Star Witness - racing this Saturday ?The focus this weekend is on two states – South Australia, where Morphettville will be featuring two Group One races for fillies and mares, and New South Wales at Rosehill which hosts the Group One Coolmore Classic and the Ranvet Stakes.
The Ranvet Stakes run over 2000 metres, has a good field of top stayers. Theseo, having returned in style in the Chipping Norton Stakes, looks the one to beat again. Rangirangdoo was only narrowly beaten by Theseo in that race, so is likely to be a threat if he can run the distance. It’s also good to see New Zealand mare Daffodil back in this country and – cross fingers- she may well prove the winner, especially if it’s wet. Others sure to be in contention are Roman Emperor, Road To Rock and Moatize who ran a ripper of a race in the Australian Cup last week, I’d also like to see Purple put up a fight.
It is disappointing that Typhoon Tracy and More Joyous were non acceptors for the Coolmore Classic (1500 metres). Typhoon Tracy was given the top weight of 61k which seemed to me to be over the top. She would have been giving the likes of Faint Perfume and Set For Fame over 8 kilos advantage. Because of this, her connections decided to delay her Sydney campaign until the Queen of the Turf on 3rd April. More Joyous is being rested, after pulling up sore after her last start, but will also be back for the Queen of the Turf.
I reckon Faint Perfume can win this. She easily won her first start this season, the Kewney Stakes on March 6th. Set For Fame, who ran second in the Crown Guineas last Saturday will be having her first start in Sydney, and if she is not negatively affected from her Guineas run and can handle the Sydney way of going, should be right there at the finish. Allez Wonder who will start as top weight, is too classy to dismiss out of hand, nor can one ignore smart mare Palacio De Crystal or filly Hurtle Myrtle who raced More Joyous to the line in her last start.
The exciting Star Witness will start in the Group Two Todman Stakes (1200 metres), so it seems he is being set for the Golden Slipper. I will be watching this race with interest.
Military Rose, the sensational winner of the Magic Millions 2 year old classic back in January will be starting her autumn campaign in the Group Two Riesling Stakes (1200 metres). She will be up against top two year old fillies Solar Charged, Elimbari, Psychologist, Yosei and Obsequious to name the most obvious. What a great field of talented fillies it is!
Also the Group Two Canterbury Stakes over 1500 metres looks like a rather good race with Hot Danish who hasn’t raced since last spring when beaten soundly by Typhoon Tracy on the two occasions they competed. This race is easier, even though she does face the in form Dreamscape, slick sprinter Turffontein, and Black Piranha resuming after a long break. Demerit also can’t be dismissed out of hand, having the Lonhro factor.
You’d think Spacecraft would have a chance to finally put a win on the table in the Group Two Pharlap Stakes (1500 metres) after running well in harder races against the likes of Denman. His main opposition in this race appear to be Tickets and Al Dhafra.
On to the Morphettville races...
The Group One South Australian Oaks, raced over 2006 metres, has attracted a full field. The main chances at a glance are Melbourne fillies, My Emotion, No Evidence Needed, Aloha and Ipioga who has the advantage of having top female jockey Clare Lindop on her back. Otherwise, it’s anybody’s guess.
A more interesting race in terms of horses I have in my black book, is the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres. Augusta Proud whose career I have been following since her two year old season, won her last start in open company a fortnight ago. However, she faces a very talented field of fillies and mares here. There’s Madame Pedrille who admittedly Augusta beat last start, Velocitea who has won her last two starts, super fillies Headway, Irish Lights, Avenue, Sister Madly, Rostova and Majestic Music who is Augusta’s stable mate and also won her last start.
Last weekend’s results were generally unexpected. For a start, Denman lost! The Guineas was won by the Bart Cummings trained Rock Classic, with filly Set for Fame running a close second. Linton was raced too far back, but looked impressive making up ground at the finish rocketing into third place.
The Australian Cup was taken out by veteran stayer (8 YO) Zipping, by a whisker from Sirmione, with Moatize running third and the Blamey Stakes saw New Zealander Lord Tavistock take the prize.
Shoot Out looked spectacular winning the Randwick Guineas. Considering that he seems to have been racing since summer with hardly a break, it’s about time he won a Group One. He must be one tough customer to keep on going like he has and remain so consistent.
