Punters are backing Dwayne Dunn to win consecutive Momentum Energy Stakes when he partners the unusually named Scratchy Bottom in Saturday’s Group 2 feature for mares. Dunn won last year’s edition aboard Girl Gone Rockin, a $17.00 chance, however after punters stepped in to back the Mick Kent trained mare as soon as markets opened, she firmed from $11 into $8. Early favourite for the race is Suavito ($4.80) who if successful, will be the first favourite since Sweet Corn in 2003 to claim the race. In fact since Sweet Corn’s victory – only four mares have won the race at a single figure price. Solicit and Amanpour are the only other runners in the race under a double figure price at $7.50 and $6.00 respectively.
Momentum Energy Stakes Form Guide
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1. SOLICIT – D Lane (13)
Settled midfield in last Saturday’s G1 Myer Classic (1600m) and tracked up nicely behind the leaders turning for home. She briefly had to wait for a run at the top of the straight before ducking back toward the inside and joining the leaders at the 300m, ultimately running fourth (1.6 lengths) behind Bonaria. Improving with each run this campaign but the combination of a top-weight and an awkward draw will make this race no easier for her.
Odds: $7.50
2. SUAVITO – D Oliver (8)
Flying this campaign and unlucky not have won four of her five starts. She was luckless in the G3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) when third (1.5 length) to Star Fashion before making amends for that run with a strong win in the G3 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, defeating Precious Gem – who won on Cup Day – by 1.3 lengths. Drawn well, has Oliver on top and is rightly is the best rated chance.
Odds: $4.80
3. STAR FASHION – M Walker (7)
From hopeless positions, she found the right path home to win both a BM90 (1400m) and the G3 Ladies Day Vase at her first two runs back from a spell before lining up in last Saturday’s G1 Myer Classic. From an inside gate she got herself into the perfect spot turning, trailing Sweet Idea and Catkins into the straight however, was unable to reel that pair, who finished second and third respectively, in and crossed the line tenth spot (3.2 lengths). Step up to 2000m won’t bother here, she ran second to May’s Dream in the G1 Schweppes Oaks last season and drawing off the fence is also a plus. Can bounce back with a better finish here.
Odds: $12.00
4. TANGO’S DAUGHTER – J Bowman (9)
Was given every chance in the run by Craig Newitt but was overhauled right on the line by the in-form Hosting in the Listed Weekend Hussler two starts back before running fourth (3.2 lengths) to Suavito in the G3 Eliza Park International two week ago. The Mick Price trained runner was caught a little deep in the run last start but needs to find a few extra lengths on her recent starts to be competitive this class and this is her first go beyond a mile.
Odds: $26.00
5. MYAMIRA – C Williams (17)
A back-maker who needs everything in her races to go her way, just as it did when she won the South Grafton Quality (1600m) in July of his year where she defeated Bouzy Rouge. As she always is, the 6yo mare was doing her best work last in the G1 Myer Classic (1600m) last Saturday, finishing eleventh (3.4 lengths) behind Bonaria, who was inside of her as they turned. Previous efforts beyond a mile, in much weaker races than this, haven’t produced results and she’ll be giving a number of good fillies a big start turning for home.
Odds: $21.00
6. ZONZA – M Rodd (20)
New Zealand mare that has finished hot on the heels of the winner in each of her two runs back from a spell – both at G1 level. She led and held on well first up to run fifth (1.9 lengths) to Pure Champion in the Horlicks Stakes (1600m) before running a long neck second to Costume, who was easily accounted for in Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), in the Ormond Memorial. Form line out of that race hasn’t stood up well in Australia and the outside gate in a back field makes her job very tough.
Odds: $19.00
7. GIRL IN FLIGHT – K McEvoy (1)
Missed a run as first emergency in last Saturday’s G1 Myer Classic and was looking for consolation on Cup Day in the TAB Trophy (1700m) where she started a leading chance at 4/1. She settled back in the run but under the 58kgs, just didn’t pick up as expected and battled home to run fifth (3 lengths) behind Precious Gem Drops to 56kgs here, is a better galloper than her last run would suggest and has a G3 win over 1800m to her name. The quick back-up is an unknown but safer option more often than not, is to back against horses doing so successfully.
Odds: $9.00
8. KEEP DE ROSE – (15)
Led and stuck on well under 58kgs when fourth (1.5 lengths) to Star Fashion and Suavito in a BM 90 (1400m) at Caulfield and led again when stepping up in grade to the G3 Ladies Day Vase at her following start. Unfortunately for connections, this time the 5yo Keeper mare offered little resistance and fell back through the field, crossing the line in thirteenth spot and over ten lengths from the winner, Star Fashion. Sat on the pace when running a half-length third in this race last year but unplaced in four Group races since and her last start wasn’t encouraging.
Odds: $26.00
9. SCRATCHY BOTTOM – D Dunn (4)
Needed further when resuming with a twelfth placing in the G2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) first up and was only starting to get into the race from the back of the field when it was all over at her only run since, the G3 Eliza Park International (1600m), when 5.5 lengths behind Suavito. Had to come from well back in both runs and here, from a good draw over a more suitable 2000m, a distance at or beyond she has a solid record over, we may see her settle midfield. Took on the boys third up last prep and ran third to Pheidon in the G2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m) and looks very well placed here.
