Heading the market for the Group 2 Blamey Stakes, are two horses that produced eye-catching efforts when resuming from spells recently. Sertorius bungled the start but was finishing at a rate of knots in the G1 Futurity Stakes last fortnight and finished a long neck second to Moment Of Change – who we’ll see go around in the Newmarket Handicap earlier in the day. He is at $3.00 whilst Foundry, the imported galloper who races in the famous blue and white colours of Lloyd Williams, could not have been more impressive in winning a Open class race over 1400m three weeks ago. The mile would appear to be right up his alley – he is at $4.00.
Blamey Stakes 2014 Field & Barries Form Guide
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEA MOON (GB) | Robert Hickmott | Steven Arnold | 5 | 59kg | |
| 2 | SERTORIUS | Jamie Edwards & Bruce Elkington | Ryan Maloney | 2 | 59kg | |
| 3 | SWEET AS BRO (NZ) | Leon Corstens | Michael Rodd | 9 | 58kg | |
| 4 | HVASSTAN | Peter Gelagotis | Craig Newitt | 4 | 57kg | |
| 5 | ANGOLA | Pat Carey | Rhys McLeod | 6 | 56kg | |
| 6 | DESERT JEUNEY | Nigel Blackiston | Chad Schofield | 1 | 56kg | |
| 7 | CLEAR FOR ACTION | Jim Conlan | Mark Zahra | 10 | 55kg | |
| 8 | LIDARI (FR) | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 7 | 55kg | |
| 9 | STIPULATE (GB) | David Hayes | Glen Boss | 3 | 55kg | |
| 10 | FOUNDRY (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | Craig Williams | 8 | 55kg |
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1. SEA MOON – S Arnold (5) 59kgs
One of two runners in the race for Lloyd Williams, Sea Moon returns to racing after his highly anticipated spring campaign produced indifferent results. So high were the expectations of this 6yo by Beat Hollow that, when making his Australian debut in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), he was sent out at odds of 3/1. Not much went right for him in that race or his next and we didn’t start seeing the best of this horse until his races got beyond 2000m. Always been big wraps on this bloke and a forward showing in a race of limited depth, wouldn’t surprise.
2. SERTORIUS – R Maloney (2) 59kgs
He ran a cracker first up in the C. F. Orr Stakes after missing the start noticeably. Last preparation he also ran well first up, finishing sixth in the G3 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) behind Speediness before running second behind the impressive winner Blackie at Moonee Valley over 1500m. The mile at the bigger Flemington circuit will be much more to his liking and it’s hard to recall this galloper ever running a bad race. He improves with every preparation and on his first up effort, is set for his best campaign yet.
3. SWEET AS BRO – M Rodd (9) 58kgs
The lightly raced 4yo gelding by High Chaparral has won three of his four starts including the Listed Kilmore Cup at his most recent outing, since returning from a six month spell at the start of the year Improving with each run but faces a stiff rise in both class and weight here and will need to meet those challengers from the second to widest gate.
4. HVAASTAN – C Newitt (4) 57kgs
Former smart 3yo who didn’t quite live up to the expectations of him during the spring, with his only win from five starts, coming in an Open handicap on his favourite track Moonee Valley. He returned to racing three weeks ago in a 1400m Open class race at Flemington but never made an impression form the tail of the field and run eleventh in the field of thirteen, over seven lengths from the winner Foundry. He needs to make too much improvement off of that run to be winning here.
5. ANGOLA – R McLeod (6) 56kgs
Pat Carey’s 5yo registered his third win at start number nineteen with a length win in an Open class race over 2500m at Flemington in the middle of January. His only run since then was a good fourth to Instrumentalist in the Mornington Cup (2400m) just over three weeks ago now. The further they go, the better his chances so wouldn’t expect him to worry too many here over a mile.
6. DESERT JEUNEY – C Schofield (1)
Had to lug 59kgs first up off a twenty-one week spell two starts ago and finished a well beaten seventh (9.8 lengths) in a BM 90 (1400m) at Caulfield. At his next and most recent start, Nigel Blackiston’s 4yo by Desert King found the perfect spot in the run, one out and one back, but was unable to capitalize on his position and finished fifth, three lengths behind winner Foundry. Drawn to get a lovely run again but has some significant improvement to make if he is going to turn the tables on Foundry.
