Fittingly Darley’s representative in a race carrying their name, Emblems, is the early favourite for what is shaping up as the toughest race on the Doomben card this Saturday. Emblems is $5 for the BRC Sprint with no less than five runners on the second line of betting including Kelso Wood’s runner’s Someday and Benny’s Buttons both at $8. Joining them are last start winner Dances On Stars and Chris Waller’s sole representative, Masthead who has returned to Australian after racing with success in Singapore for the past two years.
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1. SOLZHENITSYN – N Rawiller (16)
Returned from a throat operation in the G2 Victory Stakes but couldn’t improve his position in the run home and finished sixth of eight (3.1 lengths) behind Temple Of Boom. Fitter for that run but has 61kgs here and jumps form the widest gate. These two factors will require him to be back to his absolute best.
2. RIVER LAD – T Bell (13)
A consistent galloper who ran a career best when in the G2 Expressway Stakes at Randwick when second (1.3 lengths) to Appearance. The 6yo was then given several weeks off before lining up in the G2 Victory Stakes where as a 8/1 chance, more was expected from him than his second to last of eight runners. Better horse than that and if he gets his chance from gate 13, will give a good account.
3. BENNY’S BUTTONS – J McDonald (15)
Finished in the top three for the fifth consecutive time last start in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup on the Gold Coast two weeks back when third (1.5 lengths) behind Dances On Stars and Final Crescendo. Starting the 11/4 fav, the 6yo had his chance in the run and on a heavy track, a conditions he had previously been unbeaten on. He’ll have to push forward from a wide gate but drops down 2.5kgs here.
4. DANCES ON STARS – M Cahill (9)
Finished strongly from back in the field to claim the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) last fortnight on a heavy track on the Gold Coast. That continued a run of good efforts this campaign. Sure to be finishing hard again and did run second to Sizzling over 1400m as a 3yo last season in the G2 Qld Guineas.
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5. FIRE UP FIFI – L Nolen (3)
Like most in the field, she was left chasing the leaders who dominated the G1 Coolmore Classic back in March, finishing thirteenth and near five lengths from Steps In Time and Sweet Idea. She had a seven week break and headed back home to Qld before lining up in the G2 Victory Stakes (1200m). The WFA conditions against a smart field of sprinters were always going to test her and she finished last, 3.9 lengths from Temple Of Boom. She’s better suited back to this grade and up to this distance – capable of an improved run.
6. FILLYDELPHIA – G. Colless (7)
Returned from a seven week break with a good third to stable-mate Excellantes in the Listed Hinkler Quality carrying 58.5kgs before again finishing strongly in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) when fifth (2.1 lengths) behind Dances On Stars. Drops nicely in weight where (2.5kgs) and third up should be ready. A drier track would also assist as will the anticipated solid tempo of the race.
7. STEEL ZIP – B Stewart (10)
Flashed home to miss taking out the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba by half a length with third to Typhoon Red before only battling his way through the heavy conditions in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup a fortnight ago, finishing tenth (5.5 lengths) to Dances On Stars. Drier track will assist as will the weight he has been assigned here (54kgs) but tends to find at least a few too good at this level.
8. SOMEDAY – C Munce (1)
Thrown in the deep end when he returned from a spell and into the G2 WFA Victory Stakes (1200m) and stuck on well to claim fourth (2.7 lengths) behind Temple Of Boom. Has only had a winning barrier trial since that run in preparation for this but the combination of Munce, inside draw and an impressive strike rate, he creates plenty of attention.
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9. STARTSMEUP – J Byrne (8)
Will tackle this race first up off a sixteen week spell with the one trial, in which he ran third, under his belt. Normally runs well fresh but has only contested one Group race fresh previously and that resulted in a fifth of seven in the WFA Victory Stakes behind Buffering last year. The weight conditions and distance of this race are more suitable and he’ll be hitting the line hard.
10. TRANSPORTER – J Cassidy (6)
He was in a real purple patch of form this time last year, running third in the Hollindale Stakes and second to Solzhenitsyn in the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup but was unable to maintain that form when contesting some good races in Melbourne during the spring. He returned from a six month spell with an honest eighth (4.5 lengths) in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup and can only be better for having. Drawn well and Cassidy up but been twelve months now since we’ve see his best and happy to wait for him to produce it again.
11. LUCKY HUSSLER – J Taylor (5)
Contested and was very good in, all the leading 3yo races during this carnival last year. He was spelled and came back to win the G3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) first up last campaign, like he will be on Saturday. He has been readied for his return by trainer Kent Fleming with a solid 2 ¼ length barrier trial win just over a week ago and sure to be doing his best work late. At $13.00, represents very good each-way value.
12. TYPHOON RED – N Tomizawa (4)
Recorded his tenth win and his first Listed win when successful in the Weetwood at Toowoomba seven weeks ago. He had a nice run behind the speed and lasted by head to defeat Kempelly and Steel Zip. Hasn’t raced since then and will found this grade of race several notches higher again.
13. EMBLEMS – G Boss (12)
Rounded out last campaign with victory, his third from four starts that campaign, in the Listed Takeover Target defeating Dances On Stars by a head. He resumed in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes three weeks ago and after jumping well, decided to take a sit rather than push on for the lead. Wasn’t able to accelerate on the slow track and batted away, running fifth of seven (3.8 lengths) behind Hot Snitzel and Knoydart. Drier track will help and better when allowed to roll along.
14. THAT’S THE ONE – T Harrison (14)
He has had three starts for Barry Baldwin since being transferred from the Victorian stables of Colin and Cindy Alderson but the last two, in the Weetwood Handicap and Listed Prime Minister’s Cup, where he finished ninth and seventh respectively, suggests he’ll struggle here. Likely to get back from his wide draw and can’t see him running down some of these sprinters.
15. MASTHEAD – C Newitt (11)
Former smart juvenile who has returned to the Australian and the Chris Waller stables after several seasons racing in Singapore. His first and most recent start on back on Australian shores came in a Quality Handicap at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago where he snuck up nicely along the fence for third, 1.2 lengths behind Hurrura. Good starting point for the 5yo but a race like this may be asking too much too soon.
16. FERMENT – R Wiggins (2)
First up from a five month spell, she ran second to last and over twenty lengths from Dances On Stars in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m). Impossible to have him on that effort.
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RACE OVERVIEW
As the market suggests, this is a wide open race with a stack of chances. Pace should be solid with most pushing forward, having to commit from a wide gate early. Going with Lucky Hussler. He should be able to tag the pace, as he did when he won the G3 George Moore – which was over several of the competitors he faces here – and finish strongly. A recent barrier trial suggests he is wound right up and in a wide open race; $13.00 is the right price. Someday should get a lovely run throughout from gate 1 and his first up run in the G2 Victory Stakes under 58.5kgs, is a good preparation for this where he drops to 54kgs. Dances On Stars is going well and from gate eight, should find a nice spot midfield before peeling wide and producing another good finishing effort. Expecting a better effort here from Fillydelphia here with a lighter weight and hopefully, a drier track. She’ll appreciate the tempo and loves racing at this circuit having won six of her fifteen starts.
1. LUCKY HUSSLER
2. SOMEDAY
3. DANCES ON STARS
4. FILLYDELPHIA