Feature race at Sydney’s Warwick Farm meeting is the Apollo Stakes.A field of thirteen are taking part with five entrants commencing their Autumn campaigns among them, Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk, Geelong Cup winner Gatewood, The Metropolitan winner Glencadam Gold and multiple G1 winner, Shoot Out. It makes for a great race with several legitimate chances. Early markets have Glencadam Gold on top at $3.30, just in advance of Shoot Out ($4.80) and Tougher Than Ever ($5.50)
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1. SHOOT OUT – J Bowman (7)
Fantastic galloper who has won four G1 races including the George Main Stakes when, like he is here today, first up from a spell. The George Main was over 1600m and he had three barrier trials in preparation for that return. He faces a shorter trip here and only one barrier trial under his belt.
Odds: $4.80
2. DANLEIGH – J Cassidy (3)
Nine year old who possesses a fantastic second up record of five wins from thirteen starts and showed enough first up to me included among today’s chances. He was second up last prep when claiming the G2 Chelmsford Stakes, defeating Secret Admirer by ¾ lengths. Drawn well, loves it here (only missed a place once in seven starts) and not to be underestimated.
Odds: $8.00
3. ALBERT THE FAT – B Avdulla (8)
Last win was in the G1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) in November 2011. He’s had six starts since then, four of them at WFA and he’s found himself just a few lengths off the pace on most occasions. He was first up two weeks ago in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) behind Happy Galaxy who dominated from on the speed. Warmed up well late and better suited here.
Odds: $17.00
4. GLENCADAM GOLD – T Berry (6)
Former European galloper who won his first five races in Australia including the G3 Newcastle Cup and G1 The Metropolitan and was installed a 7/2 favourite in the Caulfield Cup as a result of this form.
He finished down the track in the Caulfield Cup but bounced back to finish sixth behind Green Moon in the Melbourne Cup. Faces this first up and has followed the Waterhouse pattern of two barrier trials in readiness for his return, winning the most recent by three lengths.
Odds: $3.30
5. LASER HAWK – N Rawiller (11)
He won the G1 Rosehill Guineas and ran third in the AJC Derby behind Ethiopia last Autumn but hasn’t raced since. As you would expect, Waterhouse seems to have him ready to produce first up judging by his two barrier trials, the latest of which he by 1 ¾ but after a lengthy break, can only think he’ll be better for this run.
Odds: $8.00
6. KELINNI – C Brown (2)
Just went from strength to strength last preparation and graduated from a BM 89 to winning the G3 Lexus Stakes and running fourth in the Melbourne Cup, in the space of nine runs. He’s first up form is fair, albeit in substantially weaker races than this one and expect he’ll need this first up.
Odds: $17.00
7. GATEWOOD – J Collett (5)
Came from Europe to make his Australian debut in the G2 Herbert Power (2400m) and finished a luckless seventh before making amends at his next start and winning the Geelong Cup, only to race without luck again behind Kelinni in the Lexus Stakes. Never raced over a trip as short as this before and hasn’t been pushed in two recent barrier trials. Will be doing his best work late but we’ll wait for him to get to the longer trips.
Odds: $21.00
8. MONTON – S Clipperton (4)
Racing consistently in good races but without winning, in fact you have to go back ten starts to the Villiers Stakes of December 2011 to find his last victory. He had every chance when finishing fifth (beaten 3.1 lengths) behind Moriarty in the Listed Tatts Club Cup on New Years Day at his most recent start and picked a very tough race to resume in here.
Odds: $21.00
9. CENTENNIAL PARK – G Schofield (10)
You have to go back twenty starts to find this 7yo’s last win, which was the G2 Expressway Stakes in February 2011. Was doing his best work late first up in the Expressway Stakes of this year behind Happy Galaxy but here second up record of eight starts for one win, doesn’t whet the appetite.
Odds: $13.00
10. WILLY JIMMY – N Berry (1)
He was first up for fourteen months when producing an eye-catching effort in the Listed Takeover Target at Gosford in Jaunary but failed to re-produce that effort at his next and most recent start, settling and finishing last in the Expressway Stakes. He’ll be giving too many good horses, too much of a start here.
Odds: $101.00
11. ALMA’S FURY – B Shinn (12)
Has been in solid form and within within a whisker of being rewarded for his consistency, when a nose second to All Legal in the Villiers Stakes back in December before being taking to QLD, and claiming the Listed Bernborough Handicap a week later. Hasn’t raced since then and under the WFA conditions, coupled with the wide draw, think he’ll find this calibre a race a touch too strong.
Odds: $81.00
12. DOCTOR DOOM – R Quinn
He won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) as a 3yo but has struggled to recapture that form since. He resumed in the G2 Expressway Stakes and finished second to last (beaten 5.8 lengths). Can’t have him here.
Odds: $101.00
13. TOUGHER THAN EVER – (13)
New Zealander galloper who came to Australia with an impressive record when making his debut run for Chris Waller in the Expressway Stakes. Sat in a good spot throughout then but couldn’t match the finishing effort of Happy Galaxy but did stick on well for fourth. That was his first run in ten weeks so expect that run and the seven furlongs of today’s race, to be to his benefit.
Odds: $5.50
OVERVIEW
Good race and despite several stayer’s resuming, expecting the pace to be solid. Bit surprised to see Glencadam Gold come up in the markets as short as he has here. This is his first run back from an extensive Spring campaign and his first under WFA conditions. He’ll be kept honest should he take up his customary role of leading. I think the Waller pairing of Danleigh and Albert The Fat represent good value. Both would have taken good benefit form their hit-out in the Expressway Stakes, a race dominated by those on the pace and appreciate the longer trip and more genuine pace here.