Odds: $8.00
10. RECKLESS ASSASSIN – (3)
Been sitting on or setting the pace in her recent races, events of a lesser quality than this race, but she hasn’t been able to hold of the challengers late. She worked from an outside gate to get to a forward position at her most recent start, the G3 Eliza Park International but was one of the first beaten when the pressure when on, ultimately running tenth behind Suavito. Looks outclassed here.
Odds: $67.00
11. SPINDERBELLA – G Boss (12)
Continued her great form this prep and made it two wins from four with an impressive length win in an Open fillies and mares race (2040) at Moonee Valley in Manikato Stakes night. From the back of the field the lightly raced Spinning World mare circled the field and was strong late, beating No Excuses Bec into second place. Going well and sure to give a good account of herself.
Odds: $17.00
12. SPRIIT OF HEAVEN – (14)
Scratched from Tuesday’s TAB Trophy and the Savabeel mare deserves a change of luck giving the limit amount she has had in her past two runs. She never got a shot at them when fifth (1.6 lengths) to Star Fashion in a BM 90 (1400m) before being badly hampered soon of straightening in the G3 Ladies Day Vase when looking to get off the rails. Took no further part in the race after that incident and ran tenth (6.8 lengths) behind Star Of Fashion again. Going better than her form reads on paper and worth including.
Odds: $12.00
13. AMANPOUR – T Berry (10)
After running the narrowest of seconds to Precious Gem in Tuesday’s TAB Trophy, this will be her third start in as many weeks. Last start’s game effort was off the back of an impressive all-the-way win in a BM 74 (1550m) up in Sydney under 58kgs. Will push forward and she appears to be a tough filly who will handle the busy schedule well enough to give her some consideration here.
Odds: $6.00
14. LADY CUMQUAT – (18)
Got a lovely run home from worse than midfield in the G3 Ladies Day Vase two starts ago, but Star Fashion got a better one still and beat her home by half a length. She then lined up as the even money favourite in an Open fillies and mare’s race (2040m) but after making her move forward approaching the 600m from the second half of the field, the former New Zealand mare couldn’t sustain the run and finished a disappointing second to last. Found to be lame after that race so best to forget it and go on the Ladies Day Vase effort. Draw makes it awkward and still only the two placings from five Australian runs to date.
Odds: $12.00
15. NO EXCUSES BEC
Finished too well for Quayside and Spinderbella in the Pinker Pinker Quality (2080m) at Cranbourne two starts ago before running second to Spinderbella in an Open fillies and mares race at Moonee Valley last start. She drew one and settled worse than midfield in the run but got a dream passage from the 600m home right along the fence. Will get another good run her from gate six but just wondering if now, this being her seventh run in this campaign, if she’s already peaked.
Odds: $41.00
16. METAPHORICAL – (16)
Peter Moody’s mare went within a lip of winning her third career start when defeated on the line in a BM 78 (1600m) at Moonee Valley last start. That followed a ninth placing in the G3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) and would’ve liked to have seen more from her heading into this race than what she has produced of late – especially when jumping from gate sixteen.
Odds: $41.00
17. GOLD TO GO – D Stackhouse (5) (1st EM)
Ran over tenth lengths twelfth behind Star Fashion first up in the G3 Ladies Day Vase and was beaten close to thirty lengths last start when finishing last to Suavito at Moonee Valley.
Odds: $201.00
18. IN MASQUERADE – (2) (2nd EM)
Built up nicely last prep did the daughter of Pentire, rounding out her campaign with a second in the G3 Schweppes Stakes (1800m) and a close up fifth (1.5 lengths) in the G1 Schweppes Oaks behind May’s Dream. Has taken a few runs to come good this prep with her latest, her third this campaign and first beyond a mile, clearly her best. She sat on the pace and boxed on strongly to run fourth (1.3 length) to Spinderbella over 2040m at Moonee Valley. Better again for that run and the extra furlong and should she get a start, will position up nicely from gate two.
Odds: $41.00
19. TERAI – J McDonald (11) (3rd EM)
Dead-heated with Hollywood Bound two starts back in a Warwick Farm BM 75 (1600m) where from a midfield position, she really started to get into her work late. That earned her a trip south where she lined up in Open class race for fillies and mares over 2040m at Moonee Valley. The daughter of Teofilo was caught three deep throughout and batted home fairly given her run, finishing sixth and three lengths behind the winner Suavito. Flemington will suit but still unproven at this class and would prefer to see her in something easier than this.
Odds: $15.00
20. MELALEUCA – J Hill (19) (4th EM)
Found a lovely spot when just off the speed when, on the quick-back from a Morphettville win six days before, contesting the Open class 2040m race that a lot of these mare come from. She kept coming in the straight, but was no match for the finishing effort of winner Spinderbella and finished fifth (1.8 lengths). Did well last start but not well enough to win here from nineteen if she were to gain a start.
Odds: $67.00
RACE OVERVIEW –
Good pace here with Zonda and Amanpour and Solicit – all draw out in the second half of the field, pushing forward and Suavito, Reckless Assassin pushing forward. Hard to go past Suavito on form here and whilst the record of favourites in this race is concerning, at close to $5.00 she can’t be left out. Punters got it right with Scratchy Bottom who is set for the 2000m at Flemington after two runs back from a spell. Spirit of Heaven has been luckless her last two and even though the gate isn’t great, had she been able to produce her past in her recent outings, she’ll be a few point shorter than she is here.
- SCRATCHY BOTTOM
- SUAVITO
- SPIRIT OF HEAVEN
- SOLICIT
