Trainer John O’Shea looks well placed to train consecutive winners of the G3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle this Wednesday. O’Shea trained Savabeel to victory last year and in this year’s renewal, will saddle up the current favourite Sweynesse ($3.20). The Lonhro colt remained unbeaten after a good win first up at Rosehill, running out the 1400m strongly. Peter Moody’s stable is ticking over nicely at the moment and should continue to with their representative in the race, Monteux.
Moody has taken his time with this colt who has been in and out of his Sydney stables a few times over the past year the colts has rewarded Moody’s patience with two good efforts from as many starts. He is currently on the third line of betting at $5.50 with the only filly in the race High Above, splitting the above two gallopers at $4.20.
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1. SWEYNESSE – K McEvoy (7)
Drew the widest gate in a field of seven when returning from a spell just over two weeks ago in a BM 70 (1400m) at Rosehill. He settled at the tail of the field and made the most of the field drifting to the centre of the track, taking the short way home along the fence. He overcame a tiring leader at the 200m mark to win comfortably on the line, three quarters of a length in front of First Seal. That made it two wins from as many starts and he can only be better for the first up hit-out. Looks very hard to beat.
2. HAMPTON COURT – T Berry (6)
Never made an impression from the tail of the field when finishing second to last in the G3 San Domenico Stakes first up from a spell last month. The Gai Waterhouse trained runner than appreciated the drop in grade and being ridden in a more forward position at his next and most recent start, when hanging on for third (2.6 lenghts) behind Sweynesse in a BM 70 (1400m) Best efforts thus far have been on dry tracks when ridden handy to the speed, under those conditions, he’s capable of filling a place.
3. IDYLLIC SCENERY – J Cassidy (8)
Didn’t look comfortable on the heavy track when resuming from a spell a fortnight ago at Rosehill. The Northern Meteor colt was scrubbed up heading into the turn and battled his way home for a fourth (2.9 lengths) placing behind Sweynesse in a BM 70 (1400m). Can improve on a better track but only win was a mid-week restricted race at Canterbury where he secured a lovely run throughout.
4. MONTEUX – J Bowman (5)
Made a winning debut for trainer Peter Moody at Bendigo last month, finishing well from the second half of the field to win the 1400m maiden by half a length. He then travelled to Sydney, where he had trialled four times since October last year, to contest a BM 68 (1580m) at Canterbury. Hugh Bowman gave him every chance in the small field but he was out-bobbed on the line by Hero I Am who was dropping back from respectable efforts in the Listed The Rosebud and G3 Up and Coming Stakes. Stable going great guns at the moment and this well bred son of Medaglia D’Oro can keep the run going.
5. LORD BECKWORTH – S Clipperton (3)
The Paul Perry trained colt has run into heavy tracks at each of his two starts this prep and has flopped in both races He ran last in the Up And Coming Stakes first up but despite the considerable drop in grade at his following start, where he started 9/4 in a Class 1 (1500m) at Newcastle, he finished further back still, over thirteenth lengths from the winner. His last two starts on a good track have been much better and resulted in a smart Wyong Open 2yo win and a third to Hampton Court but even if better conditions prevail on Wednesday, he’s got a lot of improvement to make up.
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6. RENA’S LAD – (1)
Kicked off this campaign for local trainer Jason Deamer with a maiden victory at Taree, followed by two solid efforts in a BM 65 (1450m) and a Class 1 (1600m) at Scone, where he finished second on both occasions. Needed to be winning those races in good style to be considered among the hopes in a better class of race such as this.
7. SOBRIQUET – M Bell (2)
Revelled in the heavy conditions to lead all the way and record his maiden win last start here at Newcastle just over a week ago. Ridden by Mitchell Bell, the son of Street Sense was never in danger, recording a commanding 3.8 length win. Drawn to take up a similar position here and whilst he is improving with each run, this step up in class should be too much of an ask.
8. HE’S A GIVEN – (4)
Debuted for Clarry Conners with a win at Hawkesbury a month back, finishing well from an on-pace position to arrive right on the line in the 1300m Maiden. He then settled further back from the widest drawn in the field of six and made the tight Wyong home turn awkwardly before finishing well again to run fourth (1.7 lengths) behind Muscovado. The bigger track and the step up to 1600m looks as though they’ll both suit the son of Any Given Saturday and might be one at value to include in the multiples.
9. POUNAMU – B Shinn (11)
Had his chance when fourth in a Gosford Maiden (1200m) first up from a spell before, at his most recent start, slogging out the finish with debutante Road To Shangri La on a heavy track at Warwick Farm. He led all bar the last 20m when collared on the line by a head. Drawn widest gate here and it’ll make an already tough challenge, tougher again.
10. TURBO STREET – G Schofield (9)
The well bred son of Encosta De Lago, dam is a half to Outback Prince and Hotel Grand, had several well spaced trails for trainer Tony McEvoy since September last year before making his debut at Morphettville mid-July with a close up third in a RST 68 (1200m) race. He then travelled to Sydney were six weeks later, he hold his position in the run home on a heavy Hawkesbury track, finishing fifth (2.8 lengths) as the 9/4 favourite. Whilst respecting the stable’s decision to enter him here, would think this may be beyond him at this stage of his career.
11. HIGH ABOVE – J McDonald (10)
Owners of this filly Gooree Stud, are enjoying an exceptional run at the moment (Rock Sturdy, Hallowed Crown) and this daughter of High Chaparral contributed to that form with an impressive five length win in a Warwick Farm maiden three weeks ago. She sat on the speed and skipped over the heavy conditions to win as she pleased. That effort backed up her strong debut run where she finished third (0.6 lengths) behind First Seal (second to Sweynesse) at his following start. Right in this, even more so if there is any cut out of the track.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Although most are getting to the mile for the first time, pace should be fairly genuine here with Sobriquet, Pounamu from wider out, and Hampton Court setting the tempo. Lot to like about the way Sweynesse won his last start, where he defeated several of his opposition here and with a bit to spare last start. The heavy track may have flattened him a little, but he was a strong winner on debut in a Kembla Maiden on a firm surface, where he closed form a long way back on the big track, just like the Newcastle circuit is. Monteux the next best and should get a lovely run from gate five for the in-form Hugh Bowman. Hero I Am is a handy horse and he had to work hard to beat Monteux, who was only have his second outing last start.
- SWEYNESSE
- MONTEUX
- HIGH ABOVE
- HE’S A GIVEN
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