Several smart mares will commence their spring campaigns in Saturday’s Toy Show Quality Stakes. Leading the charge is Gypsy Diamond who will be out to give trainers Peter and Paul Snowden their first feature win since leaving the Darley empire. The Snowdens have posted some remarkable results since they established their Randwick stables and can boast fifteen winners from their last fifty starters. A strike rate of 3.33. Gypsy Diamond opened up the $3.80 favourite ahead of G1 winners Diamond Drille ($7.00) Lucia Valentina ($6.00) and Dear Demi ($8.50). The only other runner under double figures odds in early markets is Miss Promiscuity ($9.00).
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1. DIAMOND DRILLE – T Berry (2)
Rounded out her last campaign by recording her fifth win and her first at the elite level with a head victory in the G1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m). Gai Waterhouse’s lightly raced 5yo mare returns here off a thirteen week spell but with two trials under her belt and expected further improvement to come after the break, she’s capable of producing a big run fresh. Has won two from three this track and handles the cut out of the track.
2. DEAR DEMI – K McEvoy (6)
Fantastic mare back for yet another campaign where she will undoubtedly apply herself very well. Ran third first up last prep in the G3 Wiggles Stakes (1400m) on a slow track carrying 59kgs. Will face similar conditions this weekend and although she is yet to win first up in five attempts, cannot be ruled out as a genuine place chance.
3. LUCIA VALENTINA – J Bowman (13)
Revelled in the heavy conditions and saved a stack of ground by sticking to the fence when she claimed the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) last campaign. The former NZ mare who transferred to Newcastle trainer Kris Lees earlier this year, then claimed third in the Australian Oaks. She ran third in the G2 Surround (1400m) behind Thump off a new week break last campaign and whilst she’ll be giving them a start from gate thirteen, expect her be hitting the line hard.
4. GYPSY DIAMOND – B Shinn (10)
Formerly with John O’Shea, this Not A Single Doubt mare, who put together a stellar campaign last time which included victory in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes, is now with Peter and Paul Snowden. Her new trainers haven’t asked much from her in two recent trails and best to go on her most recent first up run which saw her flash home to run 3/4 of a length second to Sweet Idea in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes. The Carbine Club win was on a heavy track and with what should be a solid pace up front, expect her to have conditions to suit.
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5. THUMP – B Avdulla (11)
Found the WFA conditions and older horse too slick when she returned to racing in last fortnight’s G2 Missile Stakes, finishing last in the field of nine after settling on the pace. She did bounce back after a poor fresh run last prep to claim the G2 Surround Stakes (1400m) second up, defeating Real Surreal and Lucia Valentia, at Warwick Farm on a dead rated track. With a predicted wet track, a wide gate and the likelihood of being kept honest in front around the tougher Randwick circuit, would prefer to go with others.
6. BENNETTA – J Lloyd (5)
She keeps promising to but as yet, the General Nediym mare still hasn’t been able to crack it for that elusive fourth career win. Her last win was in February 2013, the G2 Light Finger Stakes and since then, in eleven starts, has registered four placing including her most recent outing, July’s Listed Civic Stakes. She followed eventual winner Generalife into the straight but just couldn’t match the finishing sprint of that horse and finished second. Been freshened up and did trial very well recently, beating home Tiger Tees.
7. NEENA ROCK – J McDonald (14)
First time Australian’s will see this lightly raced Kiwi mare in action. She’s finished in the quinella ten of her fourteen starts and last campaign, took out a G3 event defeating Zurella. Trialled well for Trainer John Sargent three weeks ago at Randwick when ridden by McDonald, who sticks with her but they’ve drawn the visitors gate and happy to see how she measures up here.
8. INTIMATE MOMENT – S Clipperton (1)
Ron Quinton took his Dubawi mare from a Newcastle Maiden win all the way to a G3 victory in the space of eight starts last campaign. Now a 5yo mare, Quinton has been patient with his galloper who’ll line up for only her sixteenth start on Saturday so we still may see more to come from here this time in. Might be able to produce a cheeky run from the inside draw and has performed well on slow rated tracks in the past.
9. KRISTY LEE – T Clark (7)
Chris Waller’s mare has been racing consistently in lesser grade races this campaign. The Encosta De Lago mare has had her last two starts in Victoria, finishing a disappointing second to last at Caulfield before a much improved effort at Flemington where she claimed third (2 lengths) behind Couldn’t Agreemore, closing well from the back of the field. This is her first attempt at a Stakes race, at start number thirty-one, and given her recent efforts likely to find at least a few here too good.
10. ANGEL BEE – T Marshall (3)
Has had two starts back from a fifteen week spell and on both performances, would think she’ll struggle here. She was flat first up when seventh of eleven in a BM 84 before being ridden to the lead in a BM 85 but proving no match for I’ve Got The Looks late, finishing fourth (1.7 lengths). Will push forward again from an inside gate but as was the case last start, had to see her holding off the challengers in a stronger race.
11. GOLD EPONA – K O’Hara (15)
Recorded her fourth career win after securing a rails run in a BM 84 and defeating I’m In The Money and I’ve Got The Looks but at her following and most recent start, the Stratum mare found herself in plenty of traffic in the straight and never with the opportunity to let down. Should’ve finished closer than her eighth (3.2 lengths) behind I’ve Got The Looks last start but will not find the step up in grade here easy to handle given she’s drawn the outside gate.
12. MISS PROMISCUITY – J Collett (9)
Lightly raced Magnus mare from the Anthony Cummings yard who is building a solid if short resume. She won three of her first four starts before running a head second in the G3 Typhoon Tracy to Jazz Song – who was good over the Winter Carnival – before being spelled. She had her second run back form a spell in a BM 85 at Randwick a fortnight ago where from an inside draw, she settled on the leader’s back. She just had to wait for the run to open in the straight as the leader kicked on and the field bunched. Her effort to finish third (long neck) to I’ve Got The Looks was a good one but further improvement still required to be winning here.
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13. MY SABEEL – G Schofield (8)
Frustratingly for connections and trainer Kevin Moses, this 7yo mare has filled a place in each of her past three starts, beaten less than a length each time. She was caught wide on pace when collared late by La Venta two starts back before again being caught in the shadows of the post when a neck third to Sensualism last week in a BM 75. Going well but will not find this any easier than her past couple.
14. SUCH A PRINCESS – W Costin (4)
Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker has brought his 5yo mare to town regularly during the course of her career but aside from her Maiden win at Canterbury, she’s missed filling a place in seven starts in the big smoke – all in races much easier than this. Looks well out of her depth.
15. LESLEY’S CHOICE – (12)
She’s had two starts back from an eighth month spell, starting 5/2 favourite in both. The first up effort saw her in need of the run and finish sixth (2.4 lengths) behind Mineko at Canterbury before her trainer David Vandyke travelled her to Wyong where she won a Class 2 by a long neck. Shooting to high here.
RACE OVERVIEW
Great competitive mares race with some smart performers resuming. No surprise to see those at the top of the weights prominent in the market. Although all resuming with reasonable weights on what will likely be a wet track, their class will take them a long way. Taking a deep breath, conditions might suit Bennetta here. She hasn’t won for a while but has competed strongly in some smart races, has residual fitness on her side compared to some of those returning from a spell and recently trialled smartly From gate five, Jeff Lloyd should be able to keep the leaders in his sights.
- GYPSY DIAMOND
- BENNETTA
- DEAR DEMI
- INTIMATE MOMENT
