The Fernhill Quality can often be a tricky race as we see all of these eleven 2yo at the mile for the first time. The market is a cautious one given that only two of the eleven runners have won a race! Fuerza and Hydro are the early favourites at $4.40 and a further five runners under the 10/1 mark.
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1. FUERZA – B Avdulla (6)
Despite this son of Snippetson still searching for his first win, five starts into his career, he had displayed above average ability by finishing third in the G2 Pago Pago behind Sidestep and at his most recent start, a close up (1 ¼ length) seventh to Champollion in the G3 The Schweppes. Pays for those efforts with 58kgs here but, if he can be ridden quietly, is capable of producing a big finish.
Odds: $5.00
2. IDEAL GUIDE – B Shinn (5)
Well bred colt by Red Ransom out of G2 winning mare Just Dancing who broke his maiden status in strong style with a 2 ½ length win at Wyong before a neck second to Hydro at Newcastle and went even closer last start with a head second to Champollion in the G3 The Schweppes. Last two starts, he has camped on the speed and fought out the finish and from today’s gate, looks set to do the same.
Odds: $6.50
3. GRACIOUS PROSPECT – G Schofield (10)
Well travelled galloper trained by David Hayes that, in his eight starts to date, has competed in Victoria, NSW, QLD and Tasmania – with fair results but is still searching for that elusive first win. He came close last start when appearing to have his chance, finished ¾ of a length behind Champollion and Ideal Guide in the G3 The Schweppes and the start prior to that, was second in the Listed St.Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley so he’s got his foot on the till. Drawn wide here will not help his chances.
Odds: $8.50
4. HYDRO – N Rawiller (7)
Gai Waterhouse trains this impeccably bred colt (More Than Ready x Aqua D’Amore) who led and toughed it very well two starts back to record his first win with head win at Newcastle over Ideal Guide. Draw wide in the G3 The Scweppes last week but settled well and handy and boxed on for fifth (beaten 1.1 lengths) behind Champollion.
Odds: $4.60
5. DIVA DEE – P Robl (11)
First of the fillies and this one is by Encosta de Lago and trained by Anthony Cummings. She too, like most others in the race, is still searching for her first win but has been competitive behind the likes of Montsegur in some of the better 2yo races. Like she has done here unfortunately, she draw the outside gate last start in the G3 The Schweppes and was forced to the tail of the field. She stuck to the fence and worked home well enough to finish 2.2 lengths behind the winner in a blanket finish. Will get back to near last again and have to run them all down.
Odds: $10.00
6. RIGHTONCUE – J Cassidy (1)
She started 150/1 for trainer Clarry Conners two starts back but put in a credible effort when 4.1 lengths behind Criterion in the G2 Todman Stakes. The daughter of Sebring than caught the eye at her next and latest start, when finishing better then most from the tail of the field to run fourth, beaten ½ length in the G3 The Schweppes. On the run, where she meets most of them again here, she’d appear to like the mile more so than the others and be a legitimate chance.
Odds: $5.00
7. AZTEC ROSE – T Berry (2)
Another Sebring filly, this one trained by Gai Waterhouse. She’s made her debut in February with a fifth in a Canterbury Maiden before almost running down stable-mate Hydro at Newcastle. She then dropped back in distance, found a Slow track and smart performer in Florid Affair at her last start, where she finished third (beaten 4.6 lengths.) Better suited here and on a former service and on the Hydro run, would think that $9.00 on offer isn’t bad shopping.
Odds: $10.00
8. ARTISTIC LASS – J Collett (4)
Myboycharlie filly with David Payne who has four starts, has got back in each of them and has recorded a third behind Certitude and at her last start, where she seem to enjoy the soft track, second to Florid Affair (beaten 4 ¼) The mile will suit as would any sting out of the track but would like to see he deliver the goods in race like this before backing her to do so.
Odds: $19.00
9. AIRCRAFT – SCRATCHED
10. RIOCETTO – C Brown (8)
Has started big prices in both of his starts for the Voigt training partnership but did close well at his most recent start when finishing fourth behind Zaba Zaba Doo in a Randwick Maiden over 1200m on Easter Monday. That was an encouraging effort for him moving forward but a race of this nature might be a bit too soon.
Odds: $26.00
11. STAR WARS – (9)
Not bad on debut behind Dothraki in a Canterbury Open before being outgunned in the Black Opal at Canberra at his next start. Starcraft colt then wasn’t bad (fifth) behind Hydro and the finished second to last in the G3 The Schweppes at his last start. Mixing his form makes it hard to get an accurate handle on this bloke so best to leave him out for now.
Odds: $41.00
OVERVIEW
Expect Hydro to roll forward with Ideal Guide and wouldn’t be surprised to see Aztec Rose handier today from her draw. Going to go around the favourite pair here and tip Rightoncue. Really caught the eye last time out – her first over 1400m – and think the mile will suit her down to the ground. Aztec Rose is value at $9.00 and capable of bouncing back – lets just hope the track is drier than her last outing. Now we can put the two favourites in for third.