Punter’s are backing Gerald Ryan’s Washington Heights to break his maiden status in this weekend’s Ming Dynasty Stakes, installing the son of Commands as the $2.50 favourite for the Group 3 event. Washington Heights has hit the line strongly in each of his two starts and stepping up to the 1400m for the first time looks ideal. Godolphin’s Mersault is on the second line ($4.00) after he had little luck over the final stages of a dramatic Up and Coming Stakes when resuming from a spell. Also coming out of the Up and Coming Stakes with a hard luck story is Gai Waterhouse’s Valentia ($8.50). The only other runner under double figure odds when markets opened Wednesday was Panzer Division ($9.00).
Ming Dynasty Quality Form Guide
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1. VALENTIA – B Shinn (6) 59kgs
He dad very little luck when resuming in the G3 Up and Coming Stakes after being carried off the track by wayward leader Liberation. An uninterrupted run home would’ve seen the Fastnet Rock colt right in the mix. Has to give some smart gallopers here weight but hard can’t be left out of calculations after his first up effort.
Odds: $8.50
2. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS – B Avdulla (9) 57kgs
Spelled after finishing hard for second on debut in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes in April, and returned with a pleasing effort behind Nostradamus in the G3 San Domenico Stakes, again finishing second. Draw the inside and had to make his run home along the fence which probably wasn’t the ideal part of the track. Handles the wet as his breeding and debut would suggest and the outside gate, given his racing pattern, is not of great concern. Should be involved in the finish.
Odds: $2.60
3. PANZER DIVISION – T Angland (10) 55kgs
Secured a lovely run from the inside gate when contesting the Up and Coming Stakes first up from a spell. When there was drama in front of him and interference to those making their runs out wide, the Redoute’s Choice colt was in the right place to take advantage and battled out the finish with stable-mate Scissor Kick, eventually running second by the narrowest of margins. Drawn the widest gate this time which will see him working harder for a run however, can’t knock either of his starts to date and can’t be ruled out entirely on that factor alone.
Odds: $8.00
4. CLOVER LANE – S Clipperton (8) 54kgs
Won a Maiden on debut and ran third in a BM 64, both at Bendigo, before trainer Peter Moody shipped the O’Reilly filly to Sydney for a crack at the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes. She settled behind the leading pair and stuck on well despite being no match from the smart Bring Me The Maid and Memorial, finishing third (2.8 lengths). Meets a tougher field here and takes on the boys for the first time.
Odds: $17.00
5. BOLD CIRCLE – (4) 54kgs
Returned from a ten month spell in the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) and struggled after such a lengthy lay-off, finishing last and over five lengths from the winner Scissor Kick. He backed that effort up a week later by finishing seventh (4 lengths) behind Nostradamus with a better finishing effort in the G3 San Domenico (1100m). The step up now to 1400m could see him a sharp improver and a value chance at eachway odds.
Odds: $34.00
6. LADY SHARAPOVA – J McDonald (7) 54kgs
Well bred Fastnet Rock filly who returned from a break to record her maiden win at Canterbury, defeating Group placed Twirl by a length. Ran sixth of fifteen in the G2 Magic Night Stakes in her only start on a rain effected track where from she came home along the fence, not the ideal place to be. Smart filly from the right yard that has shown enough at each of her three starts to warrant plenty of consideration here.
Odds: $10.00
7. MEURSAULT – K McEvoy (5) 54kgs
Immediately spelled after an impressive three length win on debut at Hawkesbury and returned with an unlucky sixth (2.4 lengths) of nine behind Scissor Kick in the Up and Coming Stakes. Building into his run the son of Medaglia D’oro was struck interference at the 250m and was then carried wide the last 75m as the leader ran off. Protested unsuccessfully and should’ve finished much closer than he did last time out, a race that should be a good indicator for this event.
Odds: $4.00
8. SHOOTING TO WIN – (2) 54kgs
Returned from a brief let-up and a with two wins from as many starts to his name – a Kembla Maiden and Canterbury restricted race – when lining up in the G3 Up and Coming Stakes. The Peter and Paul Snowden trained son of Northern Meteor never looked comfortable on the heavy track and didn’t improve his position from the tail of the field, finishing eighth (4.3 lengths) behind Scissor Kick. Meets a similar field again and what his likely to be similar ground.
Odds: $18.00
9. ROAD TO SHANGRI LA – J Collett (1)
Trainer Anthony Cummings was going to debut his this son of Road To Rock the Up and Coming Stakes a fortnight ago but he was withdrawn the morning of the race and saved for an easier Warwick Farm maiden (1400m) four days later. In very heavy conditions, the half brother to the well performed Winter King – who won four from seven on wet tracks, ploughed his way through the wet to win by a head. Good effort on debut but under 57kgs. Drops nicely in weight here and capable of a cheeky run from the inside draw. 2011’s Ming Dynasty winner Ambidexter won after winning a Warwick Farm maiden.
Odds: $21.00
10. TASHBEEN – J Lloyd (3) 54kgs
Returned from a spell of twenty weeks to take out a Seymour Maiden by half a length where the Hayes/Dabernig trained colt started 5/4 on. The short price was due to his first campaign which, whilst not producing a win, did see him contest the G3 Chairman’s Stakes on debut – finishing unplaced from a wide gate, and run second to Awesome Rock (good second in last week’s Vain Stakes). Only expose to wet ground saw him struggle – at the end of his first prep – in the G3 The Schweppes at Rosehill, finishing eighth and over as many lengths away from the winner Bachman. Stable obviously have high hopes for him but still yet to prove himself at his level.
Odds: $21.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
Panzer Division, Clover Lane and Valentia – all draw in the second half of the field, should push forward and help set the pace here. Jumping from gate 5, Mersault should be able to find a nice spot just of the speed. He draw eight from eight first up in the Up and Coming and dropped out to the tail before winding up well just as the interference occurred. Would’ve been right in the mix with a clear run and is a leading contender here. Washington Height should thrive at the 1400m and his debut effort before Hallowed Crown – who won the Run To The Roses on a heavy track last weekend, confirms he’ll handle the wet. As the market suggests, the winner should come from one of these two. Valentia was good/unlucky as well but the weight on a wet track and some pressure up front might make him a touch vulnerable late whilst for a bit of value in the multiples, Road To Shangri La and Bold Circle could both produce cheeky efforts.
- WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
- MERSAULT
- VALENTIA
- ROAD TO SHANGRI LA
