Punters were quick to support Commanding Jewel’s attempt to win consecutive Let’s Elope Stakes with the Commands mare firming in early better from $2.90 to $2.60. Commanding Jewel is sticking with the formula that saw her defeat Catkins and A Time For Julia last year and contesting this race second up from a spell. The early money for Commanding Jewel has seen Gregers, who defeated her when they met last fortnight in the Cockram Stakes, ease from $3.30 to $3.70. Solicit, who opened a $6.00 chance and is the only other runner under double figure odds, is rated any hope of causing an upset according to the market. She’s unbeaten fresh and won the G3 Mitty’s Vanity, over this course and distance, in comfortable style first up last campaign.
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1. COMMANDING JEWEL – D Oliver (7)
Returned to racing off almost a year’s break with a very good third (half a length) to Gregers in the Cockram Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago. From the inside gate she settled three back the fence and just had to wait for a stride or two rounding the turn, before making her run home along the fence. She can only be fitter for that effort and is right in the mix here.
Odds: $2.60
2. DEAR DEMI – J Cassidy (5)
She too returned to racing from a spell in the Cockram Stakes and was doing her best work late when fifth (2.6 lengths) behind Gregers. She drew the widest gate in a field of eleven, settled at the tail of the field and given the race was dominated by those on speed and closer to the fence, her effort to finish from well back and out wide was a good one. Got too far back second up last prep in the G1 Coolmore Stakes but her previous second up form reads very well and includes victories in the G2 Furious Stakes and G2 Surround Stakes plus, a third (0.9 lengths) in the G1 Underwood Stakes. Cannot be underestimated.
Odds: $10.00
3. GREGERS – C Williams (3) 58kgs
Started the 10/9 favourite in the Cockram Stakes a fortnight ago after an emphatic 3.3 length win first up from a spell. The Commands mare sat second outside of leader A Time For Julia and found a bit too much for that horse late, winning by a long neck. Drawn to get the gun run here and she’s only finished outside of the top four once in her fifteen starts.
Odds: $3.70
4. VIADANA – C Grylls (4) 58kgs
New Zealand 7yo mare who has won eleven of her thirty-one starts including the G1 NZ Breeders and G1 Easter Handicap – both over a mile. She crosses the Tasman for the first time after failing to make an impression from back of the field first up in the G3 Foxbridge Stakes (1200m) on a slow track – where her record doesn’t read well. She hasn’t missed a place in five second-up runs and a firmer track should see an improved effort but happy to see how she measures up against some of Australia’s best mares.
Odds: $26.00
5. BONARIA – M Rodd (8)
Just couldn’t sprint carrying the 59kgs over 1100m first up at Caulfield when sixth of ten in Open class before a luckless run in the straight saw her finish eighth (4.6 lengths) in the Cockram Stakes a fortnight ago. She got back from an inside gate and missed a run when starting to build momentum twice in the straight. Goes well at Flemington and for Rodd and at $15.00, is worth throwing into exotics for some value.
Odds: $16.00
6. SOLICIT – C Schofield (2)
The well performed mare makes her return to racing for local training partnership of Ellerton/Zahra off a twenty-one week spell. She hasn’t been to the trials but that was also the case before she dominated the field in the G3 Mitty’s Vanity Stakes (1400m) first up last preparation. She’ll roll forward from gate two and be a good chance of keeping her perfect record over this track and trip intact.
Odds: $7.00
7. GIG – C Newitt (10)
Tough Commands mare that has filled a place in three of her past four starts which includes the G3 Bletchingly Stakes and P. B. Lawrence Stakes. Her most recent effort saw her finish seventh in the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) after settling at the tail of the field. Will settle at the back of the field again given she’s drawn the widest gate again and whilst she’ll no doubt give her all, she has some smart mares to run down here.
Odds: $11.00
8. NAUTICAL – M Zahra (6)
Closed from well back in the field and survived a protest to win a fillies and mares race here two starts back before failing to make an impression from the tail end of the field in the Leilani Final (1400m) on a slow track. Spelled after that run and resumes here off a seven week let up with the benefit of a recent Cranbourne trial. Improving mare but this is a few notches higher than what she’s contested in the past.
Odds: $34.00
9. WINTA CHILLER – (9)
Started favourite two starts back in a fillies and mares RST 84 race over 1400m but just batted home, running seventh (5.2 lengths) of twelve behind Aliyana. The daughter of Artie Schiller was much better at her next and most recent start, despite the step up in grade, and finished well for third to get within a neck of Suavito and Lorna May. Had been mixing her form a bit of late but last start may have her back on track. Will need to produce a career best to win here.
Odds: $61.00
10. LORNA MAY – D Dunn (1)
Has been defeated on the line at both of her starts back from a spell by two handy gallopers. First up it was Rock Sturdy in a BM 80 (1350m) at Rosehill and last start, it was Suavito at Caulfield in an Open race for fillies and mares. Like she did in both of the above runs, she has drawn perfectly here in one and again should get every chance to figure in the finish.
Odds: $15.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
Typically competitive mares race here. Solicit will roll along out in with Gregers for company and that pari providing a nice lead for Lorna May from the inside gate. Pace should be fair and the back-makers should get their chance. Commanding Jewel won this race last year second up and looks well placed to go back-to-back given her fresh run. Gregers just doesn’t run bad races and the gate her is ideal. Should the pace be keener than ideal, Williams can take a sit. Bonaria should’ve finished closer last time out and has enough form at Flemington to warrant inclusion among the selections at her price.
- COMMANDING JEWEL
- SOLICIT
- GREGERS
- BONARIA
