Darley are taking a four pronged attack into the race that carries their name, with last year’s winner Aerobatics ($16.00), Cameo ($26.00), Pleiades ($13.00) and Seaside ($9.00) as soon-to-be former Darley Trainer Peter Snowden, looks to go out leave his position this weekend on a winning note. It’s a great edition of the Darley Crown, a race that always offers a competitive field and betting race and this year is no different. Early favourite is last start G2 winner Cosmic Endeavour at $4.80, just in front of Plucky Belle ($4.80) Lilliburlero ($6.00), Seaside and the interestingly named The Messina Nymph ($8.00), are the other runners in the capacity field that are under double figures.
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1. LILLIBURLERO – J Ford (10)
Since winning the G3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) first up this campaign, the well bred Redoute’s Choice mare has continued her good form, despite not registering another win in three subsequent starts. She ran a head second to A Time For Julia in the G3 Roy Higgins before battling through the heavy conditions at Rosehill when fifth (2.6 lengths) behind Flamberge and Hot Snitzel in the Sebring stakes. Her most recent start saw her get a long way back in the G2 Sapphire Stakes in a race dominated by the leader and eventual winner, Cosmic Endevour. She was only warming over the last furlong and hit the line well. Has been racing well and been a victim of circumstance her last couple. Rates very highly.
2. PLUCKY BELLE – L Meech (3)
Peter Moody’s mare had no luck first up in the G3 Birthday Card Stakes when a nose second to Avoid Lightning (who has raced well since) before again finding traffic at her following and only start since, the G2 Sapphire Stakes. Turning for home she found herself in the middle of bunching field and with no choice but to go to the inside. Whilst searching for runs, the leader and winner Cosmic Endeavour was making her winning move. She finished fourth (3.1 lengths). Only needs a change of luck to be right in the finish here.
3. AEROBATICS – (7)
Had her chance in the G3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) when third (1.1 lengths) to Avoid Lightning and Plucky Belle before again, getting a nice run in transit in the G2 Sapphire Stakes. She jumped well in the Sapphire and sat second behind leader and eventual winner Cosmic Endeavour but simply couldn’t match her effort late and finished fifth (3.5 lengths). Will put herself in the right position again but just wanted to see a little more fight from here late last start. Won this race last year as a $26.00 shot.
4. MISS STELLABELLE – J Cassidy (5)
She raced with great consistency and little luck last campaign, registering placings in races such as the G2 Sapphire Stakes, Listed Dark Jewel and a close up fourth in this race last year. Surprisingly, Gai Waterhouse produced her in Tasmanian when she resumed from a lengthy spell and she ran second in both the G3 Bow Mistress and Vamos Stakes. She then returned to Sydney and lined up in the G3 Wiggle Stakes where she found herself behind a wall of horses as they turned for home. She had to go back toward the fence to make her run home whilst those involved in finish, all made their runs wider out. Drawn well here and last start reads well. It’s been a long time since she’s won but her records suggests you cannot leave her out.
5. CAMEO – S Clipperton (15)
The daughter of Shamardal has had two starts back from a fifteen week spell. She started a big price and finished with the tail-enders when resuming in the G3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) before, although finishing twelfth in the G3 Newmarket at Newcastle, finishing only 3.2 lengths from winner Mecir. She did place second to Catkins last prep in a G3 over the mile fourth run back but the gate makes her task difficult.
6. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR – J McDonald (12)
Miss Stellabelle’s stable-mate continued her good form this campaign by producing a convincing 2 length win last fortnight’s G2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m). She jumped well and led last start, dictating a pace that was made it hard for those behind her to make up ground. Will follow a similar pattern here but should be kept honest on pace this time out and goes beyond 1200m for the first time.
7. PLEIADES – K McEvoy (4)
Caught in the shadows of the past by Myamira in the G3 Belle Of The Turf (1600m) at Gosford at her latest start, back in the middle of January. Although she’s first up here, she has been prepped for her return with three barrier trials in the past five weeks, something rarely seen with Darley runners suggesting she’s been set for this fresh. She’s drawn well and has a solid overall. Darley have a terrific record in this race and will be keen to maintain it.
8. QUEEN’S ELECT – G Schofield (16)
Like Pleiades, Joe Pride’s Queen Elect will also be tackling this race first up from a ten week spell. She’s had two trials in readiness for her return, the most recent being just over a week ago at Randwick. Failed to place in six starts last prep and will face a tough job to do so here from one of the widest gates.
