Horse Racing Preview Weekend 07 03
Worth a closer look…
The ThoroughbredNEWS team look at different aspects of the form ahead of another top weekend of domestic and international action. There may or may not be winners, but there are definitely some interesting points of view worth a closer look…
Friday
Newcastle Race 5 – 3:40pm 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1400m)
FRONTEX is a lightly-raced 4-year-old trained by Team Hawkes whose two runs to date have been most encouraging. A late closing second at Canterbury Park on debut was followed by a very solid third at Kembla when the gelding might just have been beaten by two pretty smart horses in the making. Frontex had two entries for this program but goes for this longer assignment despite being drawn off the track. It shouldn’t phase Tommy Berry riding at the provincials for the day.
Saturday
Hawkesbury Race 1 – 1:15pm Super Maiden Handicap (1300m)
MARKDEL lines-up for start No. 7 still a maiden after some promising efforts as a 2- and 3-year-old. Actually based at Cranbourne with Anthony & Sam Freedman, the well-bred son of Snitzel has placed on no fewer than four occasions, including a last start second first-up from a spell when he finished over three lengths clear of the minor placegetter. Markdel heads to Hawkesbury on Saturday and will be expected to chalk-up win No.1 for his very prominent connections.
Flemington Race 7 – 3:30pm Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m)
TOM KITTEN just missed winning the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on February 14th after being held up at the crucial moment when he was ready to challenge. Never mind thinking he could have, should have won, it did not happen. Time to set matters right and with this small field, somehow labelled a Group 1 racing for $2.5 million, there is the length of the wide Flemington straight for Ben Melham to find racing room.
Randwick Race 7 – 3:50pm Group 1 The Agency Randwick Guineas (1600m)
BROADSIDING was excellent in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes over 1400m at Rosehill on the 22nd and the Too Darn Hot (GB) colt will continue here in the Randwick Guineas. His sire is leaving winning progeny at will and he will certainly not return for Southern Hemisphere stud duties. Broadsiding is his replacement, and we should watch this colt race while we can as it may not be long before he is off to replace his sire.
Flemington Race 8 – 4:10pm Group 2 TAB & World Pool Kewney Stakes (1600m)
TREASURETHE MOMENT is going for her sixth win in succession. The sequence commenced back in September when the Matt Laurie trained Alabama Express filly won a handicap over 1400m at Sandown. She finished the spring winning the Group 1 Oaks over 2500m and resumed winning the Group 2 Armanasco Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield on the 22nd. Yu Long have a very good filly here and we can all admire her ability once again back at Flemington.
Sunday
Canberra Race 5 – 1:57pm Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m)
SNOW IN MAY heads to Canberra for arguably the best program staged in the ACT for a number of seasons and will look to record her first stakes victory in this Listed event. Placed at Group 1 and Group 2 level in the spring, this member of the O’Shea-Charlton stable turned in a creditable effort first-up from a spell when 5th of eight in the Eskimo Prince Quality — promising plenty this campaign. Snow In May has since had a barrier trial to tick her over and should be forward enough to give this 3-year-old feature a mighty shake.
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