So another scintillating Saturday of top class horse racing to look forward to this weekend.
The Ranvet Stakes run over 2000 metres, has a good field of top stayers. Theseo, having returned in style in the Chipping Norton Stakes, looks the one to beat again. Rangirangdoo was only narrowly beaten by Theseo in that race, so is likely to be a threat if he can run the distance. It’s also good to see New Zealand mare Daffodil back in this country and – cross fingers- she may well prove the winner, especially if it’s wet. Others sure to be in contention are Roman Emperor, Road To Rock and Moatize who ran a ripper of a race in the Australian Cup last week, I’d also like to see Purple put up a fight.
It is disappointing that Typhoon Tracy and More Joyous were non acceptors for the Coolmore Classic (1500 metres). Typhoon Tracy was given the top weight of 61k which seemed to me to be over the top. She would have been giving the likes of Faint Perfume and Set For Fame over 8 kilos advantage. Because of this, her connections decided to delay her Sydney campaign until the Queen of the Turf on 3rd April. More Joyous is being rested, after pulling up sore after her last start, but will also be back for the Queen of the Turf.
I reckon Faint Perfume can win this. She easily won her first start this season, the Kewney Stakes on March 6th. Set For Fame, who ran second in the Crown Guineas last Saturday will be having her first start in Sydney, and if she is not negatively affected from her Guineas run and can handle the Sydney way of going, should be right there at the finish. Allez Wonder who will start as top weight, is too classy to dismiss out of hand, nor can one ignore smart mare Palacio De Crystal or filly Hurtle Myrtle who raced More Joyous to the line in her last start.
The exciting Star Witness will start in the Group Two Todman Stakes (1200 metres), so it seems he is being set for the Golden Slipper. I will be watching this race with interest.
Military Rose, the sensational winner of the Magic Millions 2 year old classic back in January will be starting her autumn campaign in the Group Two Riesling Stakes (1200 metres). She will be up against top two year old fillies Solar Charged, Elimbari, Psychologist, Yosei and Obsequious to name the most obvious. What a great field of talented fillies it is!
Also the Group Two Canterbury Stakes over 1500 metres looks like a rather good race with Hot Danish who hasn’t raced since last spring when beaten soundly by Typhoon Tracy on the two occasions they competed. This race is easier, even though she does face the in form Dreamscape, slick sprinter Turffontein, and Black Piranha resuming after a long break. Demerit also can’t be dismissed out of hand, having the Lonhro factor.
You’d think Spacecraft would have a chance to finally put a win on the table in the Group Two Pharlap Stakes (1500 metres) after running well in harder races against the likes of Denman. His main opposition in this race appear to be Tickets and Al Dhafra.
On to the Morphettville races...
The Group One South Australian Oaks, raced over 2006 metres, has attracted a full field. The main chances at a glance are Melbourne fillies, My Emotion, No Evidence Needed, Aloha and Ipioga who has the advantage of having top female jockey Clare Lindop on her back. Otherwise, it’s anybody’s guess.
A more interesting race in terms of horses I have in my black book, is the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres. Augusta Proud whose career I have been following since her two year old season, won her last start in open company a fortnight ago. However, she faces a very talented field of fillies and mares here. There’s Madame Pedrille who admittedly Augusta beat last start, Velocitea who has won her last two starts, super fillies Headway, Irish Lights, Avenue, Sister Madly, Rostova and Majestic Music who is Augusta’s stable mate and also won her last start.
Last weekend’s results were generally unexpected. For a start, Denman lost! The Guineas was won by the Bart Cummings trained Rock Classic, with filly Set for Fame running a close second. Linton was raced too far back, but looked impressive making up ground at the finish rocketing into third place.
The Australian Cup was taken out by veteran stayer (8 YO) Zipping, by a whisker from Sirmione, with Moatize running third and the Blamey Stakes saw New Zealander Lord Tavistock take the prize.
Shoot Out looked spectacular winning the Randwick Guineas. Considering that he seems to have been racing since summer with hardly a break, it’s about time he won a Group One. He must be one tough customer to keep on going like he has and remain so consistent.
So another scintillating Saturday of top class horse racing to look forward to this weekend.
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