She’ll start from a wide gate, has never won over a mile and hasn’t registered a place in two starts at this track/trip however, the combination of set weights and a strong win last start, has seen punters come hard for Red Tracer. She opened up at $2.25 with the only other runner in single figures being Fire Up Fifi at $7.00 – out from an opening quote of $5.50. With Red Tracer dominating the market, there is some good value to be had about some other well performed mares in the race. The favourite’s tag has stopped several good chances in this race in recent years – can Red Tracer buck the trend?
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1. RED TRACER – N Rawiller (10)
Outstanding race mare who has won three of her last four starts including her most recent outing, the G2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight ago. She lobbed in a beautiful trailing position behind a solid speed before peeling out at the top of the straight and running away to win by an impressive 2 ¾ lengths. Hardly ever puts in a below par performance and on her last victory has to be included here but it is worth noting, she has had two attempts at this distance in the past, including this race last year, and finished well done the track on both occasions.
2. FIRE UP FIFI – D Browne (1)
Her trainer Rob Heathcote, is enjoying a very good spring having produced Buffering to win the G1 Manikato Stakes, Solzhenitsyn (G1 Toorak Handicap) and this mare, Fire Up Fifi who two starts ago, claimed the G2 Blazer Stakes (1410m) with an impressive win. She closed form midfield in the Blazer to defeat Peron by a neck and backed that up with another good effort when fifth in the Tristarc Stakes behind Red Tracer at her most recent start. Got a long way back in a race dominated by those closer to the speed in the Tristarc but was doing her best work late. Record over this distance is very strong and in current form, has to be among the top considerations.
3. CATKINS – C Newitt (11)
Ultra consistent mare who has won eight of her sixteen starts including two of her last three. She dug deep late to win the G3 Sportingbet Sprint (1200m) three starts back before, after having every chance in the run, running third to Fire Up Fifi and Peron in the G2 Blazer Stakes (1410m). Last weekend, in the Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m), she found herself in a nice spot trailing the speed before taking a tight inside run and finishing too well for Cameo, winning by a length. Only needs half a chance to figure in the finish but might find it harder here than her past couple of starts with an awkward draw to contend with.
4. SHARNEE ROSE – B Avdulla (5)
Former Victorian mare who now resides at the Newcastle stables of Kris Lees. She heads into this race in arguably the best form of her career having won her last two starts. As rank outsider, she defeated Red Tracer and Bennetta in the G3 Golden Pendant (1400m) two starts back and backed that up with a strong ¾ length win in the Angst Stakes at Randwick three weeks ago. Meets Red Tracer at set weights this time, had a 4kgs advantage in the Golden Pendant, but a mare in form should never be ignored.
5. XANADU – M Coleman (12)
New Zealand mare who came to Australia after winning the WFA G1 Windsor Park (1600m) in her homeland in impressive style, defeating King Mufhasa by 1 ¾ lengths. Made her Australian debut in the G2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) and never threatened from the tail of the field and finished a disappointing last. Her record in NZ is rock solid but hard to have her here with any confidence given the Tristarc performance.
6. BONARIA – M Walker (4)
5yo mare by Redoute’s Choice who drew poorly in the G1 Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) two starts ago and never threatened from the tail of the field when finishing second to last. She appreciated the return to her own sex last start in the Snowhite Classic and ran second to New Zealander mare Zonda. Had her chance last start but did give the winner 3kgs. She is unbeaten in two attempts over this track and trip and drawn to get a lovely run here.
7. ZURELLA – S Arnold (7)
5yo Zabeel mare who did well from the tail of the field to finish ninth (beaten 3 ½ lengths) behind Fire Up Fifi in the Blazer Stakes just over a month ago, her first start in seventeen weeks. Trainer Sean Ritchie has kept her focused with a recent barrier trial at Cranbourne. The harder they go up front, the more it’ll play into her hands. Finished within a length of Appearance during the autumn in the G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill when, like she is here today, second up from a spell a month after her first up run.
8. THY – V Duric (13)
Surprised most with her first up victory in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) where she stormed home from the tail of the field to win by a length at 50/1. Unfortunately though, her two subsequent runs, which have been well spaced, haven’t been anywhere near as good. She ran last at her most recent start just over a month ago in the G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and whilst she’ll capable of better back to mare’s grade, still needs to make significant improvement.