9. BELLE DE COUER – A Hyeronimus (17)
Show A Heart mare who was in need of the run first up off a nine month spell when fifth (2.4 lengths) to Simply Brilliant at Kensington in the last week of March. It was three and a half weeks later that she lined up in the G2 Sapphire Stakes where, from an inside draw, she got a lovely run in transit just behind a moderate speed. Given the way the race was run, she was in almost the perfect spot as they turned and held on well for third (2.5 lengths) behind Cosmic Endeavour. Unfortunately she will not be afforded the same run here from gate 17.
10. LA PIETA – SCRATCHED
11. SEASIDE – J Parr (13)
The 4yo mare came back from a lengthy spell and put together solid campaign early in the new year, winning BM 77 (1400m) and finishing a close up fourth (1.5 lengths) in a G3 race at Flemington from her five starts. She hasn’t raced in since early March but Parr partnered here in a recent trial, where she looked in good order running second, at Rosehill recently. Showed steady improvement last time in but rises to another level again here.
12. BUGABOO – J Kissick (2)
The Grahame Begg 5yo mare can prove hard to catch but on her day, does possess her share of ability. First up she looked a big threat as they topped the Randwick rise but couldn’t sustain the sprint and finished third to Recoinage in a BM 80 before never figuring in a BM 79 at Warwick Farm where she finished a disappointing last. Given an eight week freshen up since that run with a barrier trial at Randwick just over a week ago to tune her up. First go at a Group race and would need to see much better lead-up form.
13. CHATHAM HOUSE – B Avdulla (14)
Punters stuck with her after she failed to handle the wet conditions at Warwick Farm two starts back as the 5/2 favourite and sent her out shorter again at 11/8 on a good Kensington track a fortnight ago. From gate seven in the field of nine, she crossed to lead and was only collared on the line by swoopers, finishing fourth (3/4 length) behind winner Sail. Good effort last start as she was assigned 59kgs but the weigh relief she receives here (3kgs), won’t be enough to negate the rise in class and poor draw.
14. SUCH A PRINCESS – K O’Hara (1)
She got through the heavy conditions here better then the rest two starts ago, scoring a length win in a BM 75. Her fourth career win from fourteen starts. The daughter of Elusive Quality then headed to town and a BM 75 at Kensington where she lobbed in the one/one positions and had her chance to do more in the run home than she did in finishing fifth. She needed to be winning that race in good style to be a chance here.
15. THE MESSINA NYMPH – T Clark (9)
The Tony McEvoy Commands filly hasn’t put a foot wrong in her four career starts. She finished her last prep with a neck third to slick sprinter Minaj in the Listed William Crocket Stakes (1200m) and returned from a spell after that run, with a comfortably 2.3 length win at Wyong in a Class 1 over 1100m. Last start was just a barrier trial for her in readiness for this race and she obviously has above average ability. Faces her biggest test to date here but has been kept very safe in early markets and would think rightly so.
16. COMMANDING WIT – J Collett (8)
Made it two wins from four starts this preparation with a length win at Canterbury in a BM 70 (1250m). The Paul Snowden trained mare led at Canterbury and pinched the winner break as they straightened. She’ll need to lift considerably on that effort to be winning this.
17. VILLA SPLENDIDO – (11)
After a stint with Gerald Ryan, the Holy Roman Emperor mare is back with original trainer, Garry White. She was given four barrier trials over the space of seven weeks before she finally made her return to racing from a decent spell and was ok late in a BM 75 (1250m) at Canterbury when fifth (2.4 lengths) of twelve. Fitter again for having had the hit-out but this will be only her third start in year and will find it too tough.
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RACE OVERVIEW
A great race and with plenty of options punters can choice from. Think Lilliburlero might finally get the right race and conditions here after some good efforts in races that didn’t suit. Her record at 1300-1400 is first rate and includes a second last August to Boban who was the then emerging start of Australian racing. From mid-field, hoping Ford doesn’t get too far back and she’ll be steaming home late. The early favourite Cosmic Endeavour will enjoy the Hawkesbury circuit. Might have to work a little harder than she did last start but her confidence is high and form rock solid for this. A couple here at double figure odds capable of running bold races from good draws, are Miss Stellabelle and Pleiades. Miss Stellabelle has been busting to win a feature fillies/mares race like this for the past twelve months and her last start wasn’t bad. Pleiades, with three barrier trials in readiness for this, will be fit and ready to go. Drawn ideally in gate four to take up a spot and Darley’s leading Jock as opted for her over others.
- LILLIBURLERO
- COSMIC ENDEAVOUR
- PLEIADES
- MISS STELLABELLE
