The staying feature of the day has attracted a field of eleven with Chris Waller deciding to run Hawkspur in the G1 George Main Stakes instead. This should allow stable-mate Beaten Up, who ran second to Hawkspur last start, the chance to add to his already impressive Australian race record. He’s the $2.60 favourite in early markets. The Waller team continues their domination of Sydney feature races with Moriarty ($4.60) and Bayrir ($7.00) the next best in betting.
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1. BEATEN UP – Scratched
He is the winner of the G1 Doomben Cup back in May at only his fourth Australian start before taking an eleven week spell. He returned with a pleasing effort in the G2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm, finishing fourth (beaten 1.9 lengths) behind Veyron, before stepping out as favourite in G2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick a fortnight ago. Drawing wide, he was taking to the front and well rated but was no match for stable-mate Hawkspur over the final stages, finishing second by 3 ¼ lengths. Again he’s drawn a little awkwardly but gets to the right distance now third up and just needs to find a spot in the run to be competitive again.
2. MASKED MARVEL – N Hall (3)
A former European galloper, this 6yo had his first Australian start and his first start in a year, in the G2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight ago. From a wide gate he settled at the tail of the field and finished last, six lengths from winner Foreteller. You couldn’t expect much more from him in the Makybe and he gets back to the right class and up closer to his preferred distance. Still think he’ll be better for this run as well.
3. KELINNI – Scratched
As expected, he couldn’t go with the hot pace of the Warwick Stakes (1400m) first up and was only warming up late when tenth (beaten 4.6 lengths) behind Veyron. Again he dropped out to the tail of the field but was making ground out wide behind Hawkspur in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at his next and most recent start a fortnight ago. The jump up to 2000m third up is ideal and expect to see sharp improvement and a strong finish.
4. MORIARTY – N Rawiller (5)
A much better effort in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago, when fourth behind Hawkspur, than he produced when second to last in the G2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) first up. He rounded out a solid campaign last time in with an impressive win over Quintessential in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m). He certainly has the ability and from five, Nash will have him in the box seat throughout.
5. GLENCADAM GOLD – T Berry (5)
After a brief and poor autumn campaign that saw him fail in both the G2 Apollo Stakes and G1 Chipping Norton, the Gai Waterhouse trained galloper returned to racing in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago. As expected for a stayer resuming, he was in much need of the run and finished fairly to run eighth of eleven, six lengths of the winner Hawkspur. He jumps to the suitable distance of 2000m now and has won two from four second up but happy to give another start yet before including him selections.
6. BAYRIR – B Shinn (10)
A well travelled European 5yo by Medicean who know calls the Rosehill Stables of Chris Waller home. He made is Australian debut with an encouraging half length second to Coup Ay Tee in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) before a month off and stepping out in last fortnight’s G2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) He only held his ground in the run to the line and finished sixth (beaten 5.6 lengths) behind Hawkspur. That run and a step up in trip may help but prepared to see what he can produced.
7. SNEAK A PEEK – J Parr (8)
A former Italian galloper who now is under the care of Peter Moody, the 6yo ran some respectable races during last spring behind Green Moon and Happy Trails etc. He couldn’t go with the early pace of the Warwick Stakes (1400m) finishing eleventh and 4.7 lengths behind winner Veyron before a better effort in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) when fourth behind Hawkspur. Had is chance in the run last start but didn’t have the ping required when needed. Stepping up to the 2000m helps but is still yet to run a place in six Australian starts.
8. PELICANO – G Schofield (6)
Tony McEvoy trained runner who kicked off this campaign three starts ago with a dashing effort in the G3 Aurie’s Star (1200m) behind Broken and backed that up with another good finishing effort behind Ibicenco in the Listed Slickpix (1700m). Ventured to Sydney for his next and most recent start where he only held his ground in the Kingstown Town Stakes (2000m) when 4.7 lengths behind the in-form Prince Cheri. Might take some benefit from the run over that trip and wouldn’t dismiss lightly despite the big odds.
9. IRONSTEIN – B Avdulla (2)
Went out over the odds last start in the Listed Premier’s Cup, his third run back from a spell, when second (beaten a head) to in-form Less Is More at $71.00. From a good draw, he was afforded every opportunity in the run but will have to do a bit more work from today’s awkward draw. Fourth up last prep finished fourth behind Shahwardi in the G2 Herbert Power (2400m) and is not to be dismissed lightly.
10. DARCI BE GOOD – K O’Hara (12)
Put in a good performance second up from a spell when third (beaten 1.3 lengths) behind Coup Ay Tee in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup and backed that up with an honest on-pace effort in the Listed Premier’s Cup (fifth to Less Is More). Blew alarmingly in the market last week when lining up in the Kingstown Stakes (2000m) and after leading, weakened form the turn to run sixth of thirteen behind Prince Cheri. Has to show a big form reversal in the space of a week.
11. HAWKSPUR – SCRATCHED
12. KINGDOMS – T Clark (11)
Promising stayer by High Chaparral who run third behind It’s A Dundee in the ATC Derby and third again behind Usanity and Honorius in the G3 Frank Packer Plate last season. He resumed in a BM 95 over 1500m at Rosehill three weeks back and no luck at all in the straight, going to the line untested to finish 6.1 lengths behind Prince Cheri. He might be capable of producing a surprising run second up at good value.
OVERVIEW
Darcie Be Good to cross from his wide gate and be followed across by Beaten Up with Glencadam Gold and Moriarty close to the speed. Will entrust Bowman to get Beaten Up into a winnable position from his draw. He held all bar the impressive Hawkspur at bay last start in the Chelmsford Stakes and the 2000m third up looks ideal. Stable-mate Moriarty may be the danger. He too is third up from a spell and last start in the Chelmsford would’ve prepared him well for the 2000m – a trip where he possess a very strong record. A couple at good odds not be overlooked are Kingdoms ($8.00), and Kelinni ($15.00) who we’ll through in to round out the trifecta.
- BEATEN UP
- MORIARTY
- KELINNI
- KINGDOMS