9. AVA’S DELIGHT – C Williams (9)
The 4yo mare was given a month off after finishing second to last behind Atlantic Jewel (beaten 8.6 lengths) in the G2 Top Cut Stocks Stakes. She returned in the Tristarc Stakes (1400m) and, as a 40/1 chance, ran a good race to finish third (beaten 4.1 lengths) behind the impressive Red Tracer. Had some weight advantage last start which, under the set weights conditions here, she will not have here but, she did beat some handy mares home last start and on that run, deserves a shot here.
10. YOU’RE SO GOOD – J Bowman (14)
Nigel Blackiston’s mare just hasn’t lived up to the efforts of her last campaign, which included a second to Ferlax in the G1 Australian Guineas, in four runs back this time in. She drew wide last start in the Tristarc and made steady ground in the run home to finish sixth, 4 ¾ lengths from winner Red Tracer after running last behind Aerobatics in the G3 Series Final. On the plus side, she probably gets to the right distance and track for the first time this preparation but still needed to see more from her than what she has produced recently before including her among the chances.
11. FLORIA – L Nolen (8)
The daughter of Savabeel hasn’t been far away from the winner in the five starts she’s had since joining the Peter Moody stables in April of this year. Her efforts to run a head second to Red Tracer in the G2 Emancipation Stakes and then third to the same horse in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara during the winter carnival; clearly indicate that the 6yo has plenty of ability. She returned form a sixteen week break on the October 12th with a very pleasing neck third behind British General and Bello in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Will only be better for having had that run but surprisingly, has only won one from eleven over the mile.
9. MOLTO BENE – D Tourneur (7)
Three weeks after winning first up from a spell in Adelaide, the Phillip Stokes trained runner came across to Victoria to line up in the Tavern Stakes (1410m). She produced an outstanding effort to overcome a significant check half way down the Flemington straight and then power home to record a length win over British General. Her next and most recent start was in the G2 Tristarc Stakes where she drew the widest gate in a field of fifteen and got too far back.
She ran tenth and finished over seven lengths from Red Tracer. Her previous runs suggest she’s going better than that effort and back to the big track of Flemington, she could be a sharp improver.
13. CAMEO – K McEvoy (3)
Racing well is this daughter of Shamardal but she is finding it hard to crack it for a win. She crossed to lead from her wide draw two starts back and did well to hold on for fourth (beaten 1 ¼ length) behind the in-form That’s A Good Idea at Randwick before venturing south to Moonee Valley for the Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) last weekend. Again she drew wide but took up a forward position and was able to hold off all bar consistent Catkins, finishing second by length. Good record over this trip and the draw is ideal.
14. ZONZA
Started a well supported $3.60 favourite when making her Australian debut on 1000 Guineas Day just over two weeks ago and didn’t let the punters down.
The New Zealand mare trained by Roger James, sat on the speed and crossed the line 1 ¼ lengths in front of her closest rival Bonaria. She has won three from five over this trip and having drawn well in gate two will be in a prominent positions for the majority of this race.
RACE OVERVIEW
Pace should be genuine here with Thy, Catkins and Red Tracer likely to go forward from their wide gates and Cameo and Zonza, keen to utilise their good draws. Red Tracer dominates this market here and given her form and the set weight conditions of this race, rightly so. Mindful though that, especially when taking the short price, she has never won over a mile and has drawn awkwardly in ten. That doesn’t mean she can’t win here but her short price does mean there is some good value on offer about other runners, one of them being Floria. She finished hot on the heels of Red Tracer in a Group 2 and Group 1 race in Queensland and her first up performance against males was very good. She’ll be ready to produce here second and appreciate the tempo up front. Her quote of $13.00 represents good value. Fire up Fifi has been in good form but she’ll need a little bit of luck from the inside gate in running and that’s probably the reason behind her early drift in betting – $5.00 out to $7.00 One at value is Zurella. Her record when racing against her own sex is very solid and a repeat performance of her second up run last time in, fifth in the G1 Coolmore Classic, could see her go close here.
- FLORIA
- RED TRACER
- ZURELLA
- FIRE UP FIFI
