Horse Racing Preview Weekend 28 02

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

Randwick Race 4 – 2:15pm Group 2 Catanach’s Jewellers Skyline Stakes (1200m)

Once more onto the road to the Golden Slipper on March 22nd with potential contenders coming out in the Skyline for the coveted guaranteed place in the field. The Slipper market with Ladbrokes has three-time winner Shaggy at $13.00 – Adam Hyeronimus and barrier 3 – Comedy at $17.00 – Josh Parr and barrier 7 – Revellino at $21.00 – Jason Collett and barrier 10 and Skyhook at $34.00 – Kerrin McEvoy and barrier 1. They all have to match Wodeton and Beiwacht, which might be too great a mission, but if needing to select a watching brief it is the Kris Lees trained REVELLINO who has the opportunity to step out of sale bonus company to stake a Group claim.

Randwick Race 5 – 2:50pm Group 2 TAB Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m)

TUPAKARA came home with a flashing light at her first career start when finishing just out of the placings in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on the first day of the current juvenile season. Though this filly had one subsequent outing in the spring and finished a safely held 7th in the Golden Gift, it is worth pointing out that she went to post the $4.20 second favourite on that occasion — ahead of the likes of West Swindon, Extractor, Icarian Dream and O’ Ole, all of which are in the upper echelon of the 2-year-old division. Tupakara resumes in this Golden Slipper lead-up and while she might not get a chance to figure from a wide barrier, she looks the type that is well up to winning an autumn-winter black-type event over 1200m-1400m.

Flemington Race 7 – 3:40pm Group 2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m)

ZARDOSI might not have won a race for 12 months but her performances have been outstanding. Second in The Metropolitan, and fourth in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, this 4-year-old mare has performed with distinction during the same period and is probably too easily overlooked for a mile assignment of this calibre. As a winner over this course and distance, as well as of the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m this time last year, Zardosi is a live chance to run another huge race at a track which has witnessed her land a Group 1 3YO Classic and go within a length-and-a-half of claiming the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’.

Randwick Race 7 – 4:00pm Group 1 The Chase Surround Stakes (1400m)

LADY SHENANDOAH is going for her fourth win in succession here and there is no reason to believe the Snitzel filly will not achieve the feat. This would take her record to an excellent four wins and two places from six races and two Group 1’s after her Flight Stakes victory in the spring. A filly of the highest order already with more ahead for all to enjoy her quality.

Flemington Race 8 – 4:15pm Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m)

Warwick Farm’s Bjorn Baker has sent POINT AND SHOOT south to Flemington to attempt the step up to Group 1 level from winning a Benchmark 78 over 1600m at Randwick on February 8th. That was the Blue Point (Ire) gelding’s second metro win in succession and his third overall. His sire is showing resilience as his progeny mature, and this might be another marker on the honours board. An interesting race with the New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Savaglee (NZ) having his first Australian start. 

Flemington Race 9 – 4:55pm Inglis Sprint (1200m)

EL MORZILLO is a long way from home, being a member of the Kelly Schweida stable based at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. The winner of only one race from 11 starts, this diminutive filly has fundamentally raced in black-type company throughout her career to date and has turned in some eye-catching performances — not least when flashing home for fourth in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick in April of last year. El Morzillo has taken on the likes of Broadsiding, Bittercreek, Autumn Glow and Private Harry, and very often with Victorian-based A-Grade jockey Craig Williams in the saddle. The fact that he has again taken the ride at her first start in Melbourne is a strong pointer for this wide open affair. 

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