Two starts for two wins – that is the imposing form-line both Aurum Belle and Maria Lucia bring into the Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Their unbeaten records have set them apart from their twelve rivals, with Aurum Belle clearly leading the market and reputation rankings. Many judges believe the Neville Parnham-trained daughter of Snitzel could be a high-class filly in the making, reflected in her current quote of $1.80.
Aurum Belle has been dominant in both career starts, winning on debut in a Two-Year-Old Plate by two lengths before repeating the dose in the Supremacy Stakes, again scoring comfortably by 1.93 lengths over 1000m.
Brad Parnham has partnered her in both wins and retains the ride, with confidence in the filly evident from her starting prices of $2.40 and $1.35.
Maria Lucia, trained by Sean and Jake Casey, has followed a similar path. She won her debut over 1100m by two lengths before stepping up to 1200m to claim the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic at Listed level.
Chris Parnham, aboard for both victories, keeps the ride as the daughter of Rommel drops back to 1100m. She is currently rated the $6 second favourite.
Maria Lucia was a $11 winner on debut before firming into $1.95 favouritism second-up, indicating the market has quickly caught up to her ability.
Adding intrigue to the race is the wide barriers both leading contenders have drawn, with Aurum Belle in gate ten and Maria Lucia in gate thirteen.
Among the other chances, Simon Miller’s unraced Fallen City has impressed at the trials, winning over 1000m and earning $10 favouritism for her debut under Clint Johnston-Porter.
Daniel Morton’s Ruthless Angel could represent value at $18 after a win and a second placing from her first two starts, both over 1000m. Lucy Fiore, who enjoyed a feature race double earlier in the week aboard Wonderfully Made and Sentimental Legend, takes the ride.
Jedi Dream, a debut winner over 1100m, sits in between those runners in the market at $14, with Taj Dyson aboard.
With two standout unbeaten fillies and several promising challengers, the Gimcrack Stakes shapes as a key juvenile contest at Ascot.
Punters can compare markets for the Gimcrack Stakes via leading Australian betting sites.
