It was a spring of what could have been for 5. Joliestar. The Zoustar mare would be returning an Everest winner had the breaks fallen her way in the rich sprint feature before the barrier beat her in the Golden Eagle. She kicked off her campaign with an annihilation of her rivals in the Show County Stakes, which announced her as a sprinting star of the future. A repeat of that and it’s game over in Saturday’s Expressway Stakes. She has trialled just as well ahead of her autumn return. Although Joliestar maps to be last, it’s only a field of six. There’s a distinct lack of speed in the race with no obvious leader, yet a sprint home also plays to her strengths given the devastating turn of foot she possesses. The only possible knock is the unknown of a potential wet track. A wet track would be the leveller for 2. Magic Time. The five-year-old mare has had a jumpout and a trial ahead of her return and trainer Grahame Begg is bullish about how well she has come back.
How to play it: Joliestar to win.
Race 6 – 3.25PM ROBRICK LODGE TRISCAY STAKES (1200 METRES)
Don’t love the inside draw for 2. Commemorative, given that she is a mare that prefers galloping room given her size. We’ll leave that up to Adam Hyeronimus to navigate. In her favour is that she should be able to get a cart into the race from likely leader 7. Bonita Queen. If she breaks the field up at any point, there should be the chance to angle away from the inside. Was beaten by the race shape first up last campaign when a $2.50 favourite, splitting Kimochi and Mumbai Muse; two mares that went right on with it thereafter. Strong SP profile and she’s explosive fresh. Bonita Queen came through her 1200m test last start with more than a pass mark. The speedster led at a good clip yet was beaten less than a length and wasn’t giving it away on the line. She drops 8.5kg from that run in a BM78. The trade-off is this is a harder grade, but she has a fitness edge on her rivals and looks to own the race from in front. Catch me if you can.
How to play it: Commemorative to win.
Race 7 – 4PM TAB LIGHT FINGERS STAKES (1200 METRES)
It took until the Flight Stakes, but 3. Lady Shenandoah produced the best three-year-old filly performance of the season. It was worth the wait. She was brilliant when putting three lengths on her rivals. That was after having beaten Mayfair first up in the Ming Dynasty despite still being a maiden. The daughter of Snitzel has been one of the standout trailers of recent weeks. She bounced out to settle outside the leader in the most recent of those before holding off Lightning Stakes favourite Switzerland. The best fillies dominate their own age and sex regardless of the distance and suspect Lady Shenandoah fits that category. 1. Lady Of Camelot failed to muster early at the Gold Coast last start, which proved costly when second to Private Harry in the Sunlight slot race. Freshened since then. The blinkers go on for the first time. Wasn’t beaten far in an Everest the last time she raced at this track over this trip. Serious form lines. 9. Lilac has the run under her belt and beat home 8. Declichy Boulevard in their two clashes during spring.
How to play it: Lady Shenandoah to win.
Race 8 – 4.35PM PETALUMA APOLLO STAKES (1400 METRES)
Despite is being a starting point for the autumn stars, this race hasn’t thrown up too many upsets over the years. 6. Fangirl won it 12 months ago as an even-money favourite and Anamoe, at $1.60, the year prior. Winx won it three times at prohibitive odds. Enter 5. Via Sistina, the new star of Australian racing, having won the Cox Plate by eight lengths. The seven-year-old import won the Winx Stakes first up last preparation over the Randwick 1400m. Despite the 2000m being her best distance, she has the class and turn of foot to win over shorter trips. If Fangirl is going to beat her stablemate this campaign, you’d think it would have to be first up over 1400m. Respect that she jumped $2.40 compared to Via Sistina’s $11 in that Winx Stakes, and if you swap the runs, perhaps you swap the result. Needs a dry track. 1. Ceolwulf might have something to say about Via Sistina being the best horse in the land. He is a different horse to the one we’ve assessed first up in the past, but mindful that he hasn’t performed fresh previously.
How to play it: Via Sistina to win.
Race 9 – 5.15PM MACQUARIE ST SOCIAL HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
15. Cool Jakey is third emergency and has also accepted in the last, but if trainer Joe Pride elects to run here instead, be wary of this five-year-old’s chances. It was a hidden return first up. It was a slow-run 1200m where he settled out the back on a dry track. He ran home in the fourth fastest last 200m split of the meeting despite finishing seventh. The clincher is that Cool Jakey is three from three second up, and he gets the significant gear change of the blinkers going back on. The shades have gone on second up in his last two preparations. A wet track would be a bonus. Second up last campaign he lumped 62.5kg to win at Warwick Farm, fending off Kerguelen and Need Some Luck. 1. Disneck clocked the fastest splits of the meeting when dashing home at Rosehill last start. He couldn’t have done much more given the shape of the race. He’ll be camped out the back before rattling home. Had won three straight prior, all at Randwick.
How to play it: Cool Jakey each way.
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Race 10 – 5.55PM CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
7. Perfumist went to another level when leading all the way at Rosehill last start. That’s now four straight wins for the Bjorn Baker-trained filly. She assumed control from the start and always travelled like the winner. That was on soft ground so if there is rain around ahead of Saturday, it shouldn’t stop her. It’s been a rapid rise for the three-year-old. The temptation must be there for the stable to run in something harder, but she sticks to BM78 company for now, which should see her too good again. 2. Cool Jakey had a lot against him first up. He ran home in the fourth fastest last 200m split of the meeting despite finishing seventh. He is three from three second up, and he gets the significant gear change of the blinkers going back on. A wet track would be a bonus. Second up last campaign he lumped 62.5kg to win at Warwick Farm, fending off Kerguelen and Need Some Luck. 5. Rapt closed off well from an impossible spot at the Sunshine Coast last start. Freshened since back to 1400m.
How to play it: Perfumist to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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