The George Main Stakes 2014 will be the feature race at Randwick racecourse today with the George Main Stakes Field consisting of ten runners with lightweight Panzer Division heading the George Main Stakes odds. We take a look at each of the runners in the race and give our George Main Stakes Tips and provide quick Results after the race has run.
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George Main Stakes 2014 Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SACRED FALLS (NZ) | Chris Waller | Zac Purton | 1 | 59kg | |
| 2 | HAWKSPUR | Chris Waller | Jim Cassidy | 4 | 59kg | |
| 3 | TOYDINI | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Corey Brown | 3 | 59kg | |
| 4 | LASER HAWK | Joseph Pride | 9 | 59kg | ||
| 5 | TERONADO | Bruce W Hill | Chris Munce | 5 | 58.5kg | |
| 6 | ROYAL DESCENT | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 57kg | |
| 7 | LUCIA VALENTINA (NZ) | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 56.5kg | |
| 8 | RISING ROMANCE (NZ) | Donna Logan | James McDonald | 7 | 56.5kg | |
| 9 | GYPSY DIAMOND | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 10 | 56.5kg | |
| 10 | PANZER DIVISION | Paul Messara | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 50.5kg |
Panzer Division will be out to succeed where Dissident failed to as a three year old, and win the G1 George Main Stakes at Randwick this Saturday. Dissident was on the quick back-up last year after running a great second to Zoustar in the Golden Rose, and finished sixth behind Streama. Panzer Division by-passed the Golden Rose but has good form-lines around him and combined with that fact that he’ll have only 50.5kgs to carry here under the conditions of the race, punters believe he can become the tenth three year old to win this race in the past thirty years.
He opened up the $4.40 favourite just in advance of Royal Descent who will be out to replicate the feat of last year’s winner Streama, and win her first Group 1 race since claiming the Australian Oaks as a 3yo. Royal Descent’s stable-mates Sacred Falls ($5.50) and Hawkspur ($6.50) are also well in contention along with impressive first up winner Lucia Valentina at $6.00.
1. SACRED FALLS – Z Purton (1)
Connections will be hoping for a case of history repeating itself when this O’Reilly stallion lines up on Saturday. Last preparation he run fourth both first and second up before landing the G1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m). This time in he finished fourth first up in the G2 Warwick Stakes, fourth again in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at his second run back, and now lines up in a G1 Randwick mile. Should be right in the mix again here but interesting to note that from five WFA starts, his record reads 0-0-1.
2. HAWKSPUR – J Cassidy (4)
Made it back to back victories in the Chelmsford Stakes last start after a daring ride from Jim Cassidy saw the 5yo take up the unfamiliar role of pace-maker. He found plenty in the run to the line, fighting back after being headed to oust stable-mate Royal Descent right on the line. Each of his three runs back this prep have been very good and no reason why he can’t win again here.
3. TOYDINI – C Brown (3)
Normally takes a few runs back form a break to find his best and doesn’t appear to like the heavy conditions, but neither of those factors seem to bother him in the G2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) first up a fortnight ago when he ran a great third (1.9 lengths) behind impressive winner Lucia Valentina. A smart horse who didn’t quite live up to expectation during the autumn carnival, he looks to have returned in very good order judging by his first up run. Can only be fitter for it and enjoys competing over the Randwick mile, have won the G3 Carbine Club (where he defeated Hawkspur by 3.8 lengths) and running a tremendous third in last year’s G1 Epsom Handicap behind Boban.
4. LASER HAWK – (9)
Off a fifteen month break, he was’t too bad first up over the unsuitable 1200m of the Missile Stakes, finishing 3.5 lengths behind Sweet Idea. His only run since came last week in the G2 Theo Marks where from the second to widest gate in a field of eight, he was ridden forward and was second as the field made the turn. The 6yo couldn’t improve or in the least maintain his position, dropping out to run last, over eleven lengths from the winner Cluster. Can’t see him turning such as poor showing around in the space of a week.
5. TERONADO – C Munce (5)
Back-maker who always threatened to win a good race as a 3yo during the Sydney autumn carnival but never quite got there. He finished no worse than fifth in the G1 Australian, Randwick and Rosehill Guineas races and has been brought back quietly by trainer Bruce Hill in his home-state of Queensland recently. He flashed home for second in a Class 6 over 1200m first up at Eagle Farm and than was simply too good for a similar class field over 1400m at Doomben, winning by a comfortable 2.8 lengths. Will be ready to run a big race and Chris Munce, who has partnered him in each of his two runs back, will make the trip to ride
6. ROYAL DESCENT – G Schofield (2)
Made it three second placings form her last four starts when nosed out on the line by stable-mate Hawkspur in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes a fortnight ago. She settled on the leader’s (Hawkspur) back and kicked up on the inside, hitting the front for a moment before Hawkspur fought back and got his nose down when it mattered the most. That was only her second run back from a spell, compared to Hawkspur’s third and that proved telling late over the tough Randwick mile on a heavy track. So honest and is busting to win a race. Cannot leave her out.
