Not much between Giga Kick, Bella Nipotina’: Ratings guru analyses Group 3 Concorde Stakes and Group 1 Moir Stakes

Ratings guru labels the Everest-shaping Concorde Stakes a race in two between the returning Giga Kick and iron mare Bella Nipotina.

The sheer class of Giga Kick and Bella Nipotina will ensure they are fighting out the finish of the Group 3 $1 million Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick.

And the Golden Slipper form will hold up with Coleman exacting revenge over Lady Of Camelot in the Group 1 $750,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley.

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This was how Timeform ratings genius Gary Crispe assessed the two feature sprints on Saturday that are likely to shape the field for next month’s $20 million The TAB Everest.

Crispe said Giga Kick’s peak rating of 126 and Bella Nipotina’s 123 figure suggested the outstanding duo were the ones to beat in the Concorde Stakes.

“Giga Kick is the best horse in the race and will be hard to beat,” Crispe said.

“His trials have been very impressive, particularly his most recent trial which he won at Randwick, and although he has been off the scene for nearly a year, he seems to have had a good grounding.

Giga Kick leads home a star-studded trial at Randwick, followed by Linebacker, Punch Lane, Celestial Legend, Private Eye and Kovalica ⏱️

Time: 53.74sec
L600: 33.52sec pic.twitter.com/XpU7JoUTfN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 29, 2024

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“The horse has a peak Timeform rating of 126 and he only has to run close to that figure to be in the finish.

“But Bella Nipotina has gone to a 123 peak rating and with the mares allowance that puts her right in the mix with Giga Kick.”

Crispe said Bella Nipotina did have residual fitness from her Brisbane winter carnival campaign which yielded Group 1 wins in the Doomben 10,000 and Tatt’s Tiara.

“She seems to get better as she gets older,” Crispe enthused. “I don’t think there is much between Giga Kick and ‘Bella’.”

Crispe said Coleman was a little unlucky not to beat Lady Of Camelot in the Golden Slipper earlier this year and he rated the pair as the ones to beat in the Moir Stakes.

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“I believe Coleman is a pretty nice horse and he might have the edge here,” Crispe said.

“The Golden Slipper form is very strong so I have Lady Of Camelot as his main danger.

“On ratings, Coleman has a peak Timeform figure of 120 and Lady Of Camelot comes in at 118 so it could be another close contest between these two very good young sprinters.

“Estriella is a very fast mare suited by 1000m and although I’m not ruling out I Wish I Win, the tight Valley 1000m course isn’t ideal for him.”