The final feature on the card at Hawkesbury is for the 3yo’s and a good collection of ten have gathered. Again, Darley have a strong hand with three runners (Complicate, Limes and Meidung) and can Ashokan finally broke through for that elusive second win at his second start for his new Trainer, Gai Waterhouse?
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1. ASHOKAN – B Shinn (8)
A Son of More Than Ready whose solitary win came in the G3 Skyline Stakes back in March of last year. Transferred from John O’Shea to Gai Waterhouse earlier this year and his one run for Gai resulted in a fifth (beaten 2.7 lengths) behind Ichihara in the Gosford Guineas. That was his first run in a month and he will strip better for it here but a combination of his strike rate, weight and gate, are enough to leave him out.
2. PLATINUM KINGDOM – J Riddell (7)
New Zealand galloper who relished in the heavy conditions when making his Australian debut a fortnight ago in the Listed 3yo Classic (1400m) defeating Casual Choice by 1 ¼ lengths. That made it eight wins from fifteen starts for the son of Magnus, five of those coming in his last seven starts. He is In winning form.
3. COMPLICATE – (10)
Front runner from the Darley team who commenced this campaign with an authoritative win at Canterbury over Casual Choice before toughing out well to win the Canberra Guineas over Ashokan by ¾ length. His last start he chased Ichiara all the way home in the Gosford Guineas on a slow track, finishing ¾ length second. That was his first run in six weeks and will appreciate a firmer surface. If he crosses cheaply from the outside gate, he’ll be hard to run down.
4. EXIMUS – J Parr (4)
Mick Price brought this well performed son of Exceed and Excel to Sydney for the Listed 3yo Classic after having won a RST 78 event at Sandown. Unfortunately he ran into a wet track and finished fifth, 7.7 lengths behind Platinum Kingdom. Back on a firmer surface will be more to his liking and best to go off his winning effort last Spring in the Listed Hilton Hotels (1400m) at Flemington where he defeated Limes by a head.
5. BOBAN – J Bowman (4)
Winner of the Listed Phoenix Stakes over Hoss Amor during the winter carnival but two poor efforts in the Spring, saw trainer Chris Waller tip this Bernardini gelding out for a spell. The break seems to have done the trick judging by his two efforts back this time in, the most recent a comfortable victory over Fantastic Ballad in a BM 70 at Warwick Farm a little over a week ago. Might still be improving and has a good jock and draw here.
6. HEART TESTA – G Schofield (8)
Won his first four starts and, after taking the step up to Black Type races, has come with a head and ¾ length of claiming the Eskimo Prince and Darby Munro Stakes. Last start he encountered a Heavy track for the first time in his career and although trying his best and finishing three lengths behind winner Platinum Kingdom, will much prefer a Dead track in the least here.The Eskimo Prince and Darby Munro efforts make him a leading contender here.
7. LIMES – (2)
Only the one win from fourteen starts but has been agonisingly close in good races on several occasions.He was good when returning in the Eskimo Prince three starts back and then drew wide and had no luck in the Darby Munro. Encountered the heavy track last time out when third to Platinum Kingdom, beaten 2 ¾ lengths. Gets a good draw here, the likelihood of a dry track and will go close to registering his second win.
8. EXCITED PRINCE – K. O’Hara (6)
Excites gelding trained by Jason Coyle who has ran second at his two most recent starts, a BM 67 and Restricted race, both at Canterbury. Appeared to have his chance in both starts and would need to improve too much for mine to be winning here.
9. MEIDUNG – (3)
Put together a solid preparation during the Spring that culminated in her winning the Listed Twilight Glow (1400m) at Sandown but her form in three runs back from a spell have been indifferent. She was only fair first up in the Surround Stakes before a much improved effort, when fourth (beaten less than a length) in the Darby Munro but last start, as one of the leading chances in the Listed LR James Carr, she raced at the tail of th field and failed to make an impression, finishing 7.6 lengths from Missy Cummings Needs to improve too much in the space of a week.
10. BRAVE SOUL – P Robl (1)
More Than Ready filly who has a foot on the till. As she does more often than not, she flashed home for third (beaten 1.8 lengths) behind Complicate in the Canberra Guineas and again in the Darby Munro (head second) and PJ Bell Stakes last week (third, beaten 1 ½). With a touch of luck, she may have been heading into this race looking to make it three on the trot. The only concern is the step up to the mile from six furlongs.
OVERVIEW
Complicate leads and may very well prove too hard to run down. If he doesn’t win, I think Darley have a great Plan B in stable-mate Limes. He’ll get a lovely trail here and gets a good chance to break the frustrating string of recent placings. He’s good each way value at $10.00. Platinum King’s recent record suggests he’s the form runner of the race and would the think the step up to a mile from the 1400m, would only better his chances. Another at a good price at $5.50. Third selection in a very open race is the filly Brave Soul. Happy to take the risk she’ll see out the mile given that $6.50 is on offer.
