Thursday, 4 May 2017

G1 Sangster Stakes Day - 06.05.2017

For the first time ever South Australia plays host to a $1M race and it comes in the form of the G1 Sangster Stakes.

The prizemoney injection seems to have done the trick too because they've attracted a capacity field and some top class gallopers.


Who's Hot? 


Kerrin McEvoy returned from suspension today and he'll be hoping he can recapture the form that saw him win nine races in the two weeks prior to his "holiday".

He heads south to Morphettville this weekend and has a few good chances in Egg Tart (Race 6 No. 5), Ravi (Race 7 No. 11) and Defcon (Race 8 No. 1).

MORPHETTVILLE




*** At time of publication the track was rated a Soft 5. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day with the chance of a shower. ***

The Sangster Stakes (Group 1, 1200m, fillies and mares w-f-a)


Current Sportsbet market

 *** There are no early scratchings ***

This race went to G1 status in 2005 and in the 12 runnings since nine of the winners paid $8 or less and yet only three favourites won. 10 of the last 12 winners finished top four at their previous run and nine of them came off a last start run interstate. Only three 3-y-o's were successful. 

English was pretty plain last start in the G1 All Aged Stakes and appeared to have every chance but jockey Blake Shinn reported she floundered in the going and said forget she went around. At her previous run she was only just pipped by Chautauqua (below) in the G1 T.J. Smith Stakes which is super form for a race like this. It's a long time since she's been against her own sex and she's very well placed at w-f-a.


Sheidel was narrowly beaten in this race last year. She won the G1 Oakleigh Plate fresh with Joao Moreira on board and the "Magic Man" returns from Hong Kong to reunite with her here. He's ridden her twice for two wins. 15 career victories says a lot. She is a winner. The question is will she get across from the draw and how hard will they go in front?

I Am A Star was pretty good in the G1 Doncaster Mile given from all reports she didn't handle the wet track. Actually all her runs this prep have had merit. Her only run at this track came this time last year when she bolted in by three lengths in the G3 National Stakes at just her third career start. She's drawn well and can take the shortcuts.

Super Cash beat I Am A Star and Chautauqua first-up and then wasn't that bad in a leader dominated G1 Newmarket Handicap (below) at her next run. That is rock solid form for a fillies and mares race at w-f-a. She's been supported in early markets but the knock is she hasn't won beyond 1100m since scoring on debut in a Sale maiden.



Secret Agenda rises in grade here but her last start win was dominant although she may have been flattered by the wet track. Unfortunately she's drawn a horrible gate. She was a one and a half length fourth in the G2 Eucalse Stakes here on this day last year. She tends to mix her form but is very capable on her day.

Viddora beat the boys to claim the G2 Irwin Stakes last start and two of the last four winners came via that race. Four of her six career wins have come at this track but she's never won beyond 1100m in four attempts. Having said that her last run at the trip was a good second in the Magic Millions Sprint in January and barrier three is a big plus.

Ravi has two wins and a second from four second-up runs and at her other she was just over a length off Sheidel and Silent Sedition at Caulfield last October. The barrier draw did her no favours and as a result she's blown like a westerly in the market. The Snowden/McEvoy combo has won a few nice races recently.

Egyptian Symbol is unbeaten in three first-up appearances and she saves her best form for 1200m races (8:3-3-1). She is super consistent having only missed a place three times in her career and two of those were when she was asked to go beyond that trip. She'll make her own luck up on the speed.

Now Or Later is the wild card in the pack. This is her first Australian start but her previous four runs were all at G1 level. I confess I know very little about her but her last five runs were all at a mile so I'm prepared to risk her at the shorter trip. A bold showing wouldn't surprise me though because $26 into $15 indicates the stable is confident.

$26+ the rest so now a few tips for everyone who likes to have $1 place on something at ridiculous odds like my grandmother used to do. Missrock is drawn well and was good behind Secret Agenda last start. Miss Gunpowder has a good record at this track and impressed when winning her first start for the Hayes/Dabernig yard three weeks ago. Sweet Sherry is a sneaky place chance if she gets a run. If not she's a great chance in Race 8. I Am Zelady has only missed a place once in five second-up runs and draws well here.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

17. I Am A Star

DANGER  

5. Viddora

FOR EXOTICS

2. Sheidel
1. English
6. Egyptian Symbol
4. Super Cash


OTHER G1'S


Top Of The Range (Rosehill Race 3 No. 7) is on a G1 Queensland Derby path so he'd want to be taking care of this lot pretty easily if they think he's going to be competitive at that kind of level. He beat Netherfield last start and that horse arguably should have won the G3 Chairman's Stakes at Morphettville last weekend.

Sense Of Occasion (Gold Coast Race 7 No. 3) has put in two slashing efforts at his two runs back this campaign. His third in the G1 Doncaster Mile fresh was enormous given he came from a mile back in a race where the winner led all the way. At his next run he was third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Winx and Hartnell. That'll do me.

Good punting!

No comments: