The Follow Files: Neasham sprinter returns with Group 1 placing
Last weekend, Rosehill Gardens took centre stage as it hosted Golden Slipper Day, while Moonee Valley hosted its William Reid Stakes Day as a strong support card. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three runners that are worth following from the two meetings. Most online bookmakers offer a blackbook service, and we suggest putting these three horses into yours so you can follow them next time they run.
Rosehill Gardens
Rail position: +2m entire circuit
Race 9: Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) | Time: 1:02.95
- Horse to follow: Sunshine In Paris (2nd)
After being heavily backed in the hours before the Galaxy last Saturday, Sunshine In Paris was sent around as the favourite but was narrowly beaten by Zapateo in the final strides. Considering the Annabel Neasham-trained mare was first-up off a six-month spell, it is easy to forgive the daughter of Invader for not winning. However, the four-year-old mare was one of the strongest through the line over the 1100m trip, and she should appreciate a rise in trip to 1200m second-up at a bigger track.
When to bet: Sunshine In Paris is nominated for the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes on April 6, and after such a good run in the Galaxy, it is expected that Neasham will accept for the 1200m contest at Randwick.
Race 10: Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) | Time: 1:09.83
- Horse to follow: Tashi (2nd)
Tashi competed in her first Group 3 race and didn’t disappoint, as the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained mare ran home strongly into second behind Chain Of Lightning in the Birthday Card Stakes. The daughter of Sebring settled midfield and had to work her way through the pack before busting into the clear with 100m to go, but she couldn’t pick up the winner before the line. With a lower rating of 86 before last Saturday’s race, Tashi should be able to sneak into another Group 3 with a light weight.
When to bet: The Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes over 1200m stands out as a race that the Snowdens can target with Tashi, as she will get a light weight as a mare and will take on similar competition to last start.
Moonee Valley
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 10: Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:10.99
- Horse to follow: Papillon Club (2nd)
Papillon Club returned from a five-month spell at Moonee Valley last Saturday and finished second behind Extratwo over 1200m, which is well short of her best distance. After settling midfield, the daughter of Toronado recorded the fastest last 200m section (11.79s) of the entire meeting when flashing home through the middle of the pack late in the piece. With further improvement expected second-up, Papillon Club was clearly one of the few horses to follow from the meeting.
When to bet: There aren’t many options for Eurell and his team in the coming weeks, but if they send Papillon Club to a race on a bigger track over 1400m next, she will be very hard to beat second-up.