George Main Stakes 2014 Field, Odds, Tips and Results

Panzer Division will be out to succeed where Dissident failed to as a three year old, and win the G1 George Main Stakes at Randwick this Saturday. Dissident was on the quick back-up last year after running a great second to Zoustar in the Golden Rose, and finished sixth behind Streama. Panzer Division by-passed the Golden Rose but has good form-lines around him and combined with that fact that he’ll have only 50.5kgs to carry here under the conditions of the race, punters believe he can become the tenth three year old to win this race in the past thirty years.

He opened up the $4.40 favourite just in advance of Royal Descent who will be out to replicate the feat of last year’s winner Streama, and win her first Group 1 race since claiming the Australian Oaks as a 3yo. Royal Descent’s stable-mates Sacred Falls ($5.50) and Hawkspur ($6.50) are also well in contention along with impressive first up winner Lucia Valentina at $6.00.

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George Main Stakes 2014 Field

No Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 SACRED FALLS (NZ) Chris Waller Zac Purton 1 59kg
2 HAWKSPUR Chris Waller Jim Cassidy 4 59kg
3 TOYDINI Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Corey Brown 3 59kg
4 LASER HAWK Joseph Pride 9 59kg
5 TERONADO Bruce W Hill Chris Munce 5 58.5kg
6 ROYAL DESCENT Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 2 57kg
7 LUCIA VALENTINA (NZ) Kris Lees Kerrin McEvoy 6 56.5kg
8 RISING ROMANCE (NZ) Donna Logan James McDonald 7 56.5kg
9 GYPSY DIAMOND Peter & Paul Snowden Blake Shinn 10 56.5kg
10 PANZER DIVISION Paul Messara Brenton Avdulla 8 50.5kg

 

1. SACRED FALLS – Z Purton (1)

Connections will be hoping for a case of history repeating itself when this O’Reilly stallion lines up on Saturday. Last preparation he run fourth both first and second up before landing the G1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m). This time in he finished fourth first up in the G2 Warwick Stakes, fourth again in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at his second run back, and now lines up in a G1 Randwick mile. Should be right in the mix again here but interesting to note that from five WFA starts, his record reads 0-0-1.

 

2. HAWKSPUR – J Cassidy (4)

Made it back to back victories in the Chelmsford Stakes last start after a daring ride from Jim Cassidy saw the 5yo take up the unfamiliar role of pace-maker. He found plenty in the run to the line, fighting back after being headed to oust stable-mate Royal Descent right on the line. Each of his three runs back this prep have been very good and no reason why he can’t win again here.

 

3. TOYDINI – C Brown (3)

Normally takes a few runs back form a break to find his best and doesn’t appear to like the heavy conditions, but neither of those factors seem to bother him in the G2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) first up a fortnight ago when he ran a great third (1.9 lengths) behind impressive winner Lucia Valentina. A smart horse who didn’t quite live up to expectation during the autumn carnival, he looks to have returned in very good order judging by his first up run. Can only be fitter for it and enjoys competing over the Randwick mile, have won the G3 Carbine Club (where he defeated Hawkspur by 3.8 lengths) and running a tremendous third in last year’s G1 Epsom Handicap behind Boban.

 

4. LASER HAWK – (9)

Off a fifteen month break, he was’t too bad first up over the unsuitable 1200m of the Missile Stakes, finishing 3.5 lengths behind Sweet Idea. His only run since came last week in the G2 Theo Marks where from the second to widest gate in a field of eight, he was ridden forward and was second as the field made the turn. The 6yo couldn’t improve or in the least maintain his position, dropping out to run last, over eleven lengths from the winner Cluster. Can’t see him turning such as poor showing around in the space of a week.

 

5. TERONADO – C Munce (5)

Back-maker who always threatened to win a good race as a 3yo during the Sydney autumn carnival but never quite got there. He finished no worse than fifth in the G1 Australian, Randwick and Rosehill Guineas races and has been brought back quietly by trainer Bruce Hill in his home-state of Queensland recently. He flashed home for second in a Class 6 over 1200m first up at Eagle Farm and than was simply too good for a similar class field over 1400m at Doomben, winning by a comfortable 2.8 lengths. Will be ready to run a big race and Chris Munce, who has partnered him in each of his two runs back, will make the trip to ride

 

6. ROYAL DESCENT – G Schofield (2)

Made it three second placings form her last four starts when nosed out on the line by stable-mate Hawkspur in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes a fortnight ago. She settled on the leader’s (Hawkspur) back and kicked up on the inside, hitting the front for a moment before Hawkspur fought back and got his nose down when it mattered the most. That was only her second run back from a spell, compared to Hawkspur’s third and that proved telling late over the tough Randwick mile on a heavy track. So honest and is busting to win a race. Cannot leave her out.

