Glamour accepts Invitation
Now a Group 2 race, Gerald Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, believes Saturday’s The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick will be a good opportunity for consistent four-year-old mare Arctic Glamour to add some more black type to her resume.
Arctic Glamour hasn’t won a race in just over a year, successful over the Randwick 1400m in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality when beating Joliestar 12 months ago, but has placed thrice at Group 2 level since and was only 2.1 lengths off Ceolwulf when fifth in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) last start.
“She keeps putting in, having a go. If she was ever going to run 1600 metres it was going to be the other day in the Epsom. Good gate, no weight on her back, got a good run. Peeled out as if she was nearly going to win the race and just didn’t run a mile in that class,” Ryan said.
“She’s won at 1400 (metres) here, she runs well here on this track. Provided the weather stays fine, she does need it firm. Provided the weather stays fine, well, she’ll be very competitive.”
Kerrin Mcevoy has been booked to ride Arctic Glamour and has drawn barrier 14.
Meanwhile, promising Justify colt Just Party will line up in the Group 2 Callander-Presnell (1600m) where he’ll again clash with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained Anode, who narrowly beat Just Party in the Listed Tapp-Craig (1400m) at Rosehill last start.
Just Party has only won a two-year-old race at Wyong but has form around the likes of Broadsiding and Lady Shenandoah and was unlucky when flashing late in the Tapp-Craig.
“He’s done well since his unlucky run the other day, he’ s just got to learn to jump out the gates better. There is a question mark on the 1600 metres with him. I think if the race could set up right for him and he could get a nice draw, I think he’ll run it,” Ryan said.
“He finished the race off really well up along the fence, but not many horses ran home on the fence last week. He was hard up against the fence, not two horses away.”
“Randwick’s better… but if he fails again at 1600 metres, he won’t go back there.”
Just Party has drawn the inside barrier for Jay Ford.
More Racing News
All-Star Mile next for Sabaj following blood test setback
Sabaj, under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, faces a puzzling field in the All-Star Mile with Pride Of Jenni taking part.Saturday's All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington is now the primary target for Sabaj, who skipped last week's Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington due to unsatisfactory blood...
Baraqiel to trial blinkers for Newmarket Handicap push
Baraqiel faces an uphill battle with the weights in pursuit of success in one of the nation's premier short-distance contests, the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.Post-1973 metric weight implementation, merely three runners have prevailed in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) carrying more than 57.5kg, with the race set for Saturday.In...
Green Spaces earns Rachel King's trust for Randwick Guineas tilt
Returning from a triumphant riding spell in Japan, Rachel King has her eyes set on the Sydney autumn series, with a key engagement aboard the inexperienced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.The esteem in which King views the Bjorn Baker stable's charge prompted her to jet in from...
Fortunes due to improve for backmarker Bauhinia
Bauhinia, known for settling towards the rear naturally, has often lacked the rub of the green in her races.Co-trainer Lee Curtis expects the mare to see her luck change for the better over autumn, kicking off in Saturday's Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick."Her work has been as good as...
Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.Post-race, he...
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...