 1400 metres, July 24, behind CLASSY PROSPECT and REASONABLE PRESS, leading to the final furlong.

The form of that race has thrice stood the acid test. First, UPPA TUNE, who had led EL PODEROSO, CLASSY PROSPECT and REASONABLE PRESS into the lane, returned to stamp a speedy 1:05.3 on PALACE GOLD and in-form RIO COBRE on August 1, a week later.

Next, CLASSY PROSPECT went up in class and landed the grade-one Prime Minister's Stakes, August 6, beating RAGING PROSPECT and COMMANDING CHIEF at 2000 metres, a race in which TYPEWRITER finished outside the frame.

EL PODEROSO next franked the form of that hard-run July 24 race by going down in class to plunder overnight allowance in the year's fastest time at 1300 metres.

With no CLASSY PROSPECT around and UPPA TUNE being the quickest in tomorrow's line-up, EL PODEROSO should stalk and pounce on rivals in the stretch run.

Coming off the home turn, EL PODEROSO should only have UPPA TUNE to beat. The Ian Parsard-trained American has worked brilliantly for the race, clocking an eye-catching 1:06.2 at exercise.

However, EL PODEROSO had no problem disposing of him in the stretch run on July 24 and should do the same again.

It's stablemate REASONABLE PRESS who EL PODEROSO has most to worry about should UPPA TUNE stick around longer than when they last met.

EL PODEROSO was denied second close home by REASONABLE PRESS on July 24, but should have the better of him at tomorrow's distance, which is a half furlong shorter.