Seven last start winners, five runners returning from a spell and early in season – given these facts there is little wonder the market for the Quezettte Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday is a wide one with five of the twelve runners under double figures odds. Punters are sticking with local trainer Mick Price and his unbeaten filly Royal Snitzel who steps up to a Stakes race for the first time. She opened at $3.20 in early markets before tightening up to $3.00. Next in betting, and all within a point and half of each other are London Lolly ($6.50), Sunset Rock ($8.00), Novel Dancer ($8.00), and Kalabek ($8.00), with the first two the only runners in the race, already successful at stakes level.

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Quezette Stakes 2014 Field

1. LONDON LOLLY – D Dunn (8) 57.5kgs

She finished her initial campaign for Team Hawkes by winning the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and then in Adelaide, the G3 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) where she defeated subsequent Group 1 winner, Go Indy Go. The well bred filly likes to take up a forward position but from barrier eight and with plenty of pace drawn inside of her, she may have to opt for the sit first up with 57.5kgs.

2. SUNSET ROCK – J Bowditch (5)

Adelaide galloper trained by Lloyd Kennewell who commenced her career with a second in Open company before leading all the way to comfortably win the Listed Cinderella Stakes (1050m) where she too defeated subsequent Group 1 winner Go Indy Go. Has been tuned up for this with a recent barrier trials and stable is never far from the money when they make the trip to Victoria.

3. ROYAL SNITZEL – D Smith (6) 55kgs

Mick Price took his filly to Donald for her debut in July which as 7/4 favourite, she duly won in good style before coming to town, and over the this track and trip, making it two from two with a half length victory over Zeletto. Jumped from seven in the field of thirteen but took up a handy spot and toughed it out well last start. Can’t knock either run and despite the step up in class again, should be in this for a long way.

4. DOWN THE HATCH – C Newitt (11) 55kgs

Made it two wins from three starts when recording a three quarter of a length win at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago in a BM 78 (1000m). The Flying Spur filly sat on the pace from a good draw and was able to hold off the challengers, which were led by Afleet Esprit, in the run to the line. Unfortunately the gate here is not as favourable and combined with the step up in grade, should see her struggle here to make it three wins from four starts.

5. EMPRESS O’REILLY – C Williams (3) 55kgs

Won her debut for trainer Robert Smerdon on Boxing Day last year and wasn’t then seen until she contested a BM 78 at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago where she finished sixth of eleven. Slowly out of the gates, the daughter of O’Reilly was always playing catch-up and finished 2.7 lengths from the winner Down The Hatch. Can only be better for that run and expect her to take up a better position in the run from gate 3.

6. ALL SEWN UP – G Boss (12)

Still searching for her maiden win is this Choisir filly from the Byron Cozamanis yard after five starts. She’s finished second three times, including to Golconda in the Listed Desiree Gill Stakes at her second career outing and will strip fitter for her fourth (2.3 lengths) to Down The Hatch when first up from a spell at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago. She carried 58kgs then and meets the winner 3.5kg better but unfortunately, drawing the widest gate probably nullifies any advantage that pull gave her.

7. NOVEL DANCER – (10) 55kgs

Written Tycoon filly who could not have been more impressive in winning her two starts to date, a Echuca Maiden and Mornington Open 2yo race, by 6 and 3.8 lengths respectively. The Mornington win was in late may and saw her overcome a wide gate, slow track and 59kgs to record a comfortable victory. She’s again drawn wide here but no surprise to see her still kept relatively safe in betting at $8.00. Looks to have plenty of natural ability.

8. TOP DOLLY – C Schofield (7) 55kgs

Made her debut with a promising second (1.3 lengths) to the well performed Oakleigh Girl on Cup Day last year but she failed to live up to those expectation in her only two runs since then earlier this year. She finished down the track in the Blue Diamond Prelude and was tailed off in the Blue Diamond Stakes. Hasn’t been produced at any public trials in preparation for her return here but interestingly, has been specked in early betting, firming from $26 into $19.

9. LEXGETREDDY – M Zahra (2) 55kgs

Won at Sandown-Hillside on debut, showing good speed over a 900m dash to win by two lengths before racing erratically as the 2/1 favourite in Adelaide’s Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1000m) and finishing a disappointing seventh. Spelled after that run and returned to racing last fortnight at Moonee Valley where from a good gate, she find a nice spot in the BM78 (1000m). Carrying 59kgs though, she couldn’t improve on that position and weakened to run ninth (4.4 lengths) to Down The Hatch. Gets down in the weight now and has again drawn well but hard to take with any confidence on her last two efforts.

10. KALABEK – D Oliver (1) 55kgs

After winning a barrier trial by six lengths, Kalabek was sent out a 9/10 favourite for her debut back in April and didn’t disappoint. The daughter of Wanted wasn’t flash away and settled at the tail of the field but an impressive finish saw her claim Mossbeat by half a length on the line. She was then taken to Brisbane for the Lancaster Stakes but she was injured in the run and could only manage eleventh. The inside gate is not ideal for this filly given she’s likely to settle back and that’ll mean she and Oliver will require luck from the turn.

11. TYCOON PERI – L Coffey (9) 55kgs

Broke her maiden status, at start number three, with a dominant all-the-way win in a Geelong Synthetic Maiden back in May. Her trainer Ken Keys immediately spelled the Written Tycoon filly and has picked a tough race for her to return in. Likely to shoot across from her gate but hard at this level, to see her defying the challengers.

12. SABATINI – N Hall (4)

Fell a length short when second on debut in a Bendigo Maiden (1000m) back in July but returned to the same track only last week, to go one better, winning an 1100m maiden by a widening 3.8 lengths. Has been on in setting the pace at both starts and will take up a similar position again after drawing nicely here but, this is a much stronger race and others have better credentials.

RACE OVERVIEW

As the market suggests, this is a tough race. Sunset Rock seems to have drawn perfectly in a race where there is a stack of speed. From gate 5, Bowditch, who has plenty to do with this filly and was about her last start, has the option to push forward or if need be take the sit and trial the speed. Same goes for Royal Snitzel in gate 6. Her two wins have been very good and Trainer and connections have raced some very good horses together in the past. Host of chances line up for the placings with the pick for mine being Novel Dancer and Kalabek.

1. SUNSET ROCK
2. ROYAL SNITZEL
3. LONDON LOLLY
4. NOVEL DANCER

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