A competitive edition of the Villiers Stakes sees a real opportunity for punters with early markets quoting $6.00 the field. Leading the market is Seymour Cup winner Sysmo and Greg Hickman’s Taxmeifyoucan. Interesting to note when looking through the recent history of this race that, the last four winners have all drawn wide and come from positions worse than mid-field. How this will apply to the first running of the race at the Kensington track is to be seen but definitely worth keeping in mind whilst running through the form.
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1. COUP AY TEE – J Collett 59kgs (5)
After winning the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) in August, the Chris Waller trained runner returned from a brief break with two solid hit-outs behind Strike The Stars and Secessio – both in Open company, running a nose second a close up fourth respectively. These efforts had him primed for his trip to New Zealand where he contested the Group 2 Coupland’s Mile (1600m). The 6yo was only able to hold his ground in the run to the line, finishing sixth of seventeen (3 ¾ lengths) behind Scapolo. That run was close to a month ago now and Waller has kept him up to the mark with a soft trial over 1000m a week ago. Always considered a threat in races such as this, but do have to be mindful of the 59kgs.
2. WESTERN SYMBOL – T Berry 59kgs (13)
A tendon injury has meant that we haven’t seen the now 7yo race since October of last year when he ran a head third to Crafty Irna and The Verminator in the Listed Tatt’s Club Cup (2400m). Trainer Gai Waterhouse has brought him back steadily, giving the son of High Chaparral four barrier trials since July. His two most recent trials, in which he has run third and second, have been in the past three weeks and each over 1200m, readying him nicely for his return. Waterhouse recently produced Rain Drum first up off a seventy week to win the Shannon Stakes during the spring so would not dismiss this horse’s chances lightly.
3. ALMA’S FURY – B Shinn 58kgs (4)
After a good performance (sixth, 3.2 lengths) behind Toydini in the G3 Cameron Handicap (1500m), the gelding by Refuse to Bend returned off an eight week break with a solid effort behind Ninth Legion in Open company (fifth, 2 lengths). At his next and most recent start he claimed third behind third behind the highly promising White Sage in last fortnight’s Festival Stakes (1500m). Last year, he was beaten a lip in this race (carrying 53kgs) by All Legal after running sixth in the Festival Stakes. Assigned 58kgs but his form in the past twelve months has been solid and from a good draw, should be in the right spot throughout to go one better than last year.
4. DESTINY’S KISS – C Reith 56kgs (7)
A promising stayer from Joe Pride’s yard who has been doing his best work late in his two runs back from an eighteen week spell. Only warming up late when seventh (beaten 3 lengths) behind Ninth Legion before getting back to near last and working home well in the Festival Stakes (seventh, beaten 4.9 lengths), a race dominated by the leader and eventual winner White Sage. Step up to a mile a plus and it was this time last prep that he started to hit his straps. Ideally would’ve preferred for this race to be run on the bigger circuit of the course proper, as he’ll need to wind up from the tail but if the pace is on up front, he should be finishing hard.
5. SAID COM – J Bowman 55.5kgs (2)
The son of O’reilly keeps threatening to win a handy race such as this but the fact remains he has only visited the winner’s stall once in his past sixteen starts. Had every chance two starts back – his second run up from a spell, running a head second to Ninth Legion in Open grade before, after settling back on the fence, finding some traffic in the straight and finishing fifth (4.1 lengths) behind White Sage in the Festival Stakes at his most recent start. Hard to pinpoint what change is required that will enable him to breakthrough given that he appears to have had his opportunity in the past.
6. MONTON – 55kgs (1)
He resumed of an eight week break in the Festival Stakes last fortnight where he settled three wide with cover, just off the speed. The 7yo by Catbird was produced at the top of the straight and looked set to be involved in the finish but was found wanting when asked for his effort and finished eighth, 5.2 lengths from White Sage. He’ll strip fitter again for having had that run and was beaten a nose behind Shoot Out when second up off a similar break last time in. His last win however was two years ago now – in the 2011 edition of this race.
7. STRIKE THE STARS – G Schofield 55kgs (6)
The Anthony Cummings trained galloper produced an outstanding effort to record only his second career win when first up in Open company (1400m) before travelling to Melbourne to contest the G3 Tab.com.au and G1 Emirate Stakes. He finished hard to run third behind Smokin Joey in the Tab.com.au Stakes and from the tail of the field, finished a respectable eighth (beaten 2.1 lengths) behind Boban in the Emirates. He returned to Sydney and started one of the better chance in the Festival Stakes where, pulling wide from mid-field at the top of the straight, more was expected of him than the ninth (5.3 lengths) position he finished. Leaders did dominate the Festival Stakes and although his strike rate wouldn’t suggest to, would be prepared to go on his previous efforts this campaign and rate him an each-way chance here.
