The set weight conditions of this race and current form of David Vandyke’s Arabian Gold make it impossible to go past her as the top selection for the G2 The Roses at Doomben on Saturday. She won the Adrian Knox in good style before beating the boys home in the G3 Frank Packer Plater and she rightly dominates the early betting for the race at $2.15. The only threat to Arabian Gold, and the only other runner under double-figures odds, is Hera at $4.00. The former New Zealand galloper did well in her first and only Australian outing after having no luck in the run. Rock Diva, another Kiwi who is having her first start on Australian shores, has a good record and whilst her main aim will be the Oaks in a few weeks time, she has the record at home to suggest she can figure here.
Special Offer: $400 FREE BET – Sportsbet
Special Offer 2: $250 FREE BET – Ladbrokes
Special Offer 3: $300 FREE BET – Luxbet
1. ARABIAN GOLD – B Shinn (1)
A smart mare who made it two wins in row when, as the only female in the race, she claimed the G3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) by 1 ¼ lengths from Pheidon. Back to her won sex here at set weights make her very hard to beat and will not be bothered by any rain should it arrive as predicted later in the week.
Odds: $2.50
2. TINTO – T Bell (13)
Did a good job on the heavy Gold Coast track to narrowly win the Listed G. C. Bracelet (1800m) from Paris Match. The daughter of Red Dazzler, as she will have to do on Saturday, jumped from a wide barrier and took up a forward position before finding plenty late.
Odds: $13.00
3. HERA – J Cassidy (4)
Former New Zealand galloper who now races in the Australian Bloodstock colours, she made her Australian debut in the J H B Carr Stakes (1400m) three weeks ago. She was posted wide throughout and was wider still as the field turned for home but stuck on well under 58kgs and on a slow track, finishing fourth (3 lengths) behind Estonian Princess. That was her first run in two months and she’s been given a trial since in readiness for this race. Warrants plenty of attention.
Odds: $4.00
4. TORNADO MISS (10) C Newitt
She’ll line up on Saturday for her fifth start this prep but judging on the four thus far, will find this tough. She sat on the speed and stuck on fairly well the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m), running seventh (2.1 lengths) to Best Yet To Come before again leading after jumping from a wide gate, but proving no match for Tinto and others late in the G. C. Bracelet (1800m) and running fourth (5.7 lengths). Will go forward again but find this no easier than her last two.
Odds: $67.00
5. LITTLE BIT DITSY – M Cahill (11)
Started the 15/4 favourite two starts back in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) and closed from the tail o f the field to run a narrow third (a neck) to Best Yet To Come before failing to handle the heavy ground in the G. C. Bracelet and finishing well back in twelfth spot. That has been her only blemish in a nine start careers and back on a firmer surface, should be running on late and probably the best of the local hopes.
Odds: $15.00
6. NAVELINA – B Stewart (9)
The Duke Of Marmalade has had three starts back from a three month spell with the closest she has come to the winner coming two starts back in the Princess Stakes when tenth (3 ¾ lengths) behind Best Yet To Come. She only battled home in her most recent outing, the G. C. Bracelet, finishing seventh (6.5 lengths) and would need to show considerable improvement.
Odds: $41.00
7. ROCK DIVA – L Innes (14)
New Zealand filly who will make her Australian debut having won two and placed three times in her five starts thus far. One of her wins was in the G3 Sunline Vase (2100m) with her most recent run, some nine weeks ago, resulting in her finishing sixth behind Miss Mossman in the G1 NZ Oaks. Obviously a very smart filly and despite the wide draw and not having raced for some time, this is not the deepest of races in terms of quality and look for her to be charging late.
Odds: $15.00
8. CHOP CHOP – R McMahon (7)
Another Kiwi who crossed the Tasman to have her first Australian start in the G. C. Bracelet a fortnight ago. It was her first run in seven weeks and her first look at a heavy rated track so her finishing position of fifth (5.9 lengths) was a commendable one. She’ll improve off that and on a drier surface. Ran fourth in the G1 NZ Oaks but was several lengths behind Rock Diva who claimed third.
