The Follow Files: Two Queensland sprinters return in fine style
The third and final day of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival was held last weekend, with the All Aged Stakes Day at Randwick taking centre stage. Meanwhile, we had VOBIS Day at Sandown Lakeside and Daybreak Lover Day at Eagle Farm, as Brisbane racing heats up with only two weeks until the Brisbane Winter Carnival officially begins.
For the third weekend in a row, Randwick provided another wet and soggy track, so we’ve decided to skip that meeting in this week’s edition of The Follow Files and instead focus on the Eagle Farm and Sandown meetings. Below you will find the three runners that we will be following at their future starts after great runs on Saturday.
Eagle Farm – Daybreak Lover Day
Track rating: Good 4
Rail position: +3m entire circuit
Race 7: Class 6 Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:10.48
- Horse to follow: Antino (1st)
Antino, trained by Tony Gollan, ran in the Class 6 Handicap over 1200m, where he was heavily backed into favouritism and saluted for his supporters. This son of Redwood ran home strongly from the back of the field to finish half a length ahead of Extremist in the final 100m. This four-year-old gelding has won five of his six career starts, with his only defeat coming in the $250,000 The Gateway, where he was beaten by Tick Tock Queen and Arentee by a long neck in his previous preparation. Tony Gollan explained after the win that he is attempting to improve his lightly raced four-year-olds rating in order to get him into the Stradbroke Handicap later in the carnival.
When to bet: Antino could run in another Benchmark race before stepping up to Listed or Group level on his way to the Stradbroke. This gelding is a proven winner, and we will back him in whatever race he runs next.
Race 9: Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m) | Time: 0:56.92
- Horse to follow: Startantes (8th)
Startantes, who finished eighth in the Listed Ascot Handicap after making up a lot of ground in the final 300m of the 1000m event, had one of the better runs in defeat around the country on Saturday. This daughter of Star Turn has yet to win a race at 1000m in her 23-race career, so her strong finish in the final stages suggests that she has returned in great form and will be ready to win her next race. This four-year-old mare ran her final 600m sectional in 33.02 seconds, the fastest of the entire meeting. After winning the Group 1 Tatts Tiara in the Brisbane Winter Carnival last year, Startantes will be hoping to pick up another couple of Group races throughout this years carnival.
When to bet: After such a strong performance on Saturday, James Orman stated that he expects to ride Startantes in the Group 2 Victory Stakes in two weeks, where she will appreciate the increase in distance to 1200m and attempt to improve on her fourth-place finish in the race last year.
Sandown Lakeside – VOBIS Day
Track rating: Soft 6 (up to Soft 5 after R3)
Rail position: +7m entire circuit
Race 3: VOBIS Gold Dash (1200m) | Time: 1:26.09
- Horse to follow: She Dances (1st)
The Peter Moody-trained She Dances improved her career record to five wins from nine starts with a dominant 5.5 length victory over Private Jumbo and Tanto in the VOBIS Gold Dash over 1200m. This three-year-old filly jumped well and led the field up before kicking clear on the home turn to establish a massive lead over the rest of the field before Linda Meech eased her down in the final 100m. This daughter of Street Boss was dropping back from the Listed Sunlight Classic, where she finished fourth behind What You Need, Renosu, and Benedetta over 1100m, which is a little short for her. She Dances maintained her unbeaten record at 1200m, taking her record to four wins from as many starts at the trip.
When to bet: Katherine Coleman, Peter Moody’s stable foreman, confirmed on Saturday following She Dances’ victory in the VOBIS Gold Dash that they will be taking her to Adelaide to pick up some black type. The obvious race for a three-year-old filly is the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes for Fillies and Mares, but on the same day, the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes for three-year-olds will be run over the same distance under set weights conditions. In the Robert Sangster, she will face some very fast sprinters, but if they elect to go to the Tobin Bronze, we will be backing her.