Draw key as Miss Hellfire pursues Hot Danish Stakes
Connections of Miss Hellfire are banking on an inside barrier draw to help her turn the tables on last start conqueror Olentia when the pair clash again in the Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill.
Having her first start for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Miss Hellfire got back to last from a wide draw in The Nivison (1200m) and made late ground to finish 1-3/4 lengths astern of the winner.
From barrier one in Saturday’s Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m), Archibald is optimistic Miss Hellfire can make the necessary improvement to bridge that gap.
“She was really good last start when she flashed home,” Archibald said.
“From a better draw, I’m sure she will be right in mix.”
Group 2 placed during the Sydney autumn, Miss Hellfire goes into the Hot Danish Stakes with a month between runs but has been given a trial to keep her fitness up to the mark.
Archibald says the mare has been ticking all the right boxes at home and has continued to please them.
“She seems to have come on nicely,” he said.
“She’s new to our stable and we’re learning about her all the time, but we couldn’t fault her.”
Arctic Glamour’s co-trainer Gerald Ryan is likewise happy to see an inside draw for his charge after she endured a tough run from an outside gate when seventh to Saturday’s rival Belclare in The Invitation (1400m).
She will start immediately outside Miss Hellfire and while it will be her sixth run of the preparation, Ryan reports she Arctic Glamour has continued to thrive.
“She is bright as a button. She has copped her racing really, really well,” Ryan said.
“Whether she is quite up to this grade, we’re still finding out. She is having so many hard-luck stories.
“One of the only times she has drawn a barrier this campaign was in the Epsom and she ran super, other times she has drawn out wide.”
Group 1 winner Magic Time is the early Hot Danish Stakes favourite for the Hot Danish Stakes at $2.50 ahead of Belclare ($3.20), with Arctic Glamour at $7.50 and Miss Hellfire a $23 chance.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...