8. NINTH LEGION – P Robl 54.5kgs (11)
Out-bobbed by Tromso in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1400m) at Hawkesbury three starts back before, courtesy of a top ride by Robl, winning an Open class race (1350m) at Rosehill defeating Said Com by half a length. His next and most recent start was in the Festival Stakes where again he settled in a beautiful position in the run, just behind the leaders but as the field bunched rounding the turn, he found himself in plenty of traffic in the straight and was squeezed out of contention of the final 100m to finish eleventh (6 lengths) of fourteen. He’ll need luck again from the wider draw but team Hawkes have this son of Fastnet Rock going well.
9. SCREAM MACHINE – A Hyeronimus 54.5kgs (11)
After a reasonable effort in the G1 Epsom Handicap (ninth, 2 ½ lengths), the 5yo by Excites travelled south for the G3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield. Starting a well supported 4/1, he disappointed in running seventh (7.3 lengths) behind Spurtonic and was then given the following month off. He returned as 5/2 favourite in the Goulburn Cup (1600m) just on three weeks ago and finished hard to run fourth (beaten ¾ lengths) in a blanket finish behind Any Day Will Do and Taxmeifyoucan. A back-maker who doesn’t win out of turn but, certainly has the ability to be involved in the finish here.
10. LISTON SON – K O’Hara 54kgs (3)
A 7yo Queensland galloper that will be racing outside of his home-state for the first time in his forty-seven start career. A natural front-runner, he dominated from the front two starts back to win an Open handicap race over a mile, defeating Dolly Dolly by 1 ¾ length. That win came in early October and the Tony Gollan trained runner has only had the one start since, a month ago now when again from the front, he led until the last few hops before being claimed by Morning Captain (good in last weekend’s G3 George Moore Stakes) by a neck. Been a long time since he has carried a weight such as this and he’ll give plenty of cheek in front but he’ll have to dig deep late to hold off some quality challengers.
11. SYSMO – J McDonald 54kgs (9)
Tony McEvoy’s charge claimed the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m) two starts back when finishing too well from the back of the field to defeated Proverb and Lord Wimble. His next and most recent start came on the final day of the VRC carnival, seven weeks ago now, where as the 11/4 favourite he finished third behind Post D’france. He had to carry 58kgs, giving the winner 4kgs, last start and will be more comfortable with his allocated weight here however, a little surprised to see him open up joint favourite. He started 7/2 ($4.50) in the Seymour Cup – which was a race a lesser depth and hasn’t raced for over a month.
12. TAXMEIFYOUCAN – T Clark 53kgs (8)
He resumed from a spell with a luckless fourth behind Riva De Lago in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes and then ventured south for the G3 Moonga Stakes (1400m), his first race the reverse way of going. He got caught wide in the run and finished a disappointing last of twelve but immediately bounced back returning to NSW when, in a Open handicap, he finished third (0.9 lengths) from Secessio and Tromso. He has since backed that up with the narrowest of seconds in the Goulburn Cup (1600m) three weeks ago. Carried 57kgs in the Goulburn Cup and with 53kgs here, and that each of Sydney runs this preparation of been first rate, has to given serious consideration.
13. LIMES – 53kgs (10)
After a disappointing first up run in the G2 Premiere Stakes (1200m), the Darley representative had a month off and further trial before reappearing at Flemington on Stakes Day in an Open Handicap. Settling on the speed from a favourable draw, he held on well, given it was his first run in month, to finish fifth (2.6 lengths) behind Longport. Since that run, his only start has been in the Festival Stakes where from a wide gate, he sat second behind leader and eventual winner White Sage during the run. Straightening for home though, the Commands 4yo had no answer for the impressive mare and ran sixth (beaten 4 ¼ length).
14. ABSALON – B Avdulla 53kgs (12)
A tough effort to run down Rolston and record a head win in a BM 75 (1400m) two starts back, was enough for Sam Kavanagh to send his galloper north for a crack at the Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) last fortnight. Jumping from mid-field the 5yo by Mossman sat on the speed before kicking clear at the top of the straight and recording a strong 1 ¼ win over Fillydelphia. This grade is another step up for him but has been improving with each run back this time in.
RACE OVERVIEW
Western Symbol and Absalon have both drawn wide and should come across from the jump to help set the pace with Listen Son which should be solid. Handy will be Monton, Said Com and top selection, Alma’s Fury. He was good first up of a break behind Ninth Legion and Said Com and last starts’ third behind a smart pair, should top him off nicely for this race. Taxmeifyoucan’s three starts in NSW this prep have been great and at the weights, he looks exceptionally hard to beat. Thought we’d see more from Strike The Stars last start, especially when he was produced at top of the straight but, unlike last start, the pace should be solid here from the start, given him the opportunity to finish off in the fashion we know he can.
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- ALMA’S FURY
- TAXMEIFYOUCAN
- STRIKE THE STARS
