Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Chris Waller chalked up his 200th Group 1 winner on Saturday and looks set to bag more before the season ends. But who can deliver him elite victory number 201?
Cup thriller stalls in ratings
Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) gave Waller his milestone victory when running down Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in a thrilling Doomben Cup.
But the race was only fair in terms of rating. The time was a fraction below average and, given the fast lead speed, it had every opportunity to rate higher. What does that tell us?
Pride Of Jenni wasn’t at her best, despite what looked a brave second. When she’s right, her overall time is usually three to six lengths inside standard. I would say she was at least four lengths below her best, and more likely seven or eight lengths below.
Birdman doesn’t really get a strong 2000 metres either. This was his chance to run time at the trip, but he didn’t and his last 200 metres only ranked 59th for the day.
The horses behind the first two are not genuine Group 1 weight-for-age 2000-metre animals. The G1 Q22 is there for a leftfield late entry.
Birdman winning the G1 Doomben Cup | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Oaks beckons for Chispa
Waller has a lovely filly in the form of Chispa (NZ) (Savabeel). She won with authority at a midweek metropolitan meet before lining up in the G2 Doomben Roses, which was one of the slowest 2000-metre races at the track on our database. They went 20 lengths below standard time through the first 1400 metres.
From the 800 to 600 metres, they went a pedestrian 13.28s but about halfway through the next section (600-400 metres) is where the tempo lifted before they came home in splits of 11.32s and 11.28s.
Nothing against the winner Fireball Miss (Bivouac), but Chispa was blocked for a run multiple times from the 600-metre to 200-metre marks, before clocking the fastest last section at the meeting. This run proves she has the speed to beat these fillies.
One would think the only horse that can beat her in the G1 Queensland Oaks is stablemate Panova (Trapeze Artist).
Chispa (NZ) | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pinito the diamond at Doomben
Still on Waller’s girls, and the race of the day for me was the G3 Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Mile won by Pinito (Trapeze Artist) for Godolphin.
Placed in last year’s Queensland Oaks, she arrived at Saturday’s race off a 6-week freshen up after missing the placings in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes, where she finished well inside standard time with a last 200 metres that ranked 12th for the meeting.
I could see her being kept fresh and going straight into a G1 Tattersalls Tiara for a valuable elite placing. The G1 Stradbroke Handicap is there, but perhaps it is too soon for her?
Is Abounding good enough for a Stradbroke?
It’s not too soon for Abounding (Rich Enuff), winner of Saturday’s G3 BRC Sprint over 1350 metres, but is the mare good enough?
Off a slow tempo, she missed standard time by seven lengths, but her last 400 metres, which ranked 16th for the day, was also nearly six lengths above average. At best, she looks a second tier Stradbroke prospect off this run, but she has a 1400-metre figure to her name from last spring that suggests she could win Queensland’s biggest race.
One of the reasons I am cautious about her going forward is due to her times versus the Listed Bill Carter Stakes winner, I Am Dirty (I Am Invincible).
The latter is a 2-year-old and the general rule is, if you’re a Group 1 horse, you should be beating any 2-year-old. But I Am Dirty was only 0.25s slower overall, and at the 600-metre mark was behind Abounding.
So there’s very little between these two performances on face value. Perhaps that highlights how good Bjorn Baker’s filly really is?
One horse who could emerge from leftfield is the Class 6 winner Arabian Rose (Alabama Express). I’m not fazed by her fast overall time relative to class expectations because these Class 6 races always rate well this time of year. But the fact she clocked the best last 400 metres and 1000 metres of the day certainly pricks the ears - she is one to watch wherever she goes.
Wet conditions suit Declichy
Not much to report from Randwick – a deteriorating track makes analysis tough. But it was good to see Declichy Boulevard (Snitzel) resume a winner in the sixth race on the card. She’s always shown above average ability and I once held a G1 Surround Stakes futures ticket on her.
It’s evident she’s a real mudlark, so punters out there can follow her in similar conditions going forward. She beat standard time comfortably and the fact they were willing to back her off more than a year’s break suggests this mare has taken the next step in her development.
A pair of Group 1s will be staged this Saturday at Eagle Farm. A capacity field of 16 looks certain with 4 emergencies engaged for the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup. Multiple Group 1 winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is the $3.50 favourite but drew barrier 15, while dual G1 The Everest placegetter Private Eye (Al Maher) will start from gate 2.
A bit of rain around this week will suit Fangirl (Sebring), who for the first time in four years will run second-up at a distance less than 1600 metres.
Declichy Boulevard | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
