Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Fangirl ready for the Memsie at her pet distance
Glamour mare Fangirl (Sebring) may be resuming in the G1 Memsie Stakes a week later than planned after trainer Chris Waller opted to scratch her from the G1 Winx Stakes on the heavy track at Randwick last weekend.
But she now looks well-primed to deliver fresh in the hands of Mark Zahra on a more suitable firmer surface, stepping out over 1400 metres - a distance at which she has already recorded five career wins.
“She's a pretty good horse,” Waller told racing.com earlier in the week.
“She's (Fangirl) a pretty good horse.” - Chris Waller
“I think 1400m is close to her best distance, 1400m to a mile. Conditions are the key to her. Some of her first up runs would have been on soft to heavy tracks, she's nowhere near as effective, the quicker the better.
“I think she's got the right profile for Caulfield; she's won in Victoria before and had a couple of trips down here since. She's a great horse.”
When asked about the opposition, Waller remained focused on his own runner.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I'm not looking at them, I'm fully focused on Fangirl, It looks like a great renewal, Treasurethe Moment and others,” Waller said.
“She's picked a tough year to come down, but she can beat them on her day, obviously, barrier draws, luck in running can be the contributing factors, but if everything went her way, she'd be fighting out the finish.”
As Waller alluded to, it’s a high-class edition of the race, with 10 of the 11 runners already Group 1 winners. Is It Me (Iffraaj {GB}) is the only exception, his best performance being a win at Group 3 level.
History is also slightly against Fangirl, as mares have not had a great record in the race - only five have won the Memsie in the past 20 years: Snapdancer (Choisir), Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice), Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), and the outstanding Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert Sun {GB}).
Fangirl | Image courtesy of Sportpix
This year, Fangirl, Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) will be out to change that trend.
The race is full of realistic chances and shapes as one of the most competitive Group 1's of the early spring, with Treasurethe Moment aiming for her ninth win in a row, while the battle-hardened Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), the outstanding Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), and fresh specialist Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) also head a deep field of contenders.
Raging about to force himself into Group company
There’s no doubt that Raging Force (Cosmic Force) has rare talent as he strives to make it four wins in a row in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, for trainer Peter Snowden and regular jockey Tommy Berry.
The big question is whether he can carry that form into Group company, with his winning streak having come through the winter - albeit in devastating fashion.
Berry believes the Cosmic Force gelding is ready to take the next step, noting the horse’s maturity and the benefit of time.
Raging Force | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He missed the early 2-year-old campaign that a lot of them had, but I think that’s a blessing for him because he’s filled out into a lovely horse,’’ Berry told RacingNSW.
“He used to be aggressive, and want to get on with the job but he’s so relaxed now. Time’s been his friend.
“He’s got a bit of a boom on him, and he’s doing everything right so far. He’s got great tactical speed so that helps him in races.
“If he can beat them or run well, you know you’re on a good prep going toward the Golden Rose.”
Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Berry is under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task, but he’s happy with the gelding’s current form and how he has been progressing at home.
He said Raging Force has ticked over well since his last start win, with a barrier trial victory and some strong work during the week.
“We’ve got a good feeling about him getting out over a bit further as well, so he ticks a lot of boxes but this is a step up for him,’’ he said.
“We’ve got a good feeling about him (Raging Force) getting out over a bit further as well, so he ticks a lot of boxes but this is a step up for him.’’ - Tommy Berry
“He’s up against some good quality 3-year-olds that proved themselves at two. We’re under no illusion he’s up against it, but we like what we’ve got there on Saturday and we think he’ll perform up to his best.
“It’s only 1100 metres, so he’s definitely fit enough for that and he’ll improve off that no doubt.”
It is a fantastic edition of the G3 San Domenico Stakes, featuring several well-performed 2-year-olds resuming as 3-year-olds. Devil Night (Extreme Choice) won the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was runner-up in the G1 Golden Slipper, Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) claimed the G2 Skyline Stakes, Beiwacht (Bivouac) won the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes, and King Of Opal (Farnan) was successful in the G3 Black Opal Stakes.
No matter the result on Saturday, this looks to be a strong form race and could well serve as a key guide for some of the bigger 3-year-old features later this season.
Laurie expects improvement with Vinrock
The G3 McNeil Stakes shapes as a terrific contest for the 3-year-olds at Caulfield this weekend over 1200 metres, and it’s a race where Vinrock (I Am Invincible), now wearing the famous Yulong colours, puts his unbeaten record on the line.
