After a fantastic start to her racing career, winning her maiden in fine style, Selica heads to The Valley tonight, to step up in grade and distance to take on the 1600m BM64 for 3yo’s. On an Oaks path, this filly has a bit of catching up to do, but we believe she has the maturity and ability get there. Trainer Michael Kent has been impressed with her attitude and work leading into this run.
On what is going to be a very busy Saturday, we kick off at Flemington with Fastnet Tempest and Romancer going head to head in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes over 1400m. Romancer continues his fine vein of form leading into this race and is looking to secure further black-type. After a luckless run in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, we hope to see Fastnet Tempest recapture his autumn form in this Listed contest. He is continuing to improve his fitness with every start, so we hope to see a strong performance in this third-up run.
Below: Romancer winning at Moonee Valley
An out and out stayer, Azuro is looking to secure his place in the Melbourne Cup off the back of a solid performance in the Group 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington this Saturday. He strips fitter leading into this 2520m Group 3 contest and we hope to see him finishing on top this weekend.
In Sydney, Randwick hosts a key Group 1 meeting, with OTI being represented in the Metropolitan and Epsom Handicap.
Another horse looking to recapture his autumn form is Le Juge who has accepted with stablemate Mantastic in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap. The very light weight has allowed Jess Taylor to take the ride and the wide draw suggests that the horse will go back and be ridden tactically to ensure a solid finish.
Irish-bred Mantastic will relish in the hard mile at Randwick, with trainer Chris Waller believing that although a touch short of his best distance, he expects him to be attacking the line strongly under the light weight.
The Group 1 Metropolitan over 2400m at Randwick looks an ideal third-up assignment for Grey Lion. After running a cracking 4th in the Group 3 Kingston Town, he is certainly back to form this preparation. He looks set to pounce on this quality Group 1, however is another runner that will need to overcome the wide draw.
Third-up for Gallic Chieftain and the blinkers back on this start, we hope to see a competitive finish. Gallic seems to enjoy the Sydney way of going and with Tommy Berry to ride, blinkers on, increased distance and back to his Group 2 winning track, Gallic will be bringing his A-game.
Below: Gallic Chieftain winning the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick
To Morphettville, Etna and Instigator line up for Aaron Purcell in the BM70 Handicap over 2250 and BM85 over 1950m respectively. Last start winner Etna has continued to improve and looks to be well placed to finish amongst the top 3. German-bred Instigator was an unlucky 2nd place in the Coleraine Cup last start so we hope to see him go one better this Saturday.
Rounding out the weekend is San Huberto in France who takes on a quality field in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay over 3000m at Longchamp. After an impressive 3rd place in US Derby in New York, he has returned to France and trained on well to take on this race on Arc weekend. The 3000m distance doesn’t look to be much of a problem for this horse, so we hope to see him fighting to the line.
Whether you’ve got runners in Sydney, Melbourne or France – we wish our connections the best of luck!