Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

RICHARD AZAN's BORDER LINE will be closing too strong to be denied in tomorrow's 1100-metre St Catherine Cup for Open Allowance horses.

BORDER LINE was outsped on his last outing, finishing third behind BOY WONDER at 1300 metres - not his ideal distance. CAMPESINO chased home the out-of-class winner, but BORDER LINE should turn the tables on Philip Feanny's runner.

CAMPESINO does not like to be rushed off her legs and reports too heavy, 57.0 kilos, to have any chance of running on in what is expected to be torrid splits.

hot pace

A hot pace is expected down the backstretch involving speedsters such as STEP IT UP, FORTUNEONEHUNDRED, KIPLING WEEKEND, and RIO COBRE, who went down in class on his last outing to beat overnight allowance horses.

BORDER LINE, the mount of Omar Walker, will enjoy sitting just off the pace while the quicker horses go at each other.

Azan's five-year-old is the best run-on sprinter in the seven-horse line-up which includes his stablemate, PISCEAN ROCKET, an overnight allowance winner at 1300 metres on Boxing Day.

STEP IT UP will ensure the speedsters are honest and will set off on front, pulling all over the bridles. Last time out, he disputed splits of 22.2 and 45.0 with CRUCIAL APPEAL, but had a rude introduction to Open Allowance after winning six races on the trot.

CRUCIAL APPEAL quickened off the turn and STEP IT UP flattened out. BORDER LINE came charging in the last furlong to get within a half length of CRUCIAL APPEAL, who won in 1:04.3.

Though there is no matching speed to go with STEP IT UP for the first half mile, his limitations will be exposed inside the last furlong and a half.

In what is expected to be a cavalry charge, BORDER LINE's closing speed should overpower rivals who will be used up chasing STEP IT UP.

Azan's runner has the right weight, 54.0 kilos, and rider to size up the field down the backstretch. FORTUNEONEHUNDRED has not been holding his gallop, KIPLING WEEKEND hasn't raced in 10 months and RIO COBRE was 10 lengths behind BORDER LINE when Azan's runner just failed to nab CRUCIAL APPEAL.