Eight quality runners make their return to racing in this Saturday’s Missile Stakes and punters are divided as to who it will be that will start their campaign on a winning note. When markets first opened for the Group 2 race Wednesday afternoon, early favourites were Rebel Dane ($3.10) and Sweet Idea ($3.40) however, good support for the Team Hawkes repre-sentative Messene, and at a longer price Weary ($9.00), has seen Rebel Dane and Sweet Idea both ease out to $3.70.
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1. 1. BOBAN – G Schofield (5) 58.5kgs
Started the 11/4 favourite first up last prep when contesting the G2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) but could only manage fifth (3 lengths) behind Appearance. It wasn’t until his third up run last time in, over a mile, that he recorded his maiden WFA victory, with a length win over It’s A Dundeel in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes. Has only the one win to show from five first up runs but has had a good break for this campaign, only had ten weeks off leading into the previous prep, and looked ready to produce a better effort than past fresh runs judging by his latest barrier trial, his second in the past three weeks.
Odds: $9.00
2. REBEL DANE – B Shinn (4) 58.5kgs
Produced an outstanding effort first up on a heavy track last prep to finish second (2 lengths) be-hind star sprinter Lankan Rupee in the G1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m). That run suggested the 5yo stallion was set for a big campaign however from his three starts that followed, two of which he started favourite for, he was unable to fill a place. He has an exceptional first up record (4: 3-1-0) which allow with the above effort, includes the G2 Royal Sovereign Stakes and G3 Show Country – both over this distance, and the barrier draw should see him settle in the box seat.
Odds: $3.70
3. LASER HAWK – K McEvoy (8) 58.5kgs
Showed plenty as a 3yo back in the autumn of 2012, winning the G1 Rosehill Guineas and finishing third to Ethopia as favourite in the ATC Derby however the son of Artie Schiller has been plagued by injury and since then, has had only three starts. He resumes here for new trainer Joe Pride off a fifteen month spell and whilst he’s had the benefit of three trials in the past six weeks, expect him to find this field too slick.
Odds: $41.00
4. HAWKSPUR – T Angland (3) 58.5kgs
Although he only recorded one placing – third in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) – from five starts during his autumn campaign, the Purrealist gelding did claim fourth in the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and finished in the same position again in the G1 Doncaster (1600m). From five first up runs, his best effort has been a second in a Warwick Farm 1400m as a 2yo with his start prior to this one, the last time he contested a race over 1200m.
Likely to need this run and possibly another before we saw him at his best.
Odds: $34.00
5. MESSENE – J McDonald (1) 58.5kgs
The lightly raced 6yo gelding rewarded his trainers and connections for their patience, by continuing to deliver results when last in work. He kicked off that campaign by stringing four wins together, starting with a Kensington BM 95 (1200m) and ending with the G2 Ajax Stakes (1500m), taking his career strike rate to nine wins from only twelve starts in the process. He rounded out his preparation by running seventh in the G1 Doncaster Handicap.
The son of Lonhro has been prepped for his return with two sharp barrier trials and whilst this is his first attempt at a WFA event, the inside gate and the likelihood of further improvement again over the break, should see him produce a competitive run.
Odds: $4.40
6. WEARY – J Bowman (6) 58.5kgs
The former European galloper could not have been more impressive in his first Australian cam-paign during the autumn. The gelding by Astronomer Royal won the G3 Doncaster Prelude at only his third run in and filled places in the G2 Ajax Stakes (3rd behind Messene), the G1 Doncaster Handicap (3rd to Sacred Falls) and G1 All Aged Stakes (2nd Hana’s Goal). A spell of three months would’ve only served to improve the 5yo who hasn’t been asked to produce a great deal in his two recent barrier trials. His first start, a Maiden in the UK which he won, was his only start over 1200m and whilst he’ll be finishing well, likely to find a few here to slick.
Odds: $9.00
7. SWEET IDEA – T Berry (7) 56.5kgs
Ultra consistent mare who has finished in the top two in ten of her thirteen starts. She won the 3yo Magic Millions Stakes first up last prep as a short odds on favourite before going on to claim the G2 Light Fingers Stakes and finish a close second to Steps In Time in the G1 Coolmore Classic. She rounded out her campaign by taking on open company for the first time in the G1 TJ Smith and on a bog track, ran ninth (6 lengths) to Lankan Rupee. First go at WFA here and expect her to shoot across from the wide gate. She’ll be wound up and ready to go, she won her only barrier trial three weeks ago in a good man-ner but she’ll have to be at or near her very best as she’ll have a couple smart performers out after her in the straight.
Odds: $3.70
8. KIRRAMOSA – T Clark (3) 56.5kgs
Rounded out her last campaign by claiming the G2 Wakeful Stakes/G1 VRC Crown Oaks double, taking her career strike rate to four wins from eight starts. She was forced to sit out the autumn carnival but reports from the track are that she’s returned in very good order. The daughter of Alamosa hasn’t been seen at the public trials but over this trip and in this class, happy to wait for her to get over a longer trip.
Odds: $34.00
9. THUMP – B Avdulla (9) 56.5kgs
Red Ransom mare who claimed the G2 Surround Stakes second up last preparation (defeating Sweet Idea) with a strong on-pace effort before lining up as a 4/1 chance when taking on the older horses in the G1 William Reid Stakes.
She finished eighth (2.4 lengths) there behind Spirit Of Boom after having her chance in the run before rounding out her campaign with a fourth (2.9 lengths) to Sidestep in the G2 Royal Sovereign Stakes. Can produce a run fresh, claimed the Silver Shadow (again defeating Sweet Idea) first up but jumping from the widest gate in a smart field will make this a difficult task
Odds: $9.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
Expect Sweet Idea and Thump to come across from their wide gate with Messene pushing up from the inside draw. This should see Jockey Blake Shinn have Rebel Dane, who jumps from gate four, in the box seat throughout and ready to strike. He has a great first up record and is better suited over this trip than most of his competitors. Expect Waller’s trio, Boban, Hawkspur, Weary, all to be hitting the line hard but unless they set a breakneck speed, it’s hard to see them reeling in the leaders over this trip.
- REBEL DANE
- MESSENE
- SWEET IDEA
- BOBAN
