A very competitive field comes together for the running of the Civic Stakes with seven of the eleven runners entered, at or under the $10.00 mark. Chris Waller has five horses entered – Tromso ($12), Coup Ay Tee ($15), Tougher Than Ever ($6.50), Hidden Kisses ($9) and He’s Your Man ($10) – as he searches for his second Civic Stakes in the past four years after Little Surfer Girl was successful in 2011. It’s Grahame Begg’s Bennetta ($4.40) though that opened favouritism for the $100,000 feature. Punters are sticking with the mare who is returning to her favourite Sydney track after two solid performances in Group races in Queensland recently.
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1. TROMSO – J Parr (6) 59kgs
In good form this preparation, winning his first two runs back from a spell when leading before drawing wide and failing to handle the soft track when tenth (4.4 lengths) behind Scream Machine. The rising 8yo’s bounced back though last week, on a good track, finishing fourth (3/4 of a length) behind Scream Machine. Led last start and under 60kgs and was only caught in the final stages of the race. Has a fantastic record this track and for Josh Parr and although dropping back to 1350m and on the quick back-up, he’ll give a big sight.
2. COUP AY TEE – J Collett (10) 58kgs
He got a long way back first up in a race won by Tromso, who dictated things from up front, before making steady ground from the tail once again when 3.7 lengths behind Scream Machine in an Open (1400m) class event. Bit of a surprise to see him not stepping up in distance off of last start but a solid tempo up front may suit and his record at this track/distance reads 5: 1-1-2. Provided the back-makers have been making ground in earlier races, he should be finishing hard.
3. TOUGHER THAN EVER – B Shinn (8) 56kgs
Resuming off a seven month spell, the 4yo by General Nediym could only maintain his position in the run to the line when sixth (3 lengths) behind Hurrara and Ichihara in Quality Handicap a month ago. His only start since was a very good fourth (2.2 lengths) in a Open class race (1400m) behind Scream Machine. As he has done so here, he drew wide last start and crossed early to lead. In a race where the first three across the line all come from well back in the run, his effort up the straight was a good one. Fitter again and did run a head second to Alma’s Fury in the G2 Apollo Stakes last year.
4. THE PEAK – T Marshall (1) 55kgs
Hong Kong galloper who in his first Australian prep toward the end of last year, recorded one win from six starts – a Flemington 1400m Open class race. Returning in the June Stakes on heavy track, the Bart and James Cummings trained galloper was home steadily along the fence in the heavy conditions, finishing sixth (5.3 lengths) behind the very much in-form mare Avoid Lightning. The only start since for the 5yo saw him run sixth (3.7 lengths) to Oakfield Comments over 1200m. He was in the right spot turning last start, peeled out and as a 6/1 chance, more was expected from him in the run home. The longer trip and drier track, all six of his wins have come on firm surfaces, should see an improved effort.
5. BENNETTA – J Lloyd (7) 54.5kgs
4yo mare, who won three on the trot early last year, including the G2 Light Fingers Stakes, but in ten subsequent starts, is still searching for her fourth. She came close to recording that victory two starts ago in the G2 QTC Cup (1300m) when a long neck third to Sacred Falls and Masthead. Off of that run, she started one of the favourites in last fortnight’s G3 W. J. Healy Stakes (1200m) but got too far back in the run, doing her best work late to run fourth (1.7 lengths). Her best runs have been at Rosehill, the most recent resulting in a long neck third to Sharnee Rose and Red Tracer in the G3 Golden Pendant, and a return to this track might do the trick. Certainly not to be dismissed off of last start.
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6. OAKFIELD COMMANDS – L Grace (4) 54.5kgs
Returned from a twenty-one week spell for Gerald Ryan with a fantastic second, when giving the winner Forster 6kgs, in a BM 85 (1200m) before taking the step up to Open company a successful one, recorded a solid, 1 ¼ length win over Zaratone a fortnight ago. Under Grace’s claim, he carried only 52kgs last start when settling just off the speed before pulling out topping the rise and finishing the race off in good style. That was his seventh win from twenty-two starts and in the right kind of form to have a crack at a Stakes race like this.
7. HIDDEN KISSES – B Avdulla (11) 54kgs
After regularly being involved in the finished in Queensland, but not necessarily always coming out on top, connections sent their Hidden Dragon mare to Chris Waller to see if he could help her over the line on a more regular basis – and he did. Last prep she claimed the G3 Toy Show Quality – defeating Royal Descent, and went within 1 ¾ lengths of adding the G3 Nivison to her resume as well when third to Diamond Earth. She returned to racing off a seventh month spell with a very pleasing fourth (3.5 lengths) to Oakfield Commands in an Open handicap over 1200m, two weeks back. She had little luck soon after straightening before ducking back to the fence and making good ground under gentle riding in the final furlong. She’ll get back from her wide draw but at good each-way odds of $9.00, is worth close consideration.
8. HE’S YOUR MAN – T Clark (9)
A former European galloper that will commence his second campaign in Australia when he lines up in the race on Saturday. He showed enough in his first campaign, which consisted of four starts including a fourth (2.6 lengths) in the Listed Mornington Cup (2000m) that he has a stakes race in him but just not sure it’ll be first up over 1400m. He did flash home over 1400m when kicking of his Australian career at Flemington with a ¾ length second to Anlon – a smart performer and a Listed winner himself and has been wound up for his return with two trials, the most recent of which was a quiet effort just short of a fortnight ago.
9. TAXMEIFYOUCAN – (5) 54kgs
Looked like he may have had secured his third career win when he hit the front inside of final 100m in his last start three weeks ago but he couldn’t stave off Scream Machine’s finish and finished second (1 ¼ lengths). That was his third run in this prep and the Greg Hickman trained galloper will be cherry ripe now for a race such as this. He’ll get his chance from a good draw and find a nice spot in the run and on last start’s effort, should be in the thick of things again.
10. GENERALIFE – S Clipperton (3) 54kgs
Won two of his past three starts including his most recent outing, a BM 85 (1350m) three weeks ago. The 4yo Darley representative lobbed in the box seat from a good draw, which he has come up with here again, and was too good late for You’ll Never – who has subsequently won, and Burbero. Carried 58kgs to victory last start and will appreciate the drop in weight here has he lines up against the better horses. Like many in the race, in the right kind of form and the right time for a race such as this.
11. CAPITAL COMMANDER – K O’Hara (2) 54kgs
Blew from 9/1 out to 16/1 when resuming from a spell two weeks ago at Randwick. The 6yo mare booted forward from a wide gate to lead but was quickly under pressure as the field turned for home and battled in the run home to finish sixth (5.8 lengths) behind Kristy Lee. She’s had a dip at races such as this in the past and been well handled, and that was with much better lead-up efforts than her first up run.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Capital Commander leads with Tromso and Tougher Than Ever coming across from wider draws. With Taxmeifyoucan and Oakfield Commands keen to make their good draws count, we should see a fairly genuine tempo. That’ll give the back-maker their chance – provided the track also permits that style of racing – and therefore going to put Hidden Kisses on top. She should’ve finished much closer to Oakfield Commands last start and meets that galloper over a more suitable distance, 3kgs better. Another back-maker of Waller’s is He’s Your Man. Haven’t now spent the best part of a year in the Australia, he’ll be completely settled in a repeat performance of his fresh run last prep should see him go close here. Have been with Bennetta her last two and by relegating her to third pick, probably have ensure she breaks her run of outs here – no reason why she can’t win. Tougher Then Ever and Tromso to round out the trifecta selections.
Selections:
HIDDEN KISSES
HE’S YOUR MAN
BENNETTA
TOUGHER THAN EVER