A competitive bunch of 3yo’s line up for the running of the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes. Early favourite is last start winner of the Eskimo Prince Stakes, El Roca at $3.00. Second favourite is fellow New Zealand galloper Atlante who will be having his first start on Australian shores at $5.50. Gai Waterhouse, who has won this race the past two years with Pierro and Wild And Proud, will be hoping for a third consecutive victory with one of her three entrants – Romantic Touch ($8.50), Liberty’s Choice ($11.00) and Woodbine ($6.00). The other runner under double figures is $8.00 who, after running second to El Roca a fortnight ago, represents good value.
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1. DISSIDENT – J Cassidy (6)
Still only the one win from nine starts, which came on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview however, this Sebring colt has registered five placings including a second to Zoustar in the G1 Golden Rose (Bull Point third). He returned off an eighteen week break by running second to El Roca in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago. He tracked El Roca into the race was but was never travelling as comfortable as the winner and finished two lengths in arrears. He’ll appreciate the step up to 1400m which will give him that bit extra time to wind up. Capable of turning the tables on El Roca.
2. ROMANTIC TOUCH – T Berry (5)
The Northern Meteor gelding won the G1 J.J. Aitkins (1600m) at only his fifth race start and big things were expected from the Gai Waterhouse runner when he returned in the spring. Plain performances in the G2 Danehill Stakes and G3 Guineas Prelude saw his campaign cut short and he was spelled. Returned from his break last fortnight by running third to El Roca and Dissident in the Listed Eskimo Prince where, from the tail of the field and under 60kgs on a slow track, he made good ground late. He showed above average ability in his first preparation and his recent effort suggests he could be back on the path to similar performances.
3. ATLANTE – G Schofield (3)
Murray Baker has trained this son of Fastnet Rock, who is out of the well performed mare Readyforcatherine, to three wins form five starts in New Zealand including, at his most recent start sixteen weeks ago, the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m). He certainly looked ready to produce a run fresh judging by his ¾ second to Howmuchdoyouloveme, who was good in a G2 WFA race last weekend, in a recent barrier trial at Rosehill. Trainer has enjoyed regular success in Australia and he’s not to be dismissed lightly.
4. SAVVY NATURE – J McDonald (9)
John O’Shea’s gelding won the G3 Spring Stakes and G2 The Vase from six starts in what was a very solid preparation last spring. He returns here after failing to see out the 2500m of the VRC Derby last November and in readiness for this race, has contested two barrier trials. Expect he’ll be giving them a head-start from his wide gate in the run and in this class, over this distance, will find a few too hard to run down.
5. EL ROCA – J Bowman (10)
After a gallant second in the Guineas Prelude and an unlucky fifth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last spring, the New Zealand galloper deservedly registered his first Australian win when taking out the Listed Eskimo Prince a fortnight ago. He tracked the speed before proving too strong in the run to the line, recording a solid two length win over Dissident with Romantic Touch third. Did what he had to do first up and will better again but from the outside gate, will need to find a good spot early.
6. KOROIBETE – B Avdulla (7)
A promising gelding from Gerald Ryan’s stables who has won three of his six starts, the last two victories coming against older horses in BM 75 events. He hasn’t raced since the middle of December and wasn’t asked to do a great deal in a Rosehill barrier trial last week. Takes on Stakes company for the first time in his career and whilst this level may not be beyond him in the future, it probably is first up and over 1400m.
7. HOOKED – N Berry (4)
A Patinack Farm runner that had four starts during his spring campaign and finished fourth in each of them – G3 Ming Dynasty, G3 Spring Stakes, G3 Gloaming and G1 Champion Stakes. He too returned in the Listed Eskimo Prince and only held his ground on the soft conditions, finishing second to last in the field of six and 4.1 lengths behind El Roca. The Casino Prince colt has finished right on the heels of the top three year olds and a drier surface will assist him produce a much better performance this is first up effort.
8. LIBERTY’S CHOICE – T Clark (2)
Won his maiden at his second start last time in and two starts later, went within a head of winning the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) when second to Rock Hero. The Redoute’s Choice colt rounded out his spring preparation by running fifth (1 ¾ lengths) to Complacent in the G1 Champion Stakes (2000m). He returns to racing here with two winning barrier trials under his belt, ridden by Clark in both of them, and would expect him to take up a prominent position from his inside draw. He’s probably better again over a longer trip but capable of running a bold race first up.
9. WOODBINE – N Rawiller (8)
Out of Golden Slipper winner and champion mare Miss Finland, this Hussonet colt made it three wins from four starts with a head win over Pirandello in a BM 74 (1200m) four weeks ago at Rosehill. Takes a big step up here in class and meets them all at level weight but does go about his business in a good style and appears he’ll appreciate genuinely contested 1400m, which this should be.
10. TAKEWING – B Shinn (1)
Jason Coyle’s Sebring colt is still searching for his first win at this, his sixth start. His most recent effort came a week and a half ago when, as the 9/4 favourite, he finished fifth of ten in a Warwick Farm maiden. He didn’t appreciate the heavy conditions last start but much easier races than this available to him.
11. SWIGGIN’ – S Clipperton (11)
Yet to run a place from three starts is Anthony Cummings’ Fastnet Rock gelding. At his most recent run, which came a month ago at Wyong, he finished fourth of eleven in a maiden class race where he closed steadily from a mid-field position. That was his first run in seventeen weeks and on that effort and from the widest gate, couldn’t see him finishing in the first half of the field.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Pace should be ok with Liberty Rose pushing up from his draw and El Roca crossing from wider out. These 3yo races early in the autumn can be tricky affairs and whilst it is hard to go past the Eskimo Prince form-line, would still treat this race cautiously. El Roca won with something still up his sleeve last start and provided Bowman can find a position without too much trouble, he’ll prove hard to beat again. Dissident ran a head second in the G3 Run To The Roses last prep, hitting the line in good style and the seven furlongs here will be more to his liking, as would be a drier track. Waterhouse’s record in this race is a good and Romantic Touch is the pick of her three for mine from Woodbine and Liberty’s Choice.
1. EL ROCA
2. DISSIDENT
3. ROMANTIC TOUCH
4. WOODBINE