He won’t be the only Yulong-owned contender in the field, with the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Group 3 winner and Group 1-performed Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) also lining up, both colts looking to add further black type before their eventual careers at stud.
Vinrock’s trainer Matt Laurie remains cautious about the Group 1-winning colt’s chances on Saturday, expecting improvement to come out of the run. He also flagged some vulnerability at 1200 metres, with Vinrock’s best performances having come over 1400 metres.
Vinrock | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s coming along nicely, there is still some nice improvement in him,” Laurie told racing.com earlier in the week.
“Visually he is still a touch wintery in the coat, but we planned to get to the Golden Rose third up, so by the time that comes around he should look Mickey Mouse.”
“We think he has the class and has proven that, but we would expect him to improve with the outing.
“There are probably some more short-course horses in this, and we think he will be competitive, but he is obviously only going to get better once he gets out a little bit further.”
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The potential spoiler to the Yulong-owned pair could be Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible), who has won his last three starts, including the G3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield last start. Also coming out of that race is Express Class (Exceedance), who ran third and looks a likely improver, as well as Sonofkirk (Ole Kirk), who was strong through the line to finish fourth.
Waller trio attack the Up And Coming
Champion trainer Chris Waller will launch a three-pronged attack on the G3 Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday over 1300 metres, in what shapes up as a very competitive race.
Waller was successful in last year’s edition with the classy and unbeaten Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), who proved too good for her opposition. Notable past winners of the race also include Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), North Pacific, Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Exceed And Excel and Testa Rossa - a clear indication of the race’s ability to produce top-level horses and future stallions.
Waller provided some insight into his three runners this week via his Chris Waller Racing Weekly Preview:
“Providence ran a terrific race in the JJ Atkins, James McDonald rides, he has come back well, nice Spring Champion kind of horse.”
“Sixties was awesome winning his maiden. He really, really won well
“Sixties was awesome winning his maiden. He really, really won well” - Chris Waller
“It is a big step up, but he could not be going any better.”
“I really liked Fermoy’s first-up run, James said he didn’t like the track, he will get a better surface at Rosehill on Saturday. He has really come on as a 3-year-old and is a big improver.”
Sixties | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
While the Waller-trained trio will no doubt attract plenty of attention, they won’t have the race to themselves.
Other key chances include Aerodrome (Ole Kirk), who was a two-time winner as a juvenile and looked sharp at the trials recently. The Champions Thoroughbreds-owned Tyreek (Snitzel) was a strong debut winner at Canterbury, and Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) is race-fit and proven, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him figure in the finish under Tom Sherry.
Damask Rose puts her 'Kiwi' credentials on the line
Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) makes her Australian debut on Saturday in the G3 Cockram Stakes over 1200 metres for trainer Mark Walker and the Te Akau Racing team.
While this may be her first appearance on Australian soil, her jockey Blake Shinn knows her well, having partnered her three times in New Zealand last season for two feature wins - most notably in the NZ$1.5 million R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic and the NZ$3.5 million R. Listed The NZB Kiwi.
When asked how he thinks her New Zealand form will measure up in Australia, Shinn was confident, especially when drawing a line through Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who ran second in the inaugural running of The Kiwi behind Damask Rose.
Damask Rose (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“I take a line through Evaporate, he’s a great reference for us in Australia for this girl (Damask Rose), and he is a really talented horse,” Shinn told racing.com.
“His first-up run in the P.B. Lawrence was really good, where he missed the start and did things wrong, he’s a good reference. He ran against weight-for-age as a 3-year-old and was competitive, and her formlines through him certainly hold her in good stead.
“She is in excellent condition. She worked really good on Tuesday.
“It’s a set weights and penalties race, she is carrying 57kg, I don’t think she is all that well treated against a horse like Stretan Angel, who has 56kg and has placed at Group 1 level - but there is nowhere to hide this time of year.
“She has prepped up well, she is on a Golden Eagle path, and she is exempt from the ballot in that race, and I couldn't be happier with where she is at in her prep right now.”
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Cockram Stakes is packed with depth and class, with fifteen mares accepted. Group 1 winners must always be respected under these conditions, so the likes of Magic Time (Hellbent), Manaal (Tassort), and Another Prophet (Brazen Beau) all look likely to be in the finish. However, the up-and-comer Pop Award (Shamus Award) looms as a potential upset chance as she chases a sixth straight victory.
