It’s $5.00 the field for an excellent renewal of the Group 2 Danehill Stakes that consists of fifteen promising 3yo colts and gelding, and one filly – Go Indy Go. Add to the mix that only two runners entered have previously been involved in races up the Flemington straight course and this race becomes a lottery. Leading the market is Brazen Beau, just in advance of Rich Enuff and Galaxy Pegasus, both horses making quite an impression at their previous starts, at $7.00 and $7.50 respectively. Vain Stakes winner Get The Nod is the only other runner under double figures at $8.00. The Vain has been a good pointer for this race in the past and the form out of the race as been franked despite Get The Nod not having started since.
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1. GHIBELLINES – S Arnold (11)
Darley runner who broke his maiden status with an unexpected win (started 40/1) in the G2 Todman Stakes defeating Unencumbered and Cornrow, before finishing midfield in the Golden Slipper and then being spelled. Had a trial in preparation for his return a month ago now at Warwick Farm, finishing a head second under a good hold to Not A Hint. Just struggled when taking on the best of his generation last season and meets a field with plenty of depth here.
2. BRAZEN BEAU – J Cassidy (4)
Scratched, due to the heavy track, from making his return in the Run To The Roses a fortnight ago in Sydney but has been kept up to the mark by trainer Chris Waller with a winning barrier trial since. That makes three trials he has contested in the past month so can expect the colt by I Am Invincible to be ready for this. Registered a soft win int he G2 Champagne Stakes during the Brisbane winter carnival and finished close up seconds in both the G2 BRC Sire’s Produce and G1 JJ Atkins, behind Time For War and Almalad respectively. Good draw and jockey – both advantages.
3. GET THE NOD – M Zahra (1)
Sat off the speed when making his return to racing for Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell in the G3 Vain Stakes three weeks ago, before finishing the race off in a tidy manner to win by 1.3 lengths. The form out of that race has stood up well with Stingray (2nd) and Nordic Empire (4th) both running well in the McNeil Stakes in their following starts. The Vain was only his second race start so there should be more improvement in this son of US Ranger to come.
4. NOSTRADAMUS – D Dunn (2)
Returned with a solid victory in the G3 San Domenico Stakes defeating Washington Heights and Law – both unplaced on heavy tracks since, by three quarters of length. He then lined up in the G3 Run To The Roses as the 2/1 favourite where he took up a nice spot from an inside draw but just didn’t let down on the heavy track and struggled into seventh (3.5 lengths) behind Hallowed Crown. Drawn well here and should take up another spot but last start suggests he needs a dry track to produce his best – which will be good enough to be right in the finish here. (Also entered for the Golden Rose at Rosehill)
5. RICH ENUFF – M Rodd (13)
Created a big impression with his win in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley three weeks ago. The colt by Written Tycoon led from an inside draw before showing a very good turn of foot when asked for his effort at the top of the straight, racing away to win by 2.3 lengths in smart time. Takes another step up in class here but looks to have all the attributes required to make the transition successfully.
6. MOONLIGHT HUSSLER – J Noonan (14)
Hayes/Dabernig galloper who won the Listed Debutante Stakes on debut in October of last year (Stingray fourth) before being spelled. Unfortunately his two runs since his return last month, haven’t delivered on the early promise and he has finished well down the track in G3 Vain Stakes and more recently, a much weaker BM 70 at Sandown Hillside. Will struggle here on those two runs.
7. GO INDY GO – C Schofield (6)
Exciting Adelaide galloper who returns to racing after claiming the G1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in April of this year at only her fourth start. Hasn’t been trialled by her trainer Leon McDonald for her return but fancy a solidly run six furlongs up the Flemington straight will suit and that we’ll see the daughter of Bernardini hitting the line strongly.
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8. CORNROW – C Williams (15)
Drew wide when resuming in the G3 Vain Stakes and never threatened from the tail of the field when ninth (5.2 lengths) behind Get The Nod. Took the lead at his next and most recent start, the McNeil Stakes, from a better draw but was unable to hold off the challengers over the final 100m and he finished sixth (3.5 lengths) to Chivalry and Nordic Express. Still a maiden and this is an extremely tough race to be breaking that status in.
