Punters are sticking with Chris Waller’s Weary in this weekend’s Tramway Stakes despite the former import not running up to expectations last start in the G2 Warwick Stakes where as a $3.00 chance, he missed a place. The return to set weight conditions has multiple Group 1 place-getter well placed here and as he did last time in, primed to win third up from a spell. Tiger Tees ($5.50) is out to secure his third consecutive win since returning from a spell and trainer Joe Pride and connections will be hoping the poor weather that’s covered Sydney in recent weeks, remains for at least a few more days. Corey Brown, who rode Tiger Tees in his first two starts way back in February 2011, returns to Australian shores for the plum ride. These are the only two runners in the capacity field under $10.00, leaving some exceptional value available on some well performed horses, several using this race as the commencement of their spring campaigns. High class mare Rising Romance ($18.00) and Lucia Valentina will contest this first up with the latter already the subject of good support, firming from $16 into $13.

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Tramway Stakes 2014 Field:

1. TIGER TEES – C Brown (11)

The 7yo sprinter continues to defy his age and race in great form. He won the G3 Aurie’s Star first up from a spell before backing that up a fortnight ago, with an all-the-way win in the G2 WFA Warwick Stakes (1400m). Got a good time out in front last start and relished his favoured wet conditions to defeat Royal Descent and Criterion by 1.3 lengths. Drawn awkwardly here, gives them weight and in the big field, will be kept honest in front but his form is too good to ignore.

2. TOYDINI – J McDonald (14)

The 5yo just struggled to make the transition to WFA races during his autumn campaign and finished unplaced in each of his five starts. Formerly trained by the late Guy Walter, Toydini has been given three barrier trials by his new trainers Hawkes Racing, for his return in this race. Drawing wide will see him get back near the tail-enders here and first up on what is likely to be a wet track, should see him face a big challenge.

3. NINTH LEGION – B Avdulla (6)

Shared the lead when resuming in the G3 Show County Handicap and wasn’t able to maintain his position over the last furlong on the wet track, finishing seventh (4.6 lengths) behind Terravista. Won the Listed Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury second up last campaign defeating Tromso in the process but rises 3kgs on his first up run and stats suggest his at his best on a firm going.

4. VILANOVA – J Collett (7)

Enigmatic galloper who rounded out his 3yo season with solid efforts in Queensland, including a dominate win in the G2 Grand Prix Stakes and a ¾ third to Sonntag in the G1 Qld Derby. The Commands gelding has contested one barrier trail after a brief break since his Queensland campaign but wasn’t asked to do a great deal by Collett who will also partner him here. Will get back here and whilst his breeding suggests the wet track shouldn’t bother him, prefer to wait for him to contest something longer than this.

5. PHEIDON – J Parr (15)

A promising stayer from the Gai Waterhouse stables who completed his last and only campaign with a G2 win in the Alister Clark Stakes (2000m) and a second to Arabian Gold in the G3 Fran Packer Plate. Returns to racing here off a twelve week spell and surprisingly for a Waterhouse runner first up, hasn’t contested any barrier trials in preparation for this race. Drawn the widest gate and with his main goal coming later in the spring and over longer distances, will likely be in need of this run.

6. WEARY – J Bowman (2)

The grey gelding was doing his best work late first up in the G2 Missile Stakes (1200m) when fifth (1.5 lengths) behind Sweet Idea before, like most in the race, just holding his spot in the run home behind Tiger Tees when second to last (3 lengths) in the G2 Warwick Stakes. Form from the autumn was outstanding and with two runs now under his belt, stepping up to a mile in a handicap race that sees him drop 3kgs and meet Tiger Tees 2kgs better, he should be left with no excuses.

7. RISING ROMANCE – T Clark (9)

The New Zealand filly returns to racing here after heading into her break as the G1 Australian Oaks winner. She was well looked over by James McDonald in a recent Warwick Farm barrier trial and is yet to run poorly in any of her ten career starts. Classy mare who, although will be better again for this run, is capable of running a bold run fresh.

8. HONORIUS – J Lloyd (4)

Returning from a brief seven week break, the David Payne trained galloper found himself on the leader’s back when contesting an Open class (1400m) handicap at Rosehill three weeks back. Under 57kgs, he wasn’t able to match the sprint of those in front of him, which included winner Entirely Platinum, but didn’t give any ground in running fifth (2.4 lengths). Drawn to get a similar run again here but best runs have come over 2000m and he his yet to fill a place in three starts on slow/heavy rated tracks.

9. KIRRAMOSA – B Shinn (13)

The VRC Oaks winner from last season returned off a nine month break with a slashing run in the G2 Missiles Stakes. She had to work for a run as the field turned from home before finishing right on the heels of the place-getters, who had dominated from on pace, finishing 1 ¾ lengths behind winner Sweet Idea. The step up to 1400m second up can only help as would a solid tempo, which with a big field there’s a good chance it will be. She hasn’t contested on a track rated worse than dead but her overall record and first up makes it hard to leave her out on that factor only.

