ROSEHILL PREVIEW August 1, 2009 MISSILE STAKES (WFA 1100M) The Group 3 Missile Stakes is a race of variety that can be won by a longshot, such as Mr. Victory ($26) in 1998, as well as a superstar such as Lonhro (2002) or the great Campaign King, who won it twice (1987 and ’88). The decision by trainer Peter Snowden to scratch the only 3YO in the race, the promising Rarefied, in preference to a race against his own age, won’t detract from the quality of this year’s Missile Stakes. The form out of the Missile can be expected to stand up during the Melbourne and Sydney spring carnivals. The sole Group 1 winner in the race, Typhoon Zed, is using the race as a stepping-stone towards the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (WFA 1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25. Last year he finished second behind Captain Bax in the Missile before going on to win the Manikato. Typhoon Zed will be primed for a strong showing following his first-up fifth behind Borsha’s Mark in the James Kirby Handicap (1000m) at Grafton, in which he lumped 61kg. The chestnut showed in the autumn that he was a class act by finishing second to Scenic Blast in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (WFA 1000m) at Flemington on January 31. Importantly, Typhoon Zed has a fine record at Rosehill, winning two and running second from four starts. It will take a good horse to beat Typhoon Zed, especially if the track improves from its Friday rating of a slow 6 – and that horse looks to be the exciting mare Olonana, who is also on
a Manikato path. The John O’Sheatrained mare hasn’t raced since finishing ninth behind Nicconi in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m, Randwick) on April 11, but the best form line for this comes from her previous start when she scored brilliantly first-up in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (WFA 1000m) at Randwick, when she overcame difficulties early to charge home from ninth on the turn to beat Hoystar. O’Shea rates Olonana highly and he believes she is ready to perform well fresh. He has every reason to be confident, as Olonana is unbeaten in three first-up starts. The pre-post favourite Dreamscape was impressive winning in the mud at Randwick (1200m) on July 11 in his first run since last spring. Trainer Gai Waterhouse is predicting, as expected, that the 4YO entire is in line for a big spring. Dreamscape will go forward but he will find this race tougher in his first try at WFA. Expect Gold Trail and Kroner to run well. Gold Trail goes quick and he resumes from his excellent third in The Galaxy. In January, he won the Group 2 Canterbury Classic (WFA 1100m), so he’s a horse racing in his right grade. Bart Cummings’ Kroner has been a bit of an enigma. He flopped last spring and had mixed form in the autumn when he won the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1400m) at Randwick Kensington on heavy ground. The wet track suits this son of Viking Ruler and he races well fresh. The harder they go up front, the better his chance. The tips: Olonana to track the speed and beat Typhoon Zed, Dreamscape, Kroner and Gold Trail.
SPEED MAP
SUBHEAD
Predicted positions on settling
Highlight this paragraph and type text for the race preview. The style for the first paragraph of this text is *Intro Body text and when you start a new paragraph it will change to *Body text. To get bolt text press APPLE B and then type the bold text required, then to get back to normal text press APPLE SHIFT B and keep typing.
Race 6, 3.35pm (Sydney time)
AND ALSO Saturday at Caulfield is the ‘clean slate’ meeting, with all runners, riders and trainers starting with a big zero in the win column. That doesn’t mean that all are equal – the cream will rise to the top, so it is a matter of working out who is the cream. The Herald Sun suggested this week that Caulfield trainers Peter Moody and Mick Price were the two to follow through spring; while not writing off perennials Lee Freedman and David Hayes, And Also goes along with that, and suggests you consider PM and MP runners, especially when they’re at home. Price has only two starters (Porsched R2 and Bel Mer R6), but each is worth an eachway investment. Moody has a bigger hand with five (Flying Tryst R1, Speedy Natalie R2, With Apologies R3, Magic Instinct R5 and Soaressa R7) and stable rider Luke Nolen is on all bar the first one – he will ride Donna Rossa for another Caulfield man, Robert Smerdon. (Smerdon, by the way, is always worth punting on when the money’s on, so watch the market here.) It’s the Moody-Nolen combo that And Also fancies to get the season rolling with a win or two. No apologies about nominating the fave With Apologies (about $3.50) as the standout. Settle for her, or play up the winnings eachway on Magic Instinct (you might get $4) and Soaressa ($4-plus). Win or lose, follow PM and MP season-long. And, if you can work out a staking plan, don’t ignore Smerdon – he is coming off two super seasons. Stephen Howell