 

7. LUCIA VALENTINA – K McEvoy (6)

Stamped herself as a top line filly with victory in the G1 Vinery Stakes last season, followed by a tremendous third (1.2 lengths) to Rising Romance in the G1 Australian Oaks but looks to have taken it up a few notches given her return victory in the G2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. The Savabeel mare was near last as late as the 300m before finding clear room wide out on the track, balancing up and rocketing home over the heavy conditions late to record a most impressive 1.5 length win. On that run and her three year old record, the sky is the limit for this Kris Lees trained mare.

 

8. RISING ROMANCE – J McDonald (7)

Like Lucia Valentina, this daughter of Ekraar posses an outstanding 3yo record, highlighted of course by victory in the G1 Australian Oaks (2400m). She too returned in the Tramway Stakes and whilst Lucia Valentina’s performance deservedly stole the show, this mare’s effort wasn’t far behind. She was back last and was building into her run nicely as they crossed the line, finishing fourth (2.2 lengths) behind the winner. Will be better for that hit-out, the step up to a mile and a drier surface should also help her make up that margin.

 

9. GYPSY DIAMOND – B Shinn (10)

Sent out a short 2/1 favourite for her return to racing in the G3 Toy Show Quality but never raised her backers hopes, finishing fifth and close to ten lengths from the winner, My Sabeel. She settled back at her next and most recent start, the G2 Tramway Stakes, and found some traffic in the straight before getting home steadily to run tenth (5.2 lengths) behind Lucia Valentina. Was backed again last start, 8’s into 5’s and really needs to show something now, third up over a mile, the distance which her last two wins – G2 Fillies Classic and G3 Carbine Club Stakes – have been secure at but she meets a crack field.

 

10. PANZER DIVISION – B Avdulla (8)

After going as close as possible to winning the G3 Up And Coming Stakes, won by stable-mate Scissor Kick who was phenomenal in last week’s Golden Rose, this well bred Redoute’s Choice colt deservedly won the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes a fortnight ago. He led and whilst the track and conditions probably favoured those up on the speed, he found plenty in the run to the line, winning by 1.3 lengths from Shooting To Win – another who ran a cracking race in the Golden Rose. This is a test for a 3yo but there is good form all around him at the minute and with only 50.5kgs on his back, should give them plenty to chase.

George Main Stakes 2014 odds and results

RACE OVERVIEW

Panzer Division will make use of his light weight and push forward here and could provide Royal Descent with a lovely trial. Royal Descent is ultra consistent and only Hawkspur’s extra run under his belt, shaded her last start. She’s at her peak now, gets a lovely run in the box seat and can broke through for a much deserved feature win. No reason not to stick with Hawkspur either here. He ran fourth in this race last year but got too far back on that occasion. Drawing gate four, expect Cassidy, as he did last start, to find a handy position here. Lucia Valentina and Rising Romance submitted good runs first up. Stepping up in distance and on a firmer ground, wouldn’t think there’s as much between them as the market currently suggest but expect both to again be finishing hard.

  1. ROYAL DESCENT
  2. HAWKSPUR
  3. PANZER DIVISION
  4. RISING ROMANCE

News:

Weight-for-age winners are scarce in the George Main Stakes but trainer Kris Lees expects the Group One race to be strong enough to reveal more about Lucia Valentina’s Caulfield Cup chances.

In a race where Hawkspur is the only horse among the 10 runners to have won under the elite weight scale, Lucia Valentina will be out to build on a Tramway Stakes victory which put her at the forefront of Caulfield Cup betting.

“It’s a good test for her stepping up to weight-for-age but she’ll run well,” Lees said.

Lucia Valentina came from nowhere at the 200m for Kerrin McEvoy to win the Tramway, with Lees admitting she caught the stable off-guard.

“I knew she was going well but I was a bit surprised by her dominance,” he said.

Caulfield Cup betting could take on a different look after Saturday’s racing with Lucia Valentina clashing with Rising Romance at Randwick as The Offer continues his spring campaign in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

Rising Romance and The Offer are the equal Caulfield Cup favourites at $11 and Lucia Valentina shares the second line of betting at $13.

“The George Main should give us a good indication where we are heading,” Lees said.

“There is an option to stay in Sydney but I’d say we’d go down to Melbourne and run her in the Turnbull Stakes as her lead-up to the Caulfield Cup.”

Little separates the top five horses in most George Main markets and it’s not lost on Lees that the inexperienced three-year-old Panzer Division is among them.

His father Max trained Coronation Day to win the 1992 George Main as a three-year-old and Lees is ignoring a lean run for the age group since Viscount’s 2001 victory to name Panzer Division as one of the threats to his mare.

“It’s a good race for three-year-olds over time and Panzer Division might be the horse to beat,” he said.

Panzer Division finds himself vying for George Main favouritism after just three starts in a career that began in modest circumstances with a Kembla Grange maiden win in July.

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