10. LUCIA VALENTINA – K McEvoy (5)

The daughter of Savabeel won of the G1 Vinery Stakes (2000m) – on a heavy track, before running a very good third as the 4/5 favourites in the G1 Australian Oaks (2400m), to round out her autumn campaign. Trainer Kris Lees has given his mare two barrier trial in readiness for her return, the first of which was five weeks ago, suggesting she’ll be forward in condition for this race. Handles the wet and fresh, may settle a little closer than she normally does from gate 5.

11. ZEPHYRON – T Marshall (16)

Another progressive galloper for the Hawkes Racing operation who after winning the G2 Premier’s Cup (2000m), finished his last campaign with a third in the Brisbane Cup (2400m) behind Floria who set a record time. Previous runs on wet tracks have been fair at best and drawing the widest gate in a big field for a horse that generally likes to roll along on pace, suggest it may be best to wait for him later in campaign.

12. MONTON – S Clipperton (3)

Drew the inside gate first up in the G3 Show County and after settling behind the leaders, battled home along the fence to finish fourth (2.7 lengths) behind impressive winner Terravista. Drawn well again here and drops a further 1.5kgs but his wet form, although the most recent of which has been in better races than this, isn’t flash. The firmer the track, the better his chances.

13. GYPSY DIAMOND – T Angland (8)

Very well supported for her return and started the 2/1 favourite in the G3 Toy Show Quality but after settling at the back of the field, never raised her supporters hopes and finished fifth, almost ten lengths from the winner My Sabeel. On face value it was disappointing effort but the field did finish strung out and may have been expecting too much from her first up given her only win below a mile was on debut. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt was an impressive winner on a heavy track last prep, claiming the G3 Carbine Club (1600m) in impressive style and has the class to be sharp could be a sharp improver.

14. HOOKED – J Cassidy (12)

The Casino Prince stallion ran fourth – for the sixth time in his last eleven starts – first up in an Open class handicap (1400m) where he finished better than most from a midfield position. Was right on the heels of the best 3yo during his autumn campaign and his first up effort suggests he has come back in good order. Although his stats wouldn’t suggest so, he has performed well on rain-affected tracks and rates a good chance here.

15. DANCHAI – (1)

Former import who showed promising signs in his first Australian campaign during the autumn, runner second to Spillway in the G3 JRA Plate and second to Pretty Pins in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben. Most of Waller’s imports improve after their initial campaign with further time to acclimatise and whilst this may be short of his best, will be one to pay close attention to for future races.

16. MY SABEEL – K O’Hara (10)

The Kevin Moses trained mare was rewarded for consistent racing with victory in the G3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) a fortnight ago. Sitting on the pace, the daughter of Savabeel relished the wet conditions – she’s missed a place on twice from eight starts on heavy – to streak away over the last furlong and win by 4.5 lengths with Bennetta second. Will be hoping the rain persists and although this is a step up again, she’s fit and on the style of her last start, can’t be easily dismissed.

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RACE OVERVIEW

A big field will ensure a good tempo here with Tiger Tees right in amongst the leading group despite drawing wide. The 7yo is in fine form and on a slow or heavy track, as he did in the Warwick Stakes, will prove very hard to run down. Barring bad luck in running, he does jump from gate two in a capacity field of sixteen, Weary will be finishing hard. Just hasn’t been able to flash home at his first two starts back. The first probably too sharp for him and the second saw the winner dictate from the front. Didn’t think there was anything wrong with Kirramosa’s first up run under WFA conditions and although her draw will see her settle back, she could be steaming home late. Look for a big improvement too from Gypsy Diamond.

1. WEARY
2. TIGER TEES
3. KIRRAMOSA
4. GYPSY DIAMOND

News:

Corey Brown has answered a call from Joe Pride to ride noted mudlark Tiger Tees in Saturday’s Tramway Stakes at Randwick.

A dearth of senior riders available for the Randwick program prompted Pride to scout internationally.

Having heard Brown would be making regular trips from his Singapore base to Australia during the spring, Pride convinced him to add another day to his itinerary.

“I prompted him to come a week early because we’ve got the need,” Pride said.

“You look at the line up there on Saturday, we’ve got less senior jockeys than what you’d normally see at one of these meetings.”

Brown rode Tiger Tees early in his career but has not been on his back since his fourth in the Moir Stakes two years ago.

More recently the sprinter has been ridden by Christian Reith and Nash Rawiller, both overseas, while Glyn Schofield, aboard for his last-start Warwick Stakes victory, is suspended.

“Nash is away, Chris is away. Tommy (Berry) is down in Melbourne, Glyn is suspended. You take four or five out and it’s a big hole and no-one takes their place,” Pride said.

Tiger Tees is topweight in a Tramway Stakes that looks to have genuine depth.

A field of 16 has accepted for the race including Oaks winners Rising Romance and Kirramosa, the Hawkes Racing stablemates Toydini and Ninth Legion, Weary for Chris Waller and promising stayer Zephyron.