Warwick Stakes - Moodwalker!

[my miss storm cat]

Are you gonna be watching this? If so, can you give a visaul? Thanks.

VERY nice field..... good luck to Eremein and RTW.

Racing ready for Warwick Stakes
Story by Gary Crispe

Saturday, 26 August 2006: It’s been a shaky start but Racing To Win can kick off his spring campaign with a win in today’s Group 2 Sportsman Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

Trainer O’Shea has patiently waited for the right race to step out the classy gelding and was all set to go until his charge fell over a collapsed ditch on Thursday at trackwork.

He has come through the incident unscatched, though, has passed a vet test and is cleared to go in the weight-for-age feature which boasts a very strong line-up.

But the grey gelding, yet to finish further back than second at all nine starts which has included six wins, looks ideally placed to start his spring campaign with success.

Last campaign he was beaten fresh-up when runner-up to Flying Pegasus in the Royal Sovereign Stakes, but appreciated the extra trip over 1400m next start when a strong winner of the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.

He was then tested at 1500jmk fir the first time in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes and went down in a fighting photo finish, ending up a neck from Apache Cat in second place on a wet track.

Back on top of the ground in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes he hit the line hard and ran down Paratroopers to score, which is no easy feat, before turning in his career best performance