It’s $6.50 the field in the Yellowglen Stakes with Shamal Wind holding favouritism. Remarkably, we then have a further eleven runners in the field of seventeen at or under the $15.00 mark, headed by Bennetta and Lonhspresso at $8.00. All bar one runner has won at least Listed level whilst ten of the seventeen runners are Group winners. The Group 1 racing will have had finished for the day by the time we get to this race, the second to last race on the card however, the task of finding a winner will not be any easier.
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1. SPIRIT OF BOOM – N Hall (14)
He was rewarded for his two good runs back from a spell – third in the G2 The Shorts and second in the G2 Gilgai Stakes – with victory last start in the G2 Caulfield Sprint a fortnight ago. He sat near the tail of the field and missed a lot of the traffic in the straight by hooking out wide on the turn and finishing well. Goes very well up the Flemington straight and is in good form.
Odds: $15.00
2. HOT SNITZEL – J Bowman (10)
Despite being first up off a sixteen week spell and having to carry 60kgs in the Listed Caulfield Village Stakes (1200m) just over a fortnight ago, expected to see a bit more than his ninth of twelve (beaten 7.4 lengths) behind Complicate. Did win second up last prep – the G3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) – after an average effort resuming but it came on a slow track, a track condition on which he has recorded three of his six career wins.
Odds: $41.00
3. FAT AL – L Nolen (7)
Had his first start for new trainer Peter Moody a fortnight ago (formerly with Gai Waterhouse) and did well to finish eighth and 3 ½ lengths from Spirit Of Boom in the Caulfield Sprint (1100m). Better for that run and whilst the extra 100m of this event suits, he may even need further still now before he produces his best.
Odds: $67.00
4. FONTELINA – P Robl (9)
A good effort first up saw him finished 2 ½ lengths behind the inform Speediness in the G3 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) before contesting the G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). From a good draw he was afforded a lovely run in transit and held a slender lead in the shadows of the post before Rebel Dane dived, and bettered him by a nose. Won this race last year under 54.5kgs (57.5kgs this year) but going well enough at present to counter the weight increase.
Odds: $12.00
5. RAREFIED – D Browne (13)
No luck on the turn or in the straight when resuming in the G2 Premiere Stakes and best to ignore his finishing position of twelfth, 5.2 lengths behind Arinosa. The Commands gelding then lined up in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1100m) at Randwick but was caught wide with 59kgs and battled home behind Famous Seamus for third, beaten 2 ¾ lengths. Has had excuses both runs back and at his best when ridden cold however, this is a race of good depth and he’d after produce a career best to be winning here.
Odds: $19.00
6. PAGO ROCK – B Rawiller (17)
Has been in very good form this time in and has finished within a length of the winner in his last two starts – the G2 Schillaci Stakes and more recently, the G2 Caulfield Sprint. A nice run off the speed saw him let down well in the Schillaci before Unpretentious burst through late to win by a head. From a wide gate he sat three wide but was again in the thick of the finish when a length fourth to Spirit of Boom in the Caulfield Spirit. Meets Spirit of Boom better again at the weight and has to be conceded a place chance in the last on recent efforts.
Odds: $15.00
7. STEPS IN TIME – N Rawiller (5)
Led and maybe got a little lost having her first look up the Flemington straight in the G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) as she kicked again when headed in that race. She then led again at her next and most recent start in the G2 Tristarc Stakes, setting a good tempo up front but having no answer late for Red Tracer’s finishing burst and running fourth, 4 ¼ lengths away. Will go forward again and now having had a look up the straight, is capable of giving them plenty to catch.
Odds: $10.00
8. ALBRECHT – J McDonald (8)
After a relatively disappointing autumn campaign, the son of Redoute’s Choice has produced two much better efforts since returning from a spell. He flashed home behind Speediness in the G3 Bobbie Lewis (this track/trip), a race which has proven a fantastic form reference, before running a close up fifth behind Platelet in the G2 Gilgai Stakes. Drew the inside in the Gilgai and didn’t have anything to follow into the race, he should get plenty of choices here though from this gate. Spirit of Boom has franked that form of his last start and Darley’s decision to keep him to short course races this time in, as well as spacing his runs, is paying dividends.
Odds: $12.00
9. AMAETHON – B Prebble (2)
We haven’t seen this 7yo since he finished last in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill back in June of this year. He was competitive in Group 3 races a few seasons back but his form since those runs, suggests that he’ll struggle in a quality race such as this.
Odds: $41.00
10. LONGPORT – C Newitt (16)
She ran a head second to Norzita in the G1 Vinery Stakes (2000m) before running fifth to Royal Descent in the ATC Oaks in April. We haven’t seen the daughter of Casino Prince, who was purchased from Patinack Farm by Queensland trainer Danny Bougoure shortly after her last campaign, since. Her new trainer has picked a tough first up assignment for her and would expect that she’ll need this run and a longer trip.
Odds: $81.00
11. SHAMAL WIND – G Boss (12)
Felt the 58kgs and wasn’t able to produce her regular strong finish when fifth (beaten 2.9 lengths) behind Aerobatics in the G3 Series Final two starts back. She then dropped to 53kgs in the Caulfield Sprint but found plenty of trouble in the run only finding space over the final 100m and finishing well to run second to Spirit of Boom. Another light weight and anticipated solid speed here will be to her benefit. Only a touch of luck in the run would be required to see her figure in the finish.
Odds: $6.50
12. BENNETTA – J Cassidy (1)
She finished off well first up in the G3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) running fourth before again hitting the line well to run a long neck third to Sharnee Rose and Red Tracer in the G3 Golden Pendant (1400m). The 4yo by Dubawi then stepped out, at her most recent start, in the G2 Tristarc Stakes and given her previous runs, her finishing position of eighth out of fifteen was disappointing. Back to what should be a strongly run 1200m will suit and enable her to use the turn of foot she has displayed in the past.
Odds: $8.00
13. KARACATIS – M Walker (11)
Adelaide galloper who won the listed W H Wylie Handicap first up off a spell before four weeks later, running third to Golden Penny as the 9/10 favourite in the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1200m). The Durbridge was a WFA event meaning the 5yo by Hussonet had to carry 58.5kgs. Whilst this is a far stronger class of race, he does drop to 53kgs and has been kept relatively safe in betting markets at $13.00.
Odds: $13.00
14. LONHSPRESSO – C Williams (15)
Rounded out his last campaign with three consecutive wins including the G2 Centrebet Classic (1200m) where he defeated Essay Raider with Shamal Wind third. Trainer Darren Weir then produced the Lonhro mare first up in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) a fortnight ago where, under 59kgs, she found traffic on the turn before getting out late and finishing strongly to run third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Liesele. Taking a line though her win over Shamal Wind last prep and her good effort when resuming, she’s another that would not surprise if prominent on the line.
Odds: $8.00
15. CHIARAMONTE – K McEvoy (6)
Led when, as the 3/1 favourite, he was able to hold off all bar It Is Written and Richie’s Vibe in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m). Dropped back to the 1100m of the Caulfield Sprint last start and surprised he again didn’t make a bee-line for the front. The decision proved costly as for the entire length of the straight, the Darley representative was always looking for a way out and went to the line under a hold, finishing seventh and 2.2 lengths behind Spirit Of Boom. Will go forward today and with any luck last start, would’ve been right in the finish.
Odds: $11.00
16. KNIGHT EXEMPLAR – T Berry (4)
Only won the two races from twelve starts but the son of Exceed and Excel has gone close to bettering that record in his last two outings. A half length second to Heart Testa in a BM 85 (1100m) at Rosehill was followed by a strong effort in the G2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) when sixth and only half a length behind Arinosa. Will shoot forward but will have many talented horses at this level breathing down his neck.
Odds: $15.00
17. ESSAY RAIDER – B Avdulla (3)
Adelaide galloper who was taken to Victorian for a shot at the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) two starts back and finished well from the back of the field to run fifth (beaten 3.1 lengths) behind It Is Written. He returned home at this next and most recent start with an emphatic 6 ¼ length win in a RST 86 race (1200m). Much stronger here but does have some form around Lohnspresso and Shamal Wind from earlier this year which, if he were able to reproduce here, would see him competitive again.
Odds: $13.00
RACE OVERVIEW
Plenty of speed here, most of it drawn toward the inside. Steps In Time, Chiaramonte and Knight Exemplar will all be prominent from the jump. Hard to know where to look here but will stick with Albrecht. His two runs back have been good and think Peter Snowden and his Darley team have found the key to him this time in. From gate eight, he should get a nice run behind the speed and be able to finish hard. Same case applies to Fontelina who has drawn outside of Albrecht in nine. He won this race last year and his recent efforts would indicate he is going even better this time in. As the market suggests, anyone of a number of horses could win this and cause no surprise.
- ALBRECHT
- FONTELINA
- LOHNSPRESSO
- SHAMAL WIND
