Stable watch: Ray Thomas gets the inside mail for Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill on Saturday
PODCAST: CHRIS WALLER may not have a Slipper runner but his stable stars Winx, Press Statement and Kermadec will grab the spotlight when they clash in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes.
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IT was inevitable that the Chris Waller-trained trio of Winx, Press Statement and Kermadec would clash eventually this autumn so what better race than a Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Waller may not have a Golden Slipper runner but he could still be the headline act as Sydney’s super mare Winx aims for her eighth consecutive win.
“Winx is obviously the main focus for most from our stable and she will be taking her place in the George Ryder, taking on a very good field,’’ Waller said.
ANALYSIS: GOLDEN SLIPPER FORM GUIDE
LISTEN TO THE SUPERRACING PODCAST PREVIEW OF GOLDEN SLIPPER DAY
“Press Statement is a three-year-old taking on the older horses for the first time but he will certainly provide good competition for Winx.
“Kermadec was placed in this race last year prior to winning the Doncaster. His first-up run was very good and has made good progress since then.’’
R1: EPONA STAKES (1900m)
HEAVENS Above can start punters off on a winning note on a tough Slipper Day program completing her hat-trick in the Epona Stakes.
Jockey Tye Angland rode the mare to win at Randwick two starts back but couldn’t make the mare’s 54kg when she took out the Aspiration Quality two weeks ago.
“I’m glad to be back on her as she is a mare in form, her last two wins have been super,’’ Angland said. “Her record should be better than it reads as she didn’t have a lot of luck earlier in her career but she is going great now and the 1900m is perfect for her.’’
TAB market movers: All Cerise $5-$4.40 ($1,000 @ $4.80, $1,000 @ $4.40)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis. Who will lead and who will come from behind?
SPEED: Vergara and Skyline Blush put pressure on All Cerise to either kick up or take a hold. Mary Lou can get in giving Anthony Cummings stable three of the first four in running.
RUN-ONS: Heavens Above sits midfield, hard to hold out while Sweet Fire and Gust Of Wind will improve here.
R2: MANION CUP (2400m)
BRENTON Avdulla is convinced Libran will only keep improving now he is getting out to staying distances. “I’ve got a lot of time for Libran, he is a very promising stayer and stepping up to the 2400m will suit him,’’ said NSW’s leading jockey. “Libran won well last start and is one of my better rides.’’
TAB market movers: Maurus $5-$4.60 ($1,370 @ $5)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Café Society leads with Dee I Cee on his back getting a beautiful run and Beyond Thankful to his outside.
RUN-ONS: Libran clearly but Another Cocktail can sprout wings up in trip off last week’s run.
R3: THE SEBRING (1200m)
OWNER Greg Kolivos, who has enjoyed Group 1 success at this meeting with Pierro in the 2012 Golden Slipper and 2013 George Ryder, is hoping for another big-race win on Slipper Day with Regatta Rebel.
“She showed a bit as a two-year-old with placings in a couple of Group races but didn’t come up in the spring,’’ Kolivos said. “I think she just needed a bit of extra time and her first-up win (Kembla maiden) was really encouraging. I know this is a big jump in grade but (wife) Donna and I are just happy to have a runner on Slipper Day.’’
TAB market movers: Counterattack $8-$5.50 ($400 @ $8, $350 @ $7), Santa Ana Lane $13-$12 ($500 @ $13), Puritan $18-$15 ($500 @ $18, $1,000 @ $16), Speak Fondly $8-$6 ($600 @ $8, $350 @ $8, $200 @ $7)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Takedown is fast but will need to muster quick with Southern Legend and Regatta Rebel pressing forward from wider. Speak Fondly, Flippant and Wolf Cry get nice trails in behind speed.
RUN-ONS: Counterattack out wide and Egyptian Symbol up the guts are the ones to watch late while the likes of Strindberg, Kimberley Star need cover early to run on.
R4: RANVET STAKES (2000m)
HAURAKI brings the superior Winx weight-for-age formline into the Ranvet Stakes.
Trainer John O’Shea said Hauraki has improved after two solid comeback efforts for third behind Winx in both the Apollo Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes.
“His two runs this preparation have been very encouraging and after he worked at Warwick Farm on Tuesday James (McDonald) said he’d never felt better,” O’Shea said. “And there’s no Winx to beat this week!”
TAB market movers: Dibayani $4.60-$4.20, Storm The Stars $9.50-$8.50, Kool Kompany $13 unchanged ($200 x $300 @ $13/$3.40), The United States $6.50 unchanged ($500 e/w @ $6.50/$2.10)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Mongolian Khan punches up with Bohemian Lily deciding how fast the race is run. Dibayani and Criterion get nice trails in behind. Kool Kompany is the fly in the ointment and looks ready to do something.
RUN-ONS: The United States down the outside, Hauraki through the middle.
R5: GEORGE RYDER STAKES (1500m)
WINX is striving to become the first mare since champion Emancipation more than 30 years ago to win the George Ryder Stakes.
Emancipation went back-to-back in the Ryder (1983-84) to give mares three wins in a row as Pure Of Heart won in 1982. The three-year-old filly Heat Of The Moment scored in 1986.
Since those successes, mares have struggled to make an impression in the George Ryder and this century only four have managed to even place — Bonanova dead-heated for second in 2000, while Private Steer (2004), Sky Cuddle (2005) and Secret Admirer (2012) have finished third.
