Trainer Paul Messara’s domination of the 3yo racing features in Sydney looks set to continue when Scissor Kick lines up as the $1.95 favourite in Stan Fox Stakes. With Scissor Kick and Panzer Division, two sons of champion stallion Redoute’s Choice, Messara has claimed the Ming Dynasty, The Rosebud and Up and Coming Stakes. Scissor Kick opened at $2.30 but that was snapped up as soon as it was posted by eager punters. His support has seen the Gai Waterhouse representative Valentia drift just as sharply; with his opening price of $3.50 now out to $4.20. Splitting the pair is developing galloper Shooting To Win who is solid at $3.10.
Special Offer: $250 FREE BET – Ladbrokes
Stan Fox Stakes 2014 Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCISSOR KICK | Paul Messara | Tye Angland | 4 | 56.5kg | |
| 2 | SCRATCH ME LUCKY | Paul Perry | Blake Shinn | 5 | 56.5kg | |
| 3 | VALENTIA | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 7 | 56.5kg | |
| 4 | SHOOTING TO WIN | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 3 | 56.5kg | |
| 5 | MODOC | Paul Perry | Jeff Lloyd | 1 | 56.5kg | |
| 6 | BACHMAN | Gerald Ryan | Corey Brown | 2 | 56.5kg | |
| 7 | VOLLEY OF FIRE | Anthony Cummings | James McDonald | 8 | 56.5kg | |
| 8 | AWARD OF MERIT | Tony McEvoy | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 56.5kg |
1. SCISSOR KICK – T Angland (4)
Made it three straight wins with a narrow victory on a heavy track over stable-mate Panzer Division in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m). The Redoute’s Choice colt then produced an outstanding effort in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) to finish a head second to Hallowed Crown. Drawing gate twelve in the field of fifteen saw Scissor Kick posted three deep with no cover throughout, wider still as the field turn. Despite the run, he hit the front in the final stages only to have the eventual winner, who had tracked him home from the 600m finish a shade too strong. Massive run last start and is the one to beat here.
2. SCRATCH ME LUCKY – B Shinn (5)
Maintained his mid-field position in the run home first up in the G3 Run To The Roses, finishing sixth (3.3 lengths) to Hallowed Crown. He then settled midfield from an inside gate in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) and although the fence was the place to be on the day, he was only average in the run home, finishing thirteenth (7.2 lengths) from Hallowed Crown. Did run second to Peggy Jean in the G1 Sire’s Produce and finished a close up fourth to Go Indy Go in the G1 Champagne last prep, both on rain affected tracks. Could only consider him a hope if the same conditions prevailed on Saturday.
3. VALENTIA – T Berry (7)
Resumed in the G3 Up and Coming Stakes and as the Fastnet Rock colt, under 59kgs and on a heavy track, was starting to warm into the race when he suffered a severe check from the leader Liberation, who ran out abruptly. The race was won by Scissor Kick who avoided the trouble whilst after successfully lodging an appeal, Valentia was promoted to third. He then lined up in the G3 Ming Dynasty, took up an advanced position in the run but on a heavy track under another big impost of 59kg, was able to sprint as well as Panzer Division (who was assigned 55kgs) and finishing fifth (4 lengths). Set weights here is to his advantage and so too should be a dry track. Will take up a good spot in the running and in a small field, is not to be underestimated.
4. SHOOTING TO WIN – T Clark (3)
From the in-form Snowden yard, this younger brother to exciting galloper Deep Field is improving with each run. After doing his best work late to run second to Panzer Division in the G3 Ming Dynasty (1400m), he was winding up well again over the final stages of the Golden Rose (1400m) where from last on the turn, he finished third (1.5 lengths) behind Hallowed Crown and Scissor Kick. The step up to the mile looks ideal for this Northern Meteor colt and is the obvious danger.
5. MODOC – J Lloyd (1)
As he always does, the Haradasun gelding got back first up in the G3 Run To The Roses (1200m) and was ok late, finishing fifth (3.1 lengths) to Hallowed Crown on the heavy track before finishing a respectable ninth (4.3 lengths) to the same horse in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) a fortnight later. Extra 100m will suit and even though this race is light in terms of depth, still likely to continue to find a few too good.
6. BACHMAN – C Brown (2)
The G3 winner was a big task for his return to racing, lining up in the G1 The Golden Rose (1400m) first up off an eighteen week spell. He settled back and never threatened in the run home, finishing twelfth (5.6 lengths) behind Hallowed Crown. Can only strip fitter for that run but has a lot of ground to make up.
7. VOLLEY OF FIRE – J McDonald (8)
Won his maiden race at Gosford three starts and in two subsequent runs, has finished fourth in a Canterbury BM 68 (1580m) and a Newcastle Class 1 (1600m) when starting the 7/4 favourite. A lot of much easier races available for him than this one.
Stan Fox Stakes 2014 Odds/Results:
8. AWARD OF MERIT – K McEvoy (6)
Tony McEvoy son of Medaglia D’Oro, who is out of former smart performer Halibery, made his debut with a win in a Balaklava Maiden (1055m) back in May. He settled back from a wide gate before finishing well to arrive right on the line, register a nose win. He hasn’t raced since by McEvoy has him prepared for an ambitious return with two Sydney barrier trials in the past month, the most recent of which he finished third (4.3 lengths) behind Gai Waterhouse’s Amanpour.
- SCISSOR KICK
- SHOOTING TO WIN
- VALENTIA
- SCRATCH ME LUCKY
News:
Rock Sturdy will give Joe Pride some cause to reconsider Epsom Handicap plans if he can deliver a stakes win on Saturday – seven days later than his trainer had hoped.
Pride had designs on Rock Sturdy earning an Epsom start by winning last week’s Bill Ritchie Handicap.
That was until Rock Sturdy bowed to a comeback victory from Manawanui, denying his four-year-old a ballot-free ride into next week’s Group One mile race.
Rock Sturdy is favourite to make amends in the Shannon Stakes in what Pride insists isn’t a last-ditch attempt to get into the Epsom field.
“I wouldn’t say he’s unlikely to go to the Epsom,” Pride said.
“But if things worked out I’d consider it. I think the best opportunity was last week.”
Instead, Pride sees the Shannon as a chance for Rock Sturdy to at least post a stakes victory that will be thoroughly deserved in the eyes of one of Sydney’s in-form trainers.
“I nominated for (the Shannon) and I thought it looked like a winnable race,” Pride said.
“If we can get a Group Two (win) this preparation it will be a pretty decent achievement with him.”
Nine of the 14 Shannon acceptors remain in the Epsom and Rock Sturdy is a clear-cut top pick at $2.80 to go one better than a Bill Ritchie result that took time for Pride to put into perspective.
“In the first instance I was probably a little bit disappointed,” Pride said.
“But when you break the race down he got beaten by a pretty good horse in Manawanui who was clearly back to some pretty good form.
“There was a fair gap to the third horse so there should be a bit of merit to the form.”
Rock Sturdy shares the fifth line of Epsom betting as a $15 chance.
