The first of five group races on the Randwick card this weekend is for the 3yo fillies over 1400m. Whilst it is only a small field of six, it is an interesting betting race with most a chance of performing well. Four of the six runners are backing up from last fortnight’s G2 Furious Stakes including the quinella from that race, Bound For Earth ($5.50) and Guelph ($2.10). Very much in the market is the smart Arabian Gold ($2.50) who returns to racing off three smart wins during the winter.
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1. GUELPH – (4)
Claimed the final two legs of the 2yo Triple Crown last season (the G1 Sire’s Produce and G1 Champagne Stakes) before a spell of sixteen weeks. She returned in the Furious Stakes (1200m) as 4/6 on favourite and had her chance, peeling of the eventual winner’s back at just the right time but falling a half head short. She’ll obviously be better for that run and can easily go one better here.
2. BOUND FOR EARTH – N Hall (2)
Promising filly who won on debut at Canterbury back in April and two starts later, ran third in the G2 Sire’s Produce behind Zoustar. She clearly benefited from a brief break after the Sire’s and returned to win the G2 Furious Stake (1200m) beating short-priced favourite Guelph, fair and square. She should be positioned to advantage through from barrier two and capable of repeating her first up result.
3. ARABIAN GOLD – P Robl (5)
A Dubawi filly from David Vandyke’s stables who relished the soft conditions of the tracks throughout winter and strung three impressive victories together, the most recent of which (27th July) was a strong two length win over Stamina, who has been impressive in races since. She’s been tuned up for return with a smart looking trial win almost two weeks ago and lining up against some proven performers here, is very well supported in the markets and has to be a serious consideration.
4. ROMANTIC MOON – N Rawiller (3)
She won both of her two starts on good tracks in her first preparation including the G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes where she closed well from midfield to account for Thump by a length. She returned off a seventeen week spell with a fifth (beaten 3.8 lengths) in the G2 Furious Stakes. Settled back and on the fence and, as they turned for home, had to shoulder her way into the clear to obtain clear running before finish evenly. Better for that hit-out and would expect her to show good improvement.
5. SHAHAD – T Berry (1)
Still searching for her maiden victory at this start seven but she has shown her ability by running second to Scandiva in the G2 Magic Night Stakes and fifth in the G1 Sire’s Produce Stakes as a 2yo. The daughter of Fastnet Rock returned to racing in the Furious Stakes where she travelled well on the leader’s back and finished fourth behind Bound For Earth. No match for the winners last start but her best runs have come when allowed to drop out in the run and it’ll be too hard for her to do that from barrier one and run them down.
6. VOCALISE – C Reith (6)
Paul Messara trains this Redoute’s Choice filly who won well on debut back in February at Canterbury before finishing fourth in both the G3 Sweet Embrace (won by Romantic Moon) and G2 Magic Night Stakes (beaten ¾ by Scandiva). Obviously has above average ability given what she was able to produce in three starts earlier this year. Ridden by Reith in a trail last week, where she finished second of seven. Will get back from her gate and first up, might find it hard to run a few of these down given that they’ve had a run under their belts.
OVERVIEW
It’s hard to know who will lead here given the small field – maybe Arabian Gold and from the inside Shahad. The advantage Bound For Earth has is that from her gate, Hall should be able to have her in the right spot throughout. She was strong over the final stages of the Furious Stakes and held the challenge of Guelph well. If she settles in front of Guelph again, she should prove just as hard to run down. Guelph will no doubt be better for her first up run and is a class filly. Whilst she’ll be in the finish, would be confident in her chances knowing that the tempo will be an honest one. A sit and sprint affair may leave here a little vulnerable. Arabian Gold opened up shorter than expected but when the money is on for runners of this stable, they very rarely miss.
- BOUND FOR EARTH
- GUELPH
- ARABIAN GOLD
- ROMANTIC MOON
