Only a small field to take part in this Group 2 race, the first of eight scheduled for two big meetings at Moonee Valley this Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Favourite here is Gregers ($2.10) and, given her consistent form and last start third behind two top fillies in a Group 1 race, she is hard to go past. A couple of runners in the bottom half of the field, Scratchy Bottom ($4.40) and Lady Tatia ($8.00), who both come off impressive wins, are emerging types and create plenty of interest.
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1. GREGERS – C Schofield (4)
This filly by Commands hasn’t put a foot wrong this preparation and has won three of her five starts. She enjoyed the run of the race two starts back to secure a head victory in the 1000 Guineas Prelude before boxing on well behind two smart fillies in Guelph and May’s Dream in the 1000 Guineas last Wednesday. That is as solid form as you could hope for in a race like this and from gate four, she’ll be in the box seat throughout.
2. GYPSY DIAMOND – J McDonald (3)
Sydney visitor from the John O’Shea yard who has been a little plain in three runs back from a brief winter campaign. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt ran a close up third first up in a BM 75 race Warwick Farm before stepping up in grade and finishing midfield in the Listed Reginald Allen and, as a 150/1 shot, sixth of nine (beaten 6.9 lengths) in last week’s 1000 Guineas. She’s better suited back to this grade but still needs to find plenty of improvement.
3. FEDERICA – P Robl (8)
After kicking off her career with average performances in Warwick Farm and Canterbury maidens back in May, the Anthony Cummings trained runner was spelled. She took benefit from her break and returned to narrowly win a Restricted race at Warwick Farm (1300m) last month and backing that up with a sixth of nine in a BM 74 race at Randwick. She settled on the leader’s back last start and had little luck securing a run in the straight. Despite placing sixth, she finished within two lengths of the promising Chateau Lafaite. Respect the stables decision to bring her here.
4. FANTOME GRIS – M Rodd (2)
She caught the eye when, two starts back, she made good ground late to run fourth in the G2 Edward Manifold (1610m) behind Se Sauver. Off of that effort and stepping up to the 2000m of the Listed Ethereal Stakes last weekend at Caulfield, she started a well supported 13/2. The daughter of Sebring never threatened from the tail of the field though and finished a disappointing tenth of twelve, over eight lengths from the winner. Obviously nothing physically wrong with her from that run to be backing up so quickly here but, she’s still a maiden and has too much improvement to make on last week’s effort.
5. SO BELLA ARELLA – S Baster (7)
The Leon Corstens trained filly cracked her maiden status with a three length victory last start, her sixth of her career, in a Cranbourne Maiden (1400m). It was a strong win and she gave the impression that the mile will pose no problem however, she obviously takes on smarter fillies here and at the set weights, will have to have had come on substantially since that win.
6. SCRATCHY BOTTOM – D Dunn (1)
She kicked of her career over the unusual distance of 1533m at this track three weeks ago. The Mick Kent trained filly by Sebring was, as his stable runners always are, presented ready to produce her best and she duly went about recording a most impressive 3 ½ length victory. Second in that race, Super Fun, has been subsequently well beaten in the Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) over in Adelaide however, Kent has a good record with lightly raced horse for Scratchy Bottom’s owner Gilgai Farm – Phillipi, Epingle, Absolutely etc., and this filly looks like she might be joining the list. She’ll be better for the experience of her first run and has to go into calculations.
7. LADY TATIA – L Nolen (6)
Made her debut for trainer Peter Moody back in June and, after finishing midfield in a Ballarat Maiden (1100m) on a heavy track, the Duke of Marmalade filly was immediately sent for a spell.
The combination of a break, returning on a drier track and over a longer trip (1400m) assisted her in registering an impressive four length win in a Cranbourne Maiden. That win, along with the fact that she’s got some very strong pedigree on her dam’s side, suggests she could be one to follow moving forward.
8. NAVAJO RUN – C Newitt (5)
She started 9/4 favourite last start, had a lovely run in the race but no answers to Lady Tatia’s strong finish when running second (beaten 4 lengths) in a Cranbourne Maiden. At only her second race start, it was a solid effort but not one that would suggest she’d be able to turn the tables on that run here.
RACE OVERVIEW
Can’t go past Gregers here. Only concern, and it’s only a slight one, would be at this, her sixth run in this preparation and after the 1000 Guineas effort, whether Gregers has already peaked this prep. This isn’t a strong field though and she’s two from two at the Valley. The next best were Federica – should’ve gone close last start and trainer/jockey have a good strike rate, Scratchy Bottom – takes a horse with ability to win by 3 ½ in town on debut and, Lady Tatia – strong win last start and the mile will suit.
- GREGERS
- SCRATCHY BOTTOM
- FEDERICA
- LADY TATIA
