The final race of the day and the last leg of the quaddie and treble, is a tricky affair. Heart Testa is the early favourite from interstate visitor Club Command. Neither has tasted victory at Stakes level and they encounter a smart field here which contains nine previous winners of Listed or Group races.
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Razor Sharp Handicap Form Guide
1. ZARATONE – K O’Hara 59kgs (14)
Grand old galloper who claimed his second Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) last start defeating Heart Testa by a comfortable 1 ¾ lengths. It was at his favourite track (Rosehill) and trip but unfortunately the 8yo doesn’t enjoy the same success here at Kensington. He’s yet to run a place from two starts and the combination of a big weight and wide gate will make it hard for him to improve the record here.
2. AERONUATICAL – J Bowman 58kgs (2)
Has a tonne of ability does Lionel Cohen’s 5yo gelding but, as his record of three wins from twenty-three starts suggest, he doesn’t always produce it. He certainly did when resuming from a spell back September, flashing home to run second to Sessions in the G2 The Shorts before travelling to Flemington for the G2 Gilgai Stakes and, as a well supported 9/2 chance, finishing a poor ninth of twelve. Hasn’t started since the Gilgai which was over two months ago now and cautious, given his record of inconsistency in the past, of the $6.50 price he has opened up at.
3. HIDDEN WARRIOR – N Berry 58kgs (9)
Normally races in a forward positions but having had drawn poorly at his last two starts, has been ridden from back in the field. The move paid dividends two starts ago when he finished well off a hot pace to win a 1100m race at Rosehill before, four weeks later over the same track/trip, he was unable to make the same impression in the better grade of race and finished a well beaten eighth in the Starlight Stakes behind Zaratone. The Paul Perry trained runner has a lot to turn around off of that run.
4. STRAIGHT ALBERT – B Shinn 58kgs (7)
Returning off a twenty month spell in last fortnight’s Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m), the Guy Walter representative produced all that could be expected of him when he finished seventh (6.2 lengths) behind Zaratone. Will no doubt strip fitter for having had that run but for a horse whose best performances are at a distance of 1400m or further, he’s likely to find this quality of the field too slick.
5. CLUB COMMAND – N Rawiller 56.5kgs (13)
Peter Moody produces this son of Commands for the first time since he won an Open class race at Flemington over 1400m in July. He has two trials over the past month in preparation for his return impressively winning them both. He was narrowly defeated by stable-mate Ready To Rip first up last prep in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m), the first time in three fresh runs he had tasted defeat. Despite the wide draw, markets are taking no chances with this bloke and rightly so.
6. PAMPELONNE – C Lever 56.5kgs (4)
Made a very promising start to his career and amongst the five wins from his first eight starts was the G2 The Shorts last September. However the son of Rock Of Gibraltar has failed to live up to that ability in four starts this year, the most recent of which was a sixth (3.7 lengths) behind Heart Testa in a BM 95 (1100m). That was only his second start back form a spell and he did carry 58kgs however, still needed to see more from him then to consider him a chance here.
7. HEART TESTA – J Collett (5)
Camped on the speed and fought hard to firstly run down Zaratone and then fight off the late challenge of Cape Kidnappers, when scoring a head victory in a BM 95 (1100m) two starts back. Off that effort, he was sent out the 4/5 on favourite in last fortnight’s Starlight Stakes but wasn’t able to reel Zaratone in this time and ran second (1 ¾ lengths). It wasn’t the first time he’s burnt punters. Of the last five times he has started favourite in a race, he has only won one. He’ll get his chance to repay the faithful here and, from a good draw, should be involved in the finish.
8. MASTER HARRY – S Clipperton 55.5kgs (8)
Drew wide first up in the Starlight Stakes and, although positioned just off the speed as the field turned for home, couldn’t keep pace with the leading bunch but battled on fairly for fourth (3 ¾ lengths). The lightly raced 6yo will be lining up for start number nineteen but has only one win from the past thirteen outings, that coming on a slow rated track when he was quoted a 20/1 chance. Probably gets back or sits mid-field at best from gate eight and hard to see him running some of his opponents down.
9. UATE – C Reith 54kgs (12)
The Kris Lees trained galloper resumed from an eight month spell in last fortnight’s Listed Starlight Stakes and settled in a nice position, just behind Zaratone and Heat Testa in the run. The 5yo by Ad Valorem pulled out at the top of the straight but was only able to battle home, running sixth (6.1 lengths) behind the winner. Needs to shown significant improvement and from gate 12, will have his work cut out for him.
10. OLLIE VOLLIE – T Berry 54kgs (10)
An 11yo who lines up for start 90! He still has a zest for racing though given that from eight starts this preparation he has finished no further back than fourth. Last start he closed well behind the smart Better Than Ready in the Listed Keith Noud (1200m) at Doomben, finishing fourth (1.1 length). Ran fourth in this race in 2011 behind News Alert but would think, at his age, from that gate, there will be at least a few that will finish in front of him.
11. SAFEGUARD – 54 (11)
The 3yo son of Exceed And Excel kicked off this campaign by winning the G3 Vain Stakes (1100m) back in August. That win saw him start favourite in each of his next three starts but unfortunately for punters, despite good efforts in each that saw him finish no further back than three lengths from the winner in Group and Listed races, he wasn’t able to secure a win. He came to Sydney for his most recent start, the Starlight Stakes (1100m) and, off a month’s break, and was doing his best work late running third (3.6 lengths) behind Zaratone.
12. DEE’N’GEE – P Robl 54kgs (3)
The 6yo trained by Clarry Conners resumes here of a twelve week spell. He has had two trails, the recent only a week ago which he won well when piloted by Robl, for his return. A speedy customer who will no doubt try and use his gate and weight to his advantage here and take up a very prominent position in the run. He has had six runs at Listed level in the past with the best of them being a third placing, as 11/4 favourite, in the Skin Fitness Stakes (1300m). At his best, as he may be with two good hit-out at the trials, would conceded him a place chance at odds.
13. JACQUINOT BAY – G Schofield 54 (1)
Made his return to racing off a seven month break with a very pleasing effort behind Zaratone in the Starlight Stakes, running fifth (4.2 lengths). Made good ground late in a race where not many did and will no doubt be much improved for having had the hit-out. The Guy Walter galloper draws the pole here and, for a horse that gets back in the run, not an ideal gate. Will need plenty of luck and likely need further.
14. SHELFORD – J McDonald 54kgs (6)
The John O’Shea trained 4yo has been a model of frustrating consistency this time in. He has finished second (by a head, neck and length) in three of his five starts this prep with a third and close up fifth thrown in for good measure. Had is chance in each of those races, which were in lesser grade than this event, and whilst he’ll enjoy some weight relief, doubt it will be enough to see him breakthrough for a win.
RACE OVERVIEW
The speed will be on from the outset here and being the last race of the day, any track bias which will be vital, will be revealed. Zaratone and Club Command cross from out wide with Dee’N’Gee pushing forward from an inside draw and Heart Testa and Shelford handy. Thought Safeguard might be able to finish over the top of Zaratone and Heart Testa last start but the pair had a good time of it out in front and were able to dictate. Not sure that that will be the case this time with a decent size field and plenty of pressure expected up front, it may be worth given Safeguard another go. He is a three year old who, like he is here, has been taking on and performing well against older horses. This race might pan out nicely for him. Heart Testa has been too close too many times to leave out and for value, would include Dee’n’Gee at a big price in any multiples.
Still leaving several out who if victorious, would not surprise.
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- SAFEGUARD
- HEART TESTA
- DEE’N’GEE
