To bet or not to bet?
That’s Saturday’s question about the Chris Waller pair, Via Sistina, Australia’s best racehorse in Flemington’s Turnbull Stakes, and the unbeaten Autumn Glow, even now with superstar claims, in the Epsom at Royal Randwick on what is set to be a great day’s racing.
Such programs would have more than held their own in the times of yore against the Rugby League Grand Final, not dwarfed in Sydney like the past week.
Alas passion for the turf has subsided but where the light still burns great horses and those that make them holds pride of place.
The Epsom dates back to 1865 and is rich with greats, particularly Super Impose and Winx. But the Turnbull, elevated to Group One status only in 2006, has stolen its thunder.
For instance, recent years Via Sistina, Gold Trip, Incentivise, Verry Elleegant and Winx, figures on the honour roll as well as a bevy of also rans who triumphed in majors later over the Melbourne Spring.
Again the Turnbull is a particularly strong field. Via Sistina is out to show her superiority being $2.40 yesterday, coming off a bad ride defeat last start. Via Sistina is chasing esteemed company of Comic Court, Vo Rogue and Winx as a consecutive winner.
Via Sistina is a seasoned seven-year-old under the Waller regime striving to get back to her peak while Autumn Glow has only had six starts.
Barriers could be the drawbacks for the Waller pair. Ironically Via Sistina, with the navigation of James McDonald, starts from one and Autumn Glow 14.
I doubt whether Via Sistina has much on stablemate Aeliana with Antino close up and the potential of the import Sir Delius, still under the Tulloch Lodge development stage, is untapped.
Thus it gets back to the ride and the price.
In recent weeks J-Mac has been downed from the one gate on two top hopes who should have won: Lady Shenandoah (Concorde) and Lord Penman (Randwick September 20), out to make amends in the Epsom.
Being a champion J-Mac gets hard marking. None of the rivals in the Makybe Diva were seen at their best against Craig Williams on Mr Brightside but being on the $1.80 favourite more aggression was expected from J-Mac.
Aeliana, ridden by Damian Lane, a four-year-old beat him home and has as much if not more scope for advancing.
Antino, too, was unsuited by the tempo and Blake Shinn will get it right on Saturday. Anyway that’s the way I’m betting, with the $11 making him worthy of support.
Of course price also plays a major role in the Epsom, despite the Randwick 1600 metres being the best start for those drawn wide.
However will he be instructed to go forward or back, the usual tactic for Waller horses from wide gates? And to what degree will those inside her be a pest?
From the five launch Pericles, a seasoned Randwick miler, with the assistance of Josh Parr, should get the run of the race. Parr and trainer Bjorn Baker are dazzling at present, confirmed with a Rosehill double on Wednesday.
Also the four-year-olds New Zealander Willydoit, now getting the Ciaron Maher treatment, and El Castello with strong credentials last season, should be ready to show their worth following recent foundation performances. El Castello gets blinkers again that will contribute to improvement.
Which adds up to not taking odds-on about Autumn Glow. Pericles for mine.
However the Randwick program doesn’t end with Epsom. The Group one The Metropolitan, worth $750,000, is intriguing and $1 million Premiere Stakes, a Group two, has Briasa at $1.90 on Friday.
Short of his peak Briasa could not withstand the finish of Joliestar in The Shorts at Randwick on September 20 but has to contend with the big finish of Jimmysstar. Considering pace in the race, Mazu in particular, I will be on Jimmysstar.
Clark rides Magenta Skies, a Brit-bred, for Michael Freedman in the Group One Flight Stakes while stablemate Apocalyptic ($1.80) adds to card speckled with red.
