Australia Stakes Preview
February 11th 2009 07:51
The Lightning Stakes (1000m) down the straight track at Flemington had been considered by some as a virtual match race between champion gallopers Weekend Hussler and Apache Cat.
(photo: www.stanzout.com)
Things did not run to the script and Weekend Hussler was caught inside horses and charged home late - while Apache Cat produced another inexplicably bad performance down the straight track. After his previous Flemington failure Apache Cat bounced back when produced next in a race around a turn, then an unlucky 2nd to champion Takeover Target in the Winterbottom at Ascot in Perth.
Both horses meet again this coming Saturday in the Group One Australia Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley. Corey Brown has been replaced as the jockey on Apache Cat by Damien Oliver - and Brad Rawiller is certain not to make the same mistake again on Weekend Hussler.
Apache Cat is the defending champion having won this race in 2008 defeating Stanzout and Monet Rules.
This time I expect these two champion performers to fight out the finish. Weekend Hussler ran strong speedfigures and was unlucky when resuming - and Apache Cat should do better away from Flemington. If Apache Cat fails again in a sprint the likelihood is that he will be stretched out to a mile again later in his preparation.
The other entries include:
Orange County resumes, and although he can sprint well fresh it is unlikely that he could produce the sectionals to challenge in this.
Lee Freedman’s impressive Redoute’s Choice 3 year old colt Time Thief may be the horse that could test the Hussler and the Cat if he continues to bloom through this campaign. His first up run was excellent and he did finish 2nd in the Caulfield Guineas of 2008 behind Whobegotyou. The winner of the 2009 Lightning Stakes was Scenic Blast, who also finished 2nd in a Caulfield Guineas - in 2007 behind Weekend Hussler.
Tesbury Jack is one of the best sprinters around - but he is becoming an enigma with brilliant winning efforts hidden amongst numerous unplaced and disappointing runs. But he has won impressively first up at his last two campaigns.
Mind Your Head is a career best form with 3 wins since returning from a spell and his last start 4th in the Carlyon Stakes (1200m at Group 2) at Moonee Valley was his only losing run (so far) of this campaign.
Vormista has now returned to the care of her original trainer Mark Minerveni after spending a preparation in the care of Russell Cameron. Mark Minerveni had taken time away from racing to recover emotionally from the death of his mother. Under the care of Minerveni Vormista was narrowly defeated at Group One in the Manikato Stakes (1200m at Moonee Valley) behind Gold Edition; this and a narrow defeat by Apache Cat in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m at Doomben) in 2008. If she can recapture her best she has proved herself capable at this level. If she does not come up this campaign she will be off to stud in the Spring.
The final field with barrier draw:
1 APACHE CAT Greg Eurell Damien Oliver 2
2 WEEKEND HUSSLER Ross McDonald Brad Rawiller 3
3 ORANGE COUNTY (NZ) Brian Mayfield-Smith Craig Williams 4
4 TESBURY JACK Julie Scott Darren Gauci 5
5 MIND YOUR HEAD John Ledger Mark Pegus 1
6 VORMISTA Mark Minervini Steven Arnold 7
7 TIME THIEF Lee Freedman Kerrin McEvoy 6
Sportingbet has framed the market with Weekend Hussler as favourite:
Weekend Hussler 1.7
Apache Cat 5
Time Thief 6
Vormista 17
Tesbury Jack 18
Mind Your Head 18
Orange County 26
Apache Cat claiming Stanzout in 2008 Australia Stakes
(photo: www.stanzout.com)
Things did not run to the script and Weekend Hussler was caught inside horses and charged home late - while Apache Cat produced another inexplicably bad performance down the straight track. After his previous Flemington failure Apache Cat bounced back when produced next in a race around a turn, then an unlucky 2nd to champion Takeover Target in the Winterbottom at Ascot in Perth.
Both horses meet again this coming Saturday in the Group One Australia Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley. Corey Brown has been replaced as the jockey on Apache Cat by Damien Oliver - and Brad Rawiller is certain not to make the same mistake again on Weekend Hussler.
Apache Cat is the defending champion having won this race in 2008 defeating Stanzout and Monet Rules.
This time I expect these two champion performers to fight out the finish. Weekend Hussler ran strong speedfigures and was unlucky when resuming - and Apache Cat should do better away from Flemington. If Apache Cat fails again in a sprint the likelihood is that he will be stretched out to a mile again later in his preparation.
The other entries include:
Orange County resumes, and although he can sprint well fresh it is unlikely that he could produce the sectionals to challenge in this.
Lee Freedman’s impressive Redoute’s Choice 3 year old colt Time Thief may be the horse that could test the Hussler and the Cat if he continues to bloom through this campaign. His first up run was excellent and he did finish 2nd in the Caulfield Guineas of 2008 behind Whobegotyou. The winner of the 2009 Lightning Stakes was Scenic Blast, who also finished 2nd in a Caulfield Guineas - in 2007 behind Weekend Hussler.
Tesbury Jack is one of the best sprinters around - but he is becoming an enigma with brilliant winning efforts hidden amongst numerous unplaced and disappointing runs. But he has won impressively first up at his last two campaigns.
Mind Your Head is a career best form with 3 wins since returning from a spell and his last start 4th in the Carlyon Stakes (1200m at Group 2) at Moonee Valley was his only losing run (so far) of this campaign.
Vormista has now returned to the care of her original trainer Mark Minerveni after spending a preparation in the care of Russell Cameron. Mark Minerveni had taken time away from racing to recover emotionally from the death of his mother. Under the care of Minerveni Vormista was narrowly defeated at Group One in the Manikato Stakes (1200m at Moonee Valley) behind Gold Edition; this and a narrow defeat by Apache Cat in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m at Doomben) in 2008. If she can recapture her best she has proved herself capable at this level. If she does not come up this campaign she will be off to stud in the Spring.
The final field with barrier draw:
1 APACHE CAT Greg Eurell Damien Oliver 2
2 WEEKEND HUSSLER Ross McDonald Brad Rawiller 3
3 ORANGE COUNTY (NZ) Brian Mayfield-Smith Craig Williams 4
4 TESBURY JACK Julie Scott Darren Gauci 5
5 MIND YOUR HEAD John Ledger Mark Pegus 1
6 VORMISTA Mark Minervini Steven Arnold 7
7 TIME THIEF Lee Freedman Kerrin McEvoy 6
Sportingbet has framed the market with Weekend Hussler as favourite:
Weekend Hussler 1.7
Apache Cat 5
Time Thief 6
Vormista 17
Tesbury Jack 18
Mind Your Head 18
Orange County 26
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