7. CLEAR FOR ACTION – M Zahra (10) 55kgs
Found the 1200m too short and the 59.5kgs too heavy when resuming in a Sale Quality where he finished second to last in the field of nine. The Commands 6yo was then sent out as a 300/1 shot in the G1 Futurity Stakes last fortnight but did ok in running fifth (3.4 lengths) behind Moment Of Change and Sertorius. Third up at a mile and dropping to 55kgs are both positives – the only time he has carried less than 58kgs in seven Australian starts, resulted in his only win – a 1500m Moonee Valley Open class race.
8. LIDARI – L Nolen (7) 55kgs
The former import ran an unlucky neck third to Fiorente in last year’s Dato’tan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley before being sent for a spell. He resumed in the G1 Futurity Stakes a fortnight ago and was last and then widest in a race dominated by Moment Of Change who led. He maintained his position in the run home and finished seventh (4 ¾ lengths). The 5yo stallion will appreciate only having 55kgs after competing under WFA conditions first up. Expect there to be plenty of improvement from this Peter Moody runner and the market is taking no chances, posting him at $6.
9. STIPULATE – G Boss (3) 55kgs
A former European galloper that came to the David Hayes’ stables last year and made his debut in the G1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) on the final day of the VRC Carnival. The 5yo by Dansili ran second to last and finished 4.1 lengths from the winner Boban. His European record is strong enough for this event and the extra few months to acclimatise will be of enormous benefit. Another who the bookmakers are taking no chances with ($8.00) but would be happy to see what he produces first up.
10. FOUNDRY – C Williams (8) 55kgs
The Galileo stallion only had three starts over in the UK but prominent owner Lloyd Williams saw enough in those runs that he purchased the 4yo. He made his Australian debut at Flemington three weeks ago in a 1400m Open class race and sprouted wings over the final stages to claim Our Hand Of Faith and Decircles on the line. He posted a good time and recorded impressive late sectionals. Stable is never without an emerging star and this horse may be their next.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Hard to find a natural leader on paper for this race and it could be a muddling run affair. Just too hard to go past Sertorius off of his Futurity run. Moment Of Change is in form and goes around earlier in the day in the Newmarket Handicap. Like Sertorius, Foundry’s last start performance cannot be ignored. He does go up in class but appears to have plenty of it himself. Lidari and Sea Moon the next best.
- SERTORIUS
- FOUNDRY
- LIDARI
- SEA MOON
In the news:
Damian Browne is free to ride Buffering in his comeback race after getting a stay of proceedings pending his appeal against a suspension which threatens most of his autumn carnival ambitions.
The jockey was outed for six weeks after being found guilty of not giving Kingtantes every chance in a race at Eagle Farm last week.
Browne filed an appeal against the stewards’ decision which will be heard on March 18, allowing him to ride star sprinter Buffering in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday week.
Robert Heathcote, who trains Buffering and Kingtantes, says he believes Browne has been hard done by for what he sees as a simple mistake.
“… my wife and I are the majority owners and we were happy with the ride,” Heathcote said.
“Sure it wasn’t Damian’s best but if I was to complain about rides on my horses which weren’t a jockey’s best I would spend all month in the stewards room.
“A reprimand would have been sufficient.”
Stewards opened the inquiry after Browne finished third on Kingtantes, about seven lengths behind the winner Primal Flight, in a maiden.
Stewards found Browne failed to take an available run between two horses at the 300m and failed to show the vigour expected between the 300m and 200m.
It was not suggested Kingtantes could have won the race but stewards felt the horse could have finished second.
Browne argued he was riding to instructions and his not guilty plea was supported by Heathcote who said he was thrilled Browne would be able to ride Buffering next week.
“Damian and Buffering have a great partnership. No one rides him as well,” he said.
Nash Rawiller has been approached to ride Buffering in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 12 should Browne fail in his appeal.
Rawiller has had two rides on Buffering for a Group Two win in the 2010 Roman Consul Stakes and second to Black Caviar in the 2011 Group One VRC Sprint.
Buffering has emerged as a triple Group One winner this season with Browne his pilot in all three.
The jockey will be at Warwick Farm on Saturday to ride the Heathcote-trained Fire Up Fifi in the Group Three Wiggle Stakes (1400m).
