The highlight in NSW on Saturday is the running of the Chipping Norton Stakes. Chris Waller, who has six runners in the race, is looking to make it successive victories in the race after Shoot Out secured him victory last year. This year, Shoot Out attempts to win the race first up from a spell as will another notable runner – Manighar. Both runners have proven the capability of winning good races at a distance, first up in the past and punters have them at the top of the betting early at $4.80 each of two.
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Chipping Norton Stakes Form Guide
1. MANIGHAR – J Parr (14)
He went within a whisker of claiming the G2 Makybe Diva Stakes first up last prep, when a nose second to Southern Speed so Moody knows how to prepare the horse for a first up win over a mile in a big race. Of concern though is the ‘visitor’s gate’. Drawn out there means he’ll settle nearer the tail of the field I would assume and, may need a little luck in the run home.
Odds: $4.80
2. KING MUFHASA – J Collett (13)
Champion Kiwi galloper who comes to Sydney after a fifth (beaten 1 ¼) in the C F Orr Stakes and a third (beaten 3 ½) on both occasions behind All Too Hard. From his wide draw he’ll go forward and did lead bar the last few hops at his last Sydney start when a long neck fourth to Mental Bender in the George Ryder. Tempo is the key for him.
Odds: $11.00
3. SHOOT OUT – J Bowman
Like Manighar, this multiple G1 winner tackles this race first up since finishing fifth in last year’s Cox Plate. Unlike the Victorian visitor however, he has drawn much more favourably and has had two barrier trials in preparation for this return. The latest trial being a solid 2 ¾ win at Warwick Farm under Bowman just over a week ago. Won the George Main first up last prep and can’t see why he wouldn’t be able to do the same again here today.
Odds: $4.80
4. DANLEIGH – J Cassidy (9)
Old boy who continues to give his best and after a pleasing effort first up in the G2 Expressway Stakes where he closed well to finish fifth, battled hard in the mud of the Apollo Stakes to claim third behind Alma’s Fury. He followed the same path into this race last year and he ended up finishing second to stable-mate Shoot Out then. Drier surface will suit and not the worst $13.00 chance you’ll ever see.
Odds: $13.00
5. ALBERT THE FAT – B Avdulla (12)
Finished seventh (beaten 3.1 lengths) when first up in the G2 Expressway Stakes in a race not run to suit before clearly not enjoying the Heavy track and finishing near on fifteen lengths from Alma’s Fury in the Apollo Stakes. Will get back from his wide draw and his record since claiming the G1 Emirates Stakes under handicap conditions, indicates that he’s just struggled to take the step up to the WFA races.
Odds: $34.00
6. GLENCADAM GOLD – K O’Hara (11)
He won his first five starts in Australia, including the G3 Newcastle Cup and G1 Metropolitan Handicap before rounding out his initial campaign with a sixth in last year’s Green Moon Melbourne Cup. Never went a yard in the muddy conditions when resuming in the Apollo Stakes a fortnight back and finished close to twenty lengths from the winner. Clearly better than that and back on a drier surface, capable of a cheeky effort at double figure odds.
Odds: $15.00
7. LASER HAWK – N Rawiller (5)
Showed a lot of promise in his 3yo season and claimed the G1 Rosehill Guineas before finishing third to Ethiopia in the AJC Derby in April of last year. We didn’t see him race then until two weeks ago but like many in the Apollo Stakes, wasn’t comfortable in the heavy track and he finished eighth of ten. Nice draw here and has been kept safe in the market at $9.00 but would like to see him perform at this elite level first.
Odds: $9.00
8. KELINNI – C Brown (10)
He is as honest as they come this bloke and has only finished worse than fourth, once in seventeen Australian starts for his Trainer Chris Waller and that was his most recent effort, where he finished fifth to Alma’s Fury in the Apollo Stakes when first up from a spell. Might not be winning here and will be better over a longer trip again but no question that he’ll be trying his absolute best.
Odds: $26.00
9. GATEWOOD – G Schofield (3)
Overseas raider who won the G3 Geelong Cup at his second Australian start before a luckless sixth in the G3 The Lexus and being spelled. Returned in the Apollo where he finished sixth (beaten 7.1 lengths). Put a pen through that first up run and he has drawn well but would prefer him in a handicap rather than a WFA race.
Odds: $34.00
10. ALMA’S FURY – B Shinn (6)
One of the most consistent horses racing at the moment and his efforts were rewarded in the Apollo Stakes where he handled the Heavy conditions the best and scored a narrow victory over Tougher Than Ever. No fluke last start and from six, will get the chance to prove it so.
Odds: $26.00
11. MONTON – C Reith (4)
His last victory was in the G2 Villiers over this track and trip back in December of 2011 – eleven starts ago now. After a brief let-up, he too resumed in the G2 Apollo Stakes but went backward from the moment the gates opened and finished second to last. Drier track and good draw are in his favour but at this level, he’ll struggle.
Odds: $51.00
12. HAVANA REY – P Robl (7)
Trainer Bjorn Baker didn’t complain about the heavy conditions on Apollo Stakes day as his charge relished the soft ground to record a resounding 2 ¼ length win in a BM 95 race. That made it two in a row but it’s a significant step up in class here obviously and I think he’ll struggle to make the step.
Odds: $15.00
13. SILENT ACHIEVER – J McDonald (1)
An exciting NZ mare who, when first up since running fourth in the G2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on Stakes Day, closed well to narrowly run second in to Maximum Height under 61kgs at Ellerslie. One win and win place from four Australian starts thus far and would suggest that this race is the tougher than any of that she’s competed in previously. Not for me at the $6.00
Odds: $6.00
14. TOUGHER THAN EVER – (8)
Good when making his Australian debut in the G2 Expressway Stakes, finishing to Happy Galaxy and then no disgrace in finishing a close second to the in-form Alma’s Fury in the Apollo Stakes a fortnight ago. Tough mare who’ll give a good account of herself but have a few rated in front of her.
Odds: $11.00
OVERVIEW.
Pace comes form King Mufhasa, Glencadam Gold and Havanna Rey, the former pair are drawn wide and think this will help ensure the race is run at a good clip and although he’ll get back, that should help Manighar who I’ve rated on top. Got the runs on the board and at 4/1 mark, is worth a ticket. Hard to line up the Apollo Stakes form which most of them come out of, given that it was run on Heavy ground in pouring rain. A few that failed there, could easily show significant improvement and would suggest throwing a couple in the exotics at big odds – Glencadam Gold and Gatewood.