7. LUCIA VALENTINA – K McEvoy (6)
Stamped herself as a top line filly with victory in the G1 Vinery Stakes last season, followed by a tremendous third (1.2 lengths) to Rising Romance in the G1 Australian Oaks but looks to have taken it up a few notches given her return victory in the G2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. The Savabeel mare was near last as late as the 300m before finding clear room wide out on the track, balancing up and rocketing home over the heavy conditions late to record a most impressive 1.5 length win. On that run and her three year old record, the sky is the limit for this Kris Lees trained mare.
8. RISING ROMANCE – J McDonald (7)
Like Lucia Valentina, this daughter of Ekraar posses an outstanding 3yo record, highlighted of course by victory in the G1 Australian Oaks (2400m). She too returned in the Tramway Stakes and whilst Lucia Valentina’s performance deservedly stole the show, this mare’s effort wasn’t far behind. She was back last and was building into her run nicely as they crossed the line, finishing fourth (2.2 lengths) behind the winner. Will be better for that hit-out, the step up to a mile and a drier surface should also help her make up that margin.
9. GYPSY DIAMOND – B Shinn (10)
Sent out a short 2/1 favourite for her return to racing in the G3 Toy Show Quality but never raised her backers hopes, finishing fifth and close to ten lengths from the winner, My Sabeel. She settled back at her next and most recent start, the G2 Tramway Stakes, and found some traffic in the straight before getting home steadily to run tenth (5.2 lengths) behind Lucia Valentina. Was backed again last start, 8’s into 5’s and really needs to show something now, third up over a mile, the distance which her last two wins – G2 Fillies Classic and G3 Carbine Club Stakes – have been secure at but she meets a crack field.
10. PANZER DIVISION – B Avdulla (8)
After going as close as possible to winning the G3 Up And Coming Stakes, won by stable-mate Scissor Kick who was phenomenal in last week’s Golden Rose, this well bred Redoute’s Choice colt deservedly won the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes a fortnight ago. He led and whilst the track and conditions probably favoured those up on the speed, he found plenty in the run to the line, winning by 1.3 lengths from Shooting To Win – another who ran a cracking race in the Golden Rose. This is a test for a 3yo but there is good form all around him at the minute and with only 50.5kgs on his back, should give them plenty to chase.
George Main Stakes 2014 odds and results
RACE OVERVIEW
Panzer Division will make use of his light weight and push forward here and could provide Royal Descent with a lovely trial. Royal Descent is ultra consistent and only Hawkspur’s extra run under his belt, shaded her last start. She’s at her peak now, gets a lovely run in the box seat and can broke through for a much deserved feature win. No reason not to stick with Hawkspur either here. He ran fourth in this race last year but got too far back on that occasion. Drawing gate four, expect Cassidy, as he did last start, to find a handy position here. Lucia Valentina and Rising Romance submitted good runs first up. Stepping up in distance and on a firmer ground, wouldn’t think there’s as much between them as the market currently suggest but expect both to again be finishing hard.
- ROYAL DESCENT
- HAWKSPUR
- PANZER DIVISION
- RISING ROMANCE
News:
The jockey who can’t ride Panzer Division in the George Main Stakes could have just as much to gain as the one who can.
Tye Angland, who rode Panzer Division to victory in the Ming Dynasty Quality, says the three-year-old won’t be out of place in the weight-for-age race.
But instead of trying to win on the colt for a second time, Angland will be out to beat him on the rank outsider Laser Hawk.
“I’m excited about the horse. Hopefully if he does win or runs a good race I can get back on him,” Angland said.
Angland was physically never in the running to make Panzer Division’s 50.5kg in the George Main, leaving Brenton Avdulla to answer an SOS from trainer Paul Messara.
In a campaign that is one of the more audacious in the modern era of racing, Panzer Division will step into the Group One race at only his fourth start.
It would seem a formidable challenge but Avdulla says the Arrowfield team behind the colt are taking advantage of what could be a rare window of opportunity.
Avdulla has made it clear his decision to shed 5.5kg in nine days has as much to do with the opposition as it does about Panzar Division’s obvious potential.
“In any other year I would have had my doubts about a horse like him winning a George Main,” Avdulla said.
“But it looks a very open race and he appears ready to go given the form around his stablemate Scissor Kick.”
Scissor Kick almost won the Group One Golden Rose last week after edging out Panzer Division in the Up And Coming Stakes.
And Angland says there is enough strength in that form to give the colt a genuine shot against his older rivals.
“I think he is a Group One horse in the making. If it’s not this season, it’s next season,” Angland said.
“The best of him is still another prep away but it would not surprise me if he came out and won the race.”
Avdulla expects to be handed straightforward tactics, given Panzer Division’s pull in the weights.
“We’ll ride him aggressively I’m tipping and he’s going to be somewhere in the first couple,” he said.
Few three-year-olds have been given the chance to run in the George Main since Viscount last won for the age bracket in 2001.
But for those who have tried and failed there have been lessons well learned.
All Too Hard and Dissident are recent examples who went to win multiple Group One races after their respective unplaced runs in 2012 and 2013.
3YOs in the George Main Stakes since 2001
* 2004 – Dane Shadow (fourth)
* 2008 – Duporth (fifth)
* 2009 – Onemorenomore (third)
* 2012 – All Too Hard (fourth)
* 2013 – Dissident (fourth)