Fifteen three year old fillies line up for the highlight of the third day of the Carnival on Thursday with Zydeco, trained by Anthony Freedman, the dominate favourite after her authoritative win in Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes.
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1. DEAR DEMI – J Cassidy (12)
Has been a model of consistency this preparation having won the G2 Furious Stakes second up and being placed G1 Flight Stakes (behind Norzita) and Thousand Guineas (behind Commanding Jewel) two starts back. Her most recent start was a fourth to Zydeco in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday where she had a chequered run home. Class filly that, despite her awkward draw, will make her presence felt.
Odds: $5.00
2. ZYDECO – K McEvoy (7)
Zabeel filly out of G1 winning mare All Time High who is a dominate favourite after a relatively easy victory in the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. She gave the indication on Saturday, that the 2500m trip should pose little problem and the last two horses to have won the Wakeful and backed up in the Oaks, have been successful. She’s the one they all have to beat.
Odds: $2.35
3. MAMA’S CHOICE – D Oliver (2)
Her only win to date in eight starts has been on debut back in the Listed Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield back in February. Didn’t have a great deal of room three starts back behind Kabayan in the Stan Fox Stakes before drawing wide and getting back in the Thousand Guineas where she finished twelfth (beaten 8.6). Competed in, and was well held, in the Wakeful on Saturday and can’t see her turning the tables on the favourite.
Odds: $41.00
4. ALZORA – N Hall (5)
Broker her maiden status in good style last start when claiming the Listed Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight back. That followed a luckless run in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes behind Maybe Discreet where, from her wide draw, she got too far back. Will be right on the speed from her gate and appears to peaking at the right time. Could be the danger to the favourite.
Odds: $18.00
5. TRANSONIC – M Zahra (6)
Patinack Farm representative who broke her maiden status four three starts back, at her ninth career start but backed that up immediately with a RST 68 win at Mornington and then stuck on soundly in the Listed Ethereal Stakes behind Alzora and Summerbliss. Ran third in Saturday’s Wakeful after setting the pace. Expect her to roll forward and be the leader again here but hard to see her turning the tables.
Odds: $26.00
6. MARAATIB – M Walker (3)
Redoute’s Choice filly that, from ten starts to date, is yet to register a win. On the positive side, she has been placed on seven occasions including a pleasing effort on Saturday in the Wakeful where she finished third behind Zydeco after having to check off heels. On that effort, would have to be considered a legitimate chance.
Odds: $16.00
7. IRELAND’S TEARDROP – V Duric (13)
Impeccably bred filly by Fastnet Rock out of Group 1 winning Sir Tristram mare, Isolda from Anthony Cummings yard, trainer of Saturday’s Derby winner, Fiveandahalfstar. She finished well done the track two starts back against the males in the Listed Dulcify (1900m) before a much better effort at her most recent start when fourth, beaten 3.1 lengths behind Alzora in the Ethereal Stakes.
Odds: $34.00
8. SUMMERBLISS – C Williams (1)
She lines up for this race at only her third start but judging by her last start second in the Ethereal Stakes, the lack of experience will not damage her chances. She finished well last start and can only be better for that experience. Trainer and Owner/Breeder pulled off a similar coupe with Absolutely in the AJC Oaks last year. She stays well and truly under notice.
Odds: $7.50
9. KATE – J McDonald (14)
She had won two of her six starts in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman to compete in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes, where she finished tenth behind Maybe Discreet. She followed that up with an average effort in the Ethereal Stakes before settling handy and holding her position in the run to the line when finishing fifth in the Wakeful. Both her wins in NZ were on Slow ground and she’d need those conditions to have a chance here.
Odds: $41.00
10. TYANNA – (11)
Filly by Fastnet Rock whose Dam, Lacey Underall, won the 2008 Adelaide Cup so there should be no questions about her getting the distance if her breeding is any guide. She won a RST 62 comfortably 2 ½ length event at Bendigo but found the step up in ground when competing in the Wakeful on Saturday, a too greater task and she finished tenth, beaten five lengths. Not on that effort.
Odds: $41.00
11. LA ZUMA – C Brown (9)
A Zabeel filly who won on debut on a Slow track at Ballarat and in her following two runs, competed in a Caulfield Open and the G1 1000 Guineas, where she was well accounted for in both. Just held her spot in the run to home in Saturday’s Wakeful and should be safely held here. Can’t include her.
Odds: $15.00
12. ZUCCOTTO – J Bowman (4)
She has been brought only very slowly by her trainer Guy Walter, competing in a Goulburn Maiden, a Canberra BM 55 (which she won) then to Mornington in a RST 68 where she finished behind Transonic. Got a long way back in the Wakeful but made no impression in the straight.
Odds: $20.00
13. TEN BLACK – L Nolen (10)
She’ll get a long back, as she has done in each of her three runs this time in but find it hard to see her running down some quality fillies in this race, especially after finishing a well beaten eleventh in the Wakeful.
Odds: $71.00
14. GONDOKORO – R McLeod (8)
From her six career starts, she has placed third one and that was in a Geelong Maiden. That effort didn’t deter her trainer Pat Carey taking her to Sydney where she competed in and was accounted for, the G1 Flight Stakes. Her last start was a better effort in the Ethereal Stakes but still would have to show major improvement.
Odds: $41.00
15. FINNEGAN BEGINEGAN – C Newitt (15)
Not on her last start second in a Bendigo Maiden.
Odds: $151.00
SUMMARY
Zydeco is the one they all have to beat here. She rounded them up pretty easily on Saturday and was only asked by her Jockey, K McEvoy, to do what she had to do for the win. She’s peaking at the right time and even at $2.40, looks a good bet. Opting for Summerbliss for second off the back that her connections have completed a similar feat with a 3yo filly last year. She’s open to further improvement, draws well and has Williams onboard. For the placing, Dear Demi – class runner of the field with Maraatib (Wakeful form) and Alzora (fancy she’s still open to improvement) at $34.00 and $21.00 respectively, for some value.