Champagne Stakes (G1) - Randwick 22nd April

[Macca_]

Noms -

SALINGER CHAMPAGNE STAKES 1600M

Of $452460 Of $450000 and $2460 trophies. 1st $270000 and trophies of $1860 to owner $300 to trainer $300 to jockey, 2nd $87750, 3rd $43875, 4th $20250, 5th $11250, 6th $5625, 7th $5625, 8th $5625. Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners. For Two-Years-Old. Set Weights. (GROUP 1). No allowances for apprentices.

No Horse Trainer
1 ANAMATO David Hayes
2 BACKDRAFT Gai Waterhouse
3 DE LAGO MIST David Hayes
4 DOWN THE WICKET Gary Portelli
5 EMPIRES CHOICE (NZ) Bart Cummings
6 GALLANT TESS David Payne
7 MACAU CAUSEWAY Peter G Moody
8 MENTALITY John Hawkes
9 MISS FINLAND David Hayes
10 MY MIDDI Marc Conners
11 PLAYGROUND EXPRESS Kelly Schweida
12 READY Rick Hore-Lacy
13 THE ONE (NZ) Michael Moroney
14 ULFAH David Hayes

 

[juggalo_strit]

Miss Finland showed she’s shrugged off her recent setback with a brilliant gallop at Randwick this morning in preparation for Saturday’s Group One Champagne Stakes.
Working with Ulfah on the Kensington Track over 1400m, she ran 1.34.1, finishing the last 600m in 36.7 with a final 200m sectional of 11.8 seconds.
“It was the fastest last 200m of the morning,” said Randwick clocker Craig Tompson.
“She beat Ulfah off comfortably and is every bit as good as before she won the Golden Slipper. She might even be a bit better again.”
”She dropped Ulfah this morning but he’s a lazy track worker and she flys,” David Hayes added.
Miss Finland was due to run in last Saturday’s Sires Produce Stakes but was forced out after suffering a minor leg injury two days before the race which required treatment.
Hayes will saddle up three runners in the Champagne Stakes with Craig Williams to ride Miss Finland while Jim Cassidy and Glen Boss are booked to ride Ulfah and De Lago Mist but Hayes is yet to decide who will ride Miss Finland’s stablemates.

 

[Macca_]

Go De Lago

 

[Freak2]

Don't be frightened to back Empires Choice. Only had the week off last week due as she needed the break after gaining late entry into the slipper.

Has been set for this race, and all signs to date indicate 1600M will suit perfectly.

 

[Nuffs]

i wont be frightened

i said that i'd back her in the sires or champagne and i'm not changing my mind

i'm glad miss finland is running as that should ensure better odds

 

[Moffo]

Miss Finland easily

 

[Macca_]

Field -

5-2.10 SEPPELT SALINGER CHAMPAGNE STAKES 1600 M
Of $452460 Of $450000 and $2460 trophies. 1st $270000 and trophies of $1860 to owner $300 to trainer $300 to jockey, 2nd $87750, 3rd $43875, 4th $20250, 5th $11250, 6th $5625, 7th $5625, 8th $5625. Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners. For Two-Years-Old. Set Weights. (GROUP 1). No allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 14+4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen
1 DOWN THE WICKET Gary Portelli L Beasley 4 56.5
2 EMPIRES CHOICE (NZ) Bart Cummings M Rodd 6 56.5
3 MENTALITY John Hawkes 1 56.5
4 MY MIDDI Marc Conners Ms K O'Hara (a) 2 56.5
5 BACKDRAFT Gai Waterhouse Z Purton 7 56.5
6 THE ONE (NZ) Michael Moroney G Childs 8 56.5
7 MISS FINLAND David Hayes C Williams 10 54.5
8 DE LAGO MIST David Hayes G Boss 11 54.5
9 ULFAH David Hayes J Cassidy 9 54.5
10 GALLANT TESS David Payne H Bowman 3 54.5
11 PLAYGROUND EXPRESS Kelly Schweida D Beasley 5 54.5

Bugger the 11 gate!!!

 

[Macca_]

Form -

http://www.racenet.com.au/form/form_ind2.asp?venue=randwick&mdate=4/22/2006&race=5

 

[Macca_]

Macs Numbers -
8,7,3,9,1,6

This is a very very tough race. I'm sticking with De Lago Mist. Been on all 4 starts and still see no reason to get off. She was a tad unlucky last week. Got very tight down the straight and she was also hampered when that horse hit the rail. Miss Finland hard to beat. Jumping from 1200 to 1600 for a 2 year old always a concern, but she looks like she'll handle it.

