MOONEE VALLEY PREVIEW January 22, 2010 AUSTRALIA STAKES (1200M) Race 6, 9.15pm (Melbourne time) Tonight’s Group 2 Australia Stakes, at weight for age at Moonee Valley, is the first feature sprint of the New Year, at a time when the sprinters have their chance to hog the limelight during the autumn carnival The Australia Stakes race was formerly the Carlyon Stakes, although its registered name is the Stanley Wootton Stakes. The Australia Stakes of recent times has been the G1 William Reid Stakes, run at Moonee Valley next month. The William Reid has returned to its old name and the Carlyon-Wootton Stakes has been renamed. Confused? Last year the Australia–Carlyon Stakes was won by Lucky Secret, who didn’t go on to the Group 1 William Reid, won by Apache Cat. Only two horses have taken the double – Yell (2003) and Hareeba (1995). Speculation around this year’s race is dominated by the return of the unbeaten, monster filly Black Caviar – the 575kg dynamo who last raced in the spring when she injured herself winning the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m, Flemington) on September 5. Trainer Peter Moody warns punters that if there is a race this preparation in which Black Caviar is vulnerable, it is first up, at night, around the tight Moonee Valley circuit. However, Black Caviar has no opposition in the battle for the speed and her job has been made easier by the scratching of top galloper Heart Of Dreams. Black Caviar will be able to dominate this race from the front, so Moonee Valley shouldn’t be a worry.
SPEED MAP Predicted positions on settling
Moody said that in a recent track gallop at Caulfield that the filly was going so fast, he was afraid she wouldn’t get around one of the bends. She should win. The only danger looks to be the inform Here De Angels, who has a new lease on life after switching from Lee Freedman to Mark Kavanagh. Here De Angels was outstanding in winning the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day, when he lumped 59kg – he has won twice around Moonee Valley. The tough 9YO campaigner Royal Ida will be suited in this small field, and he comes off a quality win in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m, Flemington) on New Year’s Day. He will make up a monty trifecta. The tips: Black Caviar to beat Here De Angels and Royal Ida.
TEMPO – GOOD Black Caviar will have a barrier blanket to settle her in the gates, and she should be able to jump cleanly. Even if she misses the kick, she will have little trouble leading as there are no other front-running speedsprinters in this race. Jockey Luke Nolen should be able to dictate his terms, without pressure. I don’t expect him to make this race a sit-up and sprint-home affair – she’s a free-running filly, who likes to bowl along at a comfortable tempo. I expect her main danger, Here De Angels, also a tricky beginner, will be pushed forward to keep Black Caviar in his sights. Here De Angels is in career-best form and he has an edge in fitness on the filly.
AND ALSO The column that tries to find winners from all weird angles is jumping on the tried-and-true method of “what was there for all to see last start” to give you the best of good things this weekend – Altered Boy in the last at Rosehill tomorrow. The Boy was beaten, over 1300m, at Randwick last start when apprentice Mitch Beadman could not extricate him from a pocket on the rails – he finished fourth behind a Group 1 winner, the well-backed Dealer Principal. And he started the $2.80 favourite! It’s usual to say “forget he went around”. And Also says “remember” not “forget”, and line up for the $3 on offer. Tomorrow’s race is 1400m, and trainer Chris Waller has replaced the apprentice with the one of the best seniors, Corey Brown. The early market adds to And Also’s confidence that others, especially the bookies, believe we are on the right track – Altered Boy is favourite and Imperial Applause, who finished second in the Randwick race, is only a $16 chance. And if you can’t keep your cash in your pocket while sitting through tonight’s Moonee Valley card ... 1. Canali ($4) can give Our Baby Bonus ($2) a run for his money in the second race. 2. Barry James’ horses invariably run well when he floats them from Ballarat to the Valley, so Sylvan O’Reilly (R7) looks pretty good eachway value at $8. Stephen Howell