Odds: $26.00
9. ASADAUSKAITE – D Browne (15)
After wining a Kensington Maiden (1800m) in convincing fashion by 3 ¼ lengths, trainer Mike Moroney didn’t hesitate to enter his daughter of Pentire in the Listed G. C. Bracelet last fortnight and punters were keen to see her in, sending her out the 11/4 favourite. She settled back in the field from an inside gate but did well to make up a lot of ground in the run home, finishing third (4.9 lengths) behind Tinto. Will be giving them a start again from a wide gate but has an extra 200m to assist her here.
Odds: $11.00
10. NIGHTINGALES – J McDonald (11)
Only has the one win from eight starts does this Street Cry filly from Darley – a Kembla Grange Maiden (1400m), and she’ll have to improve on her three runs in this prep to be winning here. Was one-paced last start when sixth (2.3 lengths) behind in form Amazon and whilst the 2000m trip, a journey she tackles for the first time, may be to her liking, the outside gate and class of this race may not be.
Odds: $17.00
11. MOOND AND STARS – M Hellyer (16)
Casino Prince filly who has been fair in two Gold Coast Open class races in the past two months but when she steps away from that circuit and to the better class races of the metropolitan tracks, she’s been well accounted for. She settled handy to the speed last start in the G. C. Bracelet but on the heavy track, weakened in the run home finishing eighth and over seven lengths from the winner Tinto.
Odds: $126.00
12. CRUZ BY – L Cassidy (12)
Made it three wins from four starts this preparation with a nose in a Sunshine Coast Class 3 (1800m), arriving right on the line from back in the field to defeat Sister Souss. Faces an enormous step up in class here though and can’t see her giving them a start from gate twelve and then running them down.
Odds: $41.00
13. CROOKED STICK – G Colless (8)
Won a Canterbury Maiden (1250m) on debut courtesy of a charmed run but has struggled in four starts since. The Conatus filly ran second to last (2.3 lengths) in a field of nine behind Sail at Kensington in a BM 75 (1400m) two starts back before being taking to Newcastle for a BM 60 (1850m) where, as the 13/8 favourite, she was expected to win comfortably. She ran second under 59kgs and whilst she’ll be fitter for that run over a distance and dropping in weight, the significant rise in class will be more than testing.
Odds: $41.00
14. SISTER SOUSS – R Wiggins (3)
Touch unlucky not to finish closer than the 2.3 length ninth that she did in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) two starts back before, as the 5/2 favourite, she was caught right on the line by Cruz By in a Sunshine Coast Class 3 (1800m) a fortnight ago. First look at a wet track will be better on top of the ground but again, comes up some well performed mares here at level weights and will likely struggle.
Odds: $41.00
15. MISS HUFFLEPUFF – N Rawiller (5)
Chris Waller trains this Encosta De Lago filly who was ok late last start behind the in-form Amazon in a BM 70 (1600m) at Warwick Farm. She just had to ease out from behind heels at the top of the straight last start but closed well in a race dominated by those closer to the speed. The 2000m should suit and drawn to get a sweet run. Might be a sneaky one for the multiples.
Odds: $17.00
16. ROSEY JEAN – A. Allen (2)
Made it two win in a row and her second from two attempts at a mile, with a comfortable three length win in an Ipswich Class 2, Obviously enjoying her races being over longer trips but faces a big jump from Ipswich to a G3 race.
Odds: $41.00
17. EKOFANIDEA – T Harrison (6)
Recorded her second win from three starts this prep with a narrow win in a Sunshine Coast Class 1 two starts back before finishing second (beaten a long neck) in a Class 3 at Grafton. Will struggle here.
Odds: $67.00
DEPOSIT SMALL BET BIG
Special Offer 1: Deposit $10 BET with $40 – Luxbet
Special Offer 2: Deposit $30 BET with $130 – Centrebet
Special Offer 3: Deposit $25 BET with $100 – Ladbrokes (use code: TWT75FREE)
RACE OVERVIEW
Arabian Gold picks herself here and Shinn only needs to ensure that, from the inside gate, he has her out and moving forward in time as they’ll be a couple of runners here feeling the pinch at the 500m and he doesn’t want to be in behind them. Hera’s run in Sydney was very good – as is her record in New Zealand, and with Cassidy to steer from gate four, she’ll be in the box seat throughout and poses the biggest threat. Another NZ’er Rock Diva is the one to watch. This race falls away quickly and whilst she’ll be better for whatever she produces on Saturday, that’s not to say she won’t be steaming home late here.
- ARABIAN GOLD
- HERA
- ROCK DIVA
- ASADAUSKAITE