Mentality was another hampered by that trouble in the sires and still finished well. With Beadman on board, he'll be hard to beat too. Nearly a Hayes trifecta here... Ulfah will run very well here too.

Down the Wicket keeps improving and was a good run in the sires. And the kiwi, The One looks a chance on his times over in NZ. If it handles the aussie track, it will be there abouts.

Couple of others that wouldn't surprise either. Empires Choice and My Middi.

Tough race!

 

[Macca_]

Fixed Odds -

No Runner Win
7 Miss Finland 2.65
3 Mentality 5.50
9 Ulfah 6.50
8 De Lago Mist 6.50
2 Empires Choice 9.00
4 My Middi 17.00
1 Down The Wicket 17.00
5 Backdraft 17.00
10 Gallant Tess 26.00
6 The One 34.00
11 Playground Express 51.00

 

[juggalo_strit]

At that price i'll be taking De Lago Mist

 

[Freak2]

Happy with the 9/1!!

I can assure you if Bossy had a choice which horse he would prefer to be riding tomorrow over 1600, I'm sure he would want to be getting off De Lago Mist and onto Empires Choice;-)

 

[Macca_]

I can assure you if Bossy had a choice which horse he would prefer to be riding tomorrow over 1600, I'm sure he would want to be getting off De Lago Mist and onto Empires Choice;-)

How can you be sure of that?

Rodd has rode Empires Choice in all 3 starts. De Lago has had the 1 start in NSW and Nikolic was given the ride by Hayes. I'm glad to see him off just quietly...

De Lago has won 2 starts, and perhaps should have been 3 in a row after being unlcuky last start.

Whilst I agree Empires Choice will be suited by the trip, De Lago will be more than suited too.

The other thing to take note of is that Hayes nearly paid up for her in the slipper and said she most likely would have ran second in the gap between Miss Finland and the field... He obviously has a good opinion of her.

 

[Moffo]

you're all arguing over the placing as far as im concerned, the miss has this in the bag!

 

[Macca_]

Not argueing. Discussing

 

[Nuffs]

i'm prepared to go right against MISS FINLAND here. just how serious were the problems that ruled her out of the Sires?

EMPIRES CHOICE is looking for this trip and no matter what happens tomorrow I will be jumping on in early VRC Derby markets given anything over $10 -15

BUT i'm going against him

sticking with MENTALITY. smashed EXCITES by over 2 lengths over 1400m before getting creamed in the SIRES carnage won by EXCITES. still got home well and from the inside barrier will settle closer than the tail. look for Beadman to get a split and i think this horse will put in a big sprint

DE LAGO MIST and ULFAH with chances

 

[Macca_]

Racenet Preview -

Race 5 SEPPELT SALINGER CHAMPAGNE STAKES (1600m) at 2.10pm

Joice’s thoughts – A good mix of form-lines into this Group One and the mile is always a query with the youngsters. But it is impossible to go past Miss Finland – she won the Slipper by 4.5 lens and was powering to the wire. Working well since and if anything will improve into this. Too classy for the stablemates De Lago Mist and Ulfah. A Hayes trifecta is on the cards.

Payne’s thoughts –Miss Finland blitzed them in the Slipper and I’d be surprised if she doesn’t win again here. Empire’s Choice finished off hard in the Slipper and had last Saturday off. He’s the one for the quinellas while De Lago Mist is the one I want to be on out of the Sires Produce over the mile.

Joice’s Tips – Miss Finland (7), De Lago Mist (8), Ulfah (9)
Payne’s Tips – Miss Finland (7), Empire’s Choice (2), De Lago Mist (8)

 

[Macca_]

Result 3,7,10,8

 

[Nuffs]

MENTALITY!!!

loved it when Beadman took it to the front and was cheering when he kicked halfway down the straight

gallant tess and de lago mist will be 2 horses to follow in the spring

 

[Macca_]

I agree Nuffs. Summed it up well.

Just on De Lago, I have never really had a favourite 'grey' horse. She could be one. I'll certainly be sticking with her. Had a wide run form the game and stuck on well. She'll be a gun 3 year old.