A resilient five-year-old who has not competed since early July is expected to make a spectacular comeback and win Sunday's Community Chest at Throughbred Park. Mickey's Medal, a rarely raced son of Brave Smash, the Group 1 champion from the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable at Warwick Farm, appears to be in a great position to win the Canberra spring feature's strongest edition to date over 1400 meters. Although the gelding was also approved for a Benchmark 78 Hcp (1400m) at Saturday's stand-alone Kembla meeting, connections are anticipated to choose this course of action.

It should be sufficient to persuade the stable to travel down the freeway to Canberra because Mickey's Medal was given a large weight and attracted a very wide gate for that race. With an equal and unplaced performance in a Benchmark 88 Hcp over 1400m at Randwick, Mickey's Medal concluded a successful winter campaign. But before that, he had won twice in a row at Rosehill on rain-affected ground over 1500 meters and up to the BM 78 level before sprinting home from further behind as a strong $2.90 favorite to finish within a length of winner Thunderlips. Mickey's Medal, a smart galloper when fresh, has been given two easy trials in the lead-up and receives his chosen soft surface, jumping at least 54 kg from a middle barrier. The Community Chest, which has a winning strike record of almost 20% from 27 starts, might be a great starting point for Mickey's Medal in the summer, including a chance to compete in the Group 2 The Ingham over 1600m at Randwick next month. With a record number of nominations, the now $200K Community Chest held under Quality circumstances has quickly become one of the highlights of the non-metropolitan calendar and has drawn an even and strong field.

In exchange for a portion of the prize money, local charities and community organizations each partner with a runner. Last year, Chorlton Lane, who was trained by Ciaron Maher, charged home to win, giving charity partner "Win the Day" a $25K boost. It will be difficult to read the 2025 edition. The rail is out 5 meters, save from some lead-up rain, so by the end of the conference, a broader trend might be in effect. After a nearly two-year hiatus, six-year-old Victoria Road, who finished second under top weight of 62 kg for the Maher stable at Warwick Farm, will be one of the larger market watches. However, he might travel to feature The Gong (1600m) at Kembla on Saturday. After returning a furlong in travel via an easy trial, Victoria Road is a major improver. He felt the squeeze resuming over a mile in black type carnival company at Randwick, finishing well down the track. Mayfair, a four-year-old from the Bjorn Baker yard, is another interesting runner that is rarely raced.

After competing in some of the bigger races during the Sydney spring, including as the Golden Eagle, where he was out of sight at enormous odds, he drops dramatically in class fourth-up. However, he had a far better performance in a BM 94 over 1300m at Newcastle, when he finished just behind the place-getters. It is by far the strongest edition depth-wise of the Community Chest when you include another Maher runner in the thrilling mare Snitzanova, who has just returned from two trials, the tough five-year-old Kintyre, who finished fifth for the Gary Portelli stable, and the recent BM 88 (1400m) winner at Rosehill Sir Artie for the Archibald yard. However, Mickey's Medal can move up a few lengths off the speed and off the barrier and be given his head from the 400m behind what ought to be a reasonable and steady pace.

My Community Chest Advice:

1. Mickey's medal
2. Mayfair
3. Kintyre
4. Artie, Sir
5. The Victoria Road