Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

UNCLE TAF has slipped down in class among overnight allowance runners for this afternoon's third race at 1100 metres.

The four-year-old gelding won at the level at the backend of March and graduated to open allowance. He found the going tough at the higher level but was close at the finish in three of four starts, especially a 1100-metre sprint, late June, in which he was only three and a half lengths behind the winner, EL PODEROSO.

UNCLE TAF's most impressive effort up in class was another fourth-place finish, with 53.5 kilos, beaten five and a half lengths at 1400 metres, by this year's Superstakes favourite, COMMANDING CHIEF. TRADITIONAL PRINCE was second, carrying 49.0 kilos, whereas defending Superstakes champion, TYPEWRITER, was third - a length and a half ahead of UNCLE TAF.

Trainer Solomon Sharpe has been sharpening UNCLE TAF at exercise for this afternoon's sprint, a pair of flat five-furlong Sunday-morning gallops.

With a speed duel expected between WILLIE GOLDSMITH and STREET DANCER, UNCLE TAF's Sunday-morning blasts from the five-furlong point should have stripped him fit enough to stalk the leaders into the lane.

STREET DANCER is a speedy filly but she is up in class and will be kept honest by WILLIE GOLDSMITH for a long way. This duel should set up the race for down-in-class UNCLE TAF, who has been chasing quicker horses in open allowance.

WILLIE GOLDSMITH, it should be noted, returned off a five-month lay-up in a 1000-metre straight race, July 12. He was slowly into stride and lacked power inside the last furlong in finishing third behind SIR VON and PISCEAN ROCKET.

He, however, returned to gallop five furlongs round, 1:00.0, last Sunday morning, suggesting the cobwebs could have been cleared and he is ready to fire this afternoon.

Sharpe could have done better by calling in a claiming apprentice instead of having UNCLE TAF carry 56.0 kilos against genuine sprinters at 51.0 kilos. However, he has stayed loyal to lightweight jockey Oneil Mullings, who has been galloping his horses.

Getting into a good position approaching the half mile, possibly claiming the rail and saving ground with top weight, should have UNCLE TAF storming at the leaders in the stretch run when Mullings unleashes him.