By Scott Bailey
The first Group 1 of the day is the Inglis Sires’ over 1400 metres, looks a fascinating juvenile contest with proven Group form meeting a few runners still on the rise.
Streisand brings the standout profile into the race after winning the Blue Diamond and then running second in the Golden Slipper, which gives her the strongest exposed form, and she now gets in with 54.5kg. Campione D’Italia also comes through the key Sydney two-year-old races and was far from disgraced when fourth in the Slipper after taking out the Skyline, while Fireball has already won the Millennium and was not beaten far in the same Golden Slipper.
There is also fresh depth through horses such as Zambales, who was narrowly beaten in the VRC Sires’, and Rich On Bubbles, who arrives with winning momentum after putting together a hat-trick in Victoria.
On exposed class, Streisand sets the standard, but this is a race with plenty of talent and upside.
One of the great sprint races of the year is the T J Smith Stakes over 1200 metres, has all the makings of a top-class sprint with established Group 1 performers clashing at weight-for-age. Joliestar appeals as the horse to beat after winning both The Shorts and the Canterbury Stakes in recent campaigns, and she gets the services of James McDonald from a favourable gate.
Jimmysstar has an enormous overall record and his form from the spring, including placings in the Premiere and The Everest before winning the Russell Balding and C F Orr, shows he is right up to this level despite his last-start seventh in the William Reid which he did have legitimate excuses but he will need to dig deep and bounce back to earn the respect of his followers.
Briasa was excellent when resuming with a close fourth in The Galaxy and has already proven himself at Randwick, while Giga Kick remains one of the class runners of the field if he can return to his best especially with the key booking of Hong Kong champion rider Zac Purton taking the steer. Tentyris adds intrigue as the lightly raced colt who won the Lightning before being beaten in the Newmarket, and Overpass has the speed to take catching if he is forward enough. It reads as a genuine Group 1 sprint where Joliestar’s recent winning form gives her a slight edge.
The Doncaster Mile is the sort of handicap that always rewards both class and timing, and there are compelling cases across the weight scale.
Gringotts heads the weights but has the credentials, having already won major Randwick miles in the Big Dance and The Gong before returning with a solid second in the George Ryder. Pericles also looks a major player after winning the Futurity and then boxing on for third behind Autumn Glow and Gringotts in the George Ryder, while Autumn Boy is the fascinating lightweight after his recent Group 1 wins in the Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas.
Sheza Alibi is another dangerous runner down in the weights after winning the Randwick Guineas and is really stamping her authority as a serious racehorse, while Evaporate and Vivy Air both bring strong mile form.
This looks a deep Doncaster, but Autumn Boy’s light weight and upward trajectory make him especially hard to ignore, while Gringotts and Pericles bring the stronger seasoned form lines.
The Australian Derby over 2400 metres, shapes as a proper staying test and Observer goes in as the clear form horse. He has already won both the Victoria Derby and Australian Guineas this season and was still good enough to finish third in the Rosehill Guineas at his latest run, which reads as a strong lead-in to this assignment.
Road To Paris adds a New Zealand Derby win to the mix and brings proven staying credentials, while Green Spaces improved sharply when second in the Rosehill Guineas and looks one who will appreciate the step to 2400 metres.
Storm Leopard also comes through that staying pathway after winning the Tulloch Stakes and has the profile of a colt still learning his craft, while Savisanta caught the eye with a narrow second in the Alister Clark. On what has been seen so far, Observer deserves favouritism, but the Derby often turns into a test of who stays best rather than who owns the sharpest turn of foot, and that gives several of these runners a genuine hope.