9. LOOKS LIKE THE CAT – D Browne (12)
He submitted three very strong efforts from as many starts during a short winter campaign that saw him contest the leading 2yo races in Queensland. Second to Brazen Beau in the G2 Champagne, third in the G2 Sire’s Produce and a neck third to Almalad is as solid a form line as you could hope for and his $11.00 compared to Brazen Beau’s $5.00 for this race, seems overs.
10. NORDIC EMPIRE – N Hall (7)
Led from the inside gate and after setting a good pace in the G3 Vain Stakes, stuck on well for fourth (2.5 lengths) behind Get The Nod. He was then ridden with a sit in the McNeil Stakes and after being produced at the top of the straight, looked the winner as he let down well. Doing a fraction better still however was Chivalry out wide who arrived right on the line to better him by a nose. Excellent effort last start that should stand him in good stead for this race.
11. STINGRAY – B Melham (9)
Finished second to Get The Nod in the Vain Stakes before finding plenty of traffic in the straight when contesting the McNeil Stakes. He wasn’t able to be fully tested last start but still finished on the heels of the winner Chivalry and Nordic Empire. His form is solid and at $17.00, should attract plenty of attention.
12. AWESOME ROCK – D Oliver (10)
The son of Fastnet Rock made his run with Chivalry from the back of the field when resuming in the McNeil Stakes but found that horse, and Nordic Express, a shade too strong late and finished third by a long neck. Each of his three starts to date on firm surfaces have been good and include a second to Zululand in the VRC Sire’s Produce earlier this year. First look up the straight but for a horse that’s had a good hit-out first up and enjoys racing over 1300 – 1400m, the straight six furlongs should suit.
13. WANDJINA – C Newitt (5)
Only win from five starts to date has been a restricted race at Warwick Farm on a slow track however, he has run fourth on three occasions – all at stakes level, including his first up effort in last month’s San Domenico Stakes. He led from a wide barrier and whilst no match for the likes of Nostradamus and Washington Heights, stuck on to finish 2.9 lengths from the winner. That, like most of his runs have been, was an honest effort but still needs to produce more to be winning here.
14. BERLUTTI – S Baster (3)
Recorded his second win from his last three starts with a 1.3 length win in a BM 64 (1200m) at a mid-week meeting at Sandown just over a fortnight ago. His other win was a Sale Maiden and neither were in a manner that would suggest he’d be winning a race of this calibre.
15. GALAXY PEGASUS – M Walker (5)
Was expected to run well on debut at Geelong a fortnight ago when sent out the 11/8 favourite but his winning margin of seven lengths and sensational time even took his trainer partnership of Hayes/Dabernig by surprise. The colt by War Pass has obviously done well since for him to be immediately taking the step up to a race of this nature and bookmakers are very cautious, keeping his very safe at $7.50.
16. ONEROUS – (16)
Full brother to Group 2 winner Arinosa who kicked off his career a winner by taking out a Bendigo Maiden three weeks ago. He started the even money favourite, secured the run of the race and won by a comfortable 1.8 lengths. Whilst the effort suggests more wins are in store for the Hawkes Racing galloper, a Group 2 at this stage of his career might be aiming a touch too high.
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RACE OVERVIEW
What a way to start the quaddie! Host of chances in this race and happy to shop wide and possible as they are some many possibilities here, it’s hard to narrow it down to a few. Stingray was unlucky in the McNeil Stakes last start, as an 8/1 chance, and the $17 available at him here appears to be overs. As does the $11.00 about Looks Like The Cat who form is very similar to Brazen Beau ($5.00). His trainer Tony Gollan has had plenty of success with the Boom Brothers up the Flemington straight and will be confident of his charge handling the straight course well. Rich Enuff and Get The Nod were both very impressive in their last start wins but the inside gate for Get The Nod is a worry. Host of chances still (Awesome Rock, Go Indy Go, Get The Nod…….), go wide and good luck!!
- STINGRAY
- RICH ENUFF
- BRAZEN BEAU
- LOOKS LIKE THE CAT