But Winx is in such dominant form that she has been rated at $1.60 with TAB Fixed Odds to score her eighth consecutive win and her fifth at Group 1 level.
Trainer Chris Waller said Winx has continued to please him since her outstanding Chipping Norton Stakes win three weeks ago.
“She galloped over 1000m (Tuesday morning) and recorded some good sectionals over the concluding stages of her work,’’ Waller said. “She certainly pleased Hugh (Bowman).’’
TAB market movers: Press Statement $6-$5.50 ($1,500 @ $6), Turn Me Loose $7 unchanged ($300 @ $7 THREE TIMES), Winx $1.60 unchanged ($1,000 @ $1.60)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Turn Me Loose gets a loose lead. Reckon Preferment gets his back and a lovely trail.
RUN-ONS: Winx has a monster finish but will Bowman have her back past midfield? First Seal down the middle, Happy Clapper goes for an inside attack.
R6: ROSEHILL GUINEAS (2000m)
JOCKEY Craig Newitt and trainer Mick Price combine with the favourites in two Group 1 races on Slipper Day — Tarzino in the Rosehill Guineas and Extreme Choice in the Golden Slipper.
Newitt is very bullish about his chances and said Victoria Derby winner Tarzino is going to excel now he is back out to 2000m.
“He’s flying,” Newitt said. “I galloped him the reverse way on Saturday morning and he’s going great. The further he goes the better he’ll be.”
TAB market movers: Tarzino $2.80-$2.40, Le Romain $8-$7 ($300 @ $8)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Jameka comes across from out wide and given River Wild’s grinding run in the Australian Guineas, perhaps he punches forward.
RUN-ONS: Tarzino has a huge 1200m sprint on him. Vanbrugh, Gold Ambition out wide with Crosley Hotshot the smoky through the middle.
R7: GOLDEN SLIPPER (1200m)
TRAINER Mick Price believes favourites Extreme Choice and Flying Artie are his best chance yet of winning the Golden Slipper.
Price did saddle up the favourite, Samaready, in 2012 but she had a troubled run and the misfortune to bump into a champion colt in Pierro before finishing third.
“I’m very happy with my two and this is the best chance I’ve had to win a Slipper for sure,’’ Price said. “It’s been a pretty open year in Sydney, horses appear in different races — I don’t think there’s a strong filly as such, it’s down to the colts.
“Gai’s colt (Kiss And Make Up) looked pretty nice and probably the timing on that colt is OK.’’
TAB market movers: Extreme Choice $2.80-$3.20, Flying Artie $6-$5, Kiss And Make Up $11-$9.50, Capitalist $11-$8, Calliope $17-$26-$21, Defcon $17-$26-$21 ($400 @ $26)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Scarlet Rain, Kiss And Make Up come across with Extreme Choice. Capitalist in behind, Good Standing off rail with cover.
RUN-ONS: Flying Artie through the middle, Calliope, Astern down the outside.
R8: THE GALAXY (1200m)
SAM Clipperton is hoping to unite with trainer Ron Quinton and secure their second Group 1 in a week with Boss Lane.
Clipperton, who won his first major on Peeping in the Coolmore Classic last Saturday, said Boss Lane goes into the Galaxy in career-best form.
“He has raced well right through his campaign,’’ Clipperton said of Boss Lane, a last-start third in the Challenge Stakes and drops 6kg to 52.5kg on Saturday. “We have found a good way to ride him. He is very effective when he gets back early and is given the chance to run on.’’
TAB market movers: Terravista $7.50-$6.50 ($300 @ $7.50, $200 @ $6.50), English $4.40-$4 ($1,000 @ $4.40), Fell Swoop $5.50 unchanged ($500 x $200 @ $5.50/$2.12, $600 x $100 @ $5.50/$2.12)
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Ball Of Muscle, Lord Of Sky dispute lead from inside gates with Our Boy Malachi dropping in behind them with Malaguerra.
RUN-ONS: English flies late down the outside, maybe Lumosty too. Terravista, Fell Swoop and Bounding through the middle.
R9: BIRTHDAY CARD STAKES (1200m)
IT is the Quinton-Clipperton combination again with Lucky Can Be, who appeals as a terrific each-way chance at $15.
“She should have won first-up — she couldn’t get a crack at them,’’ Quinton said. “Then they went too slow for her last start, she is a mare that likes the pace on so she can finish off.
“She was only beaten 1.8 lengths (sixth to Savoureux) so it was still a creditable run. This is a very tough race but she should run well.’’
TAB market movers: Bring Me The Maid $17-$14, Brook Road $8-$7 ($313 @ $8, $350 @ $7.50, $500 @ $7), Vezelay $21-$14
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Vezalay kicks up but expect Two Blue to try and cross.
RUN-ONS: Sultry Feeling, Brook Road, Perignon down the middle with Cradle Me, Something Secret up in the inside.
R10: NEWCASTLE NEWMARKET (1350m)
THE decision to add the Newmarket Newmarket to the Slipper Day program is advantageous for Ecuador, according to jockey Blake Shinn.
“I’m more confident about Ecuador’s chances now this race is at Rosehill and not the Beaumont track,’’ Shinn said.
Ecuador has recorded four of his six career wins at Rosehill and he also boasts a very good second-up record with two wins and a second from five attempts.
NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis
SPEED: Ecuador spears across, with Religify, Bull Point coming across and Lunar Rise trying to hold the middle. Saddler’s Lake gets a nice trail third on the fence.
RUN-ONS: Nancy along the inside and Amovatio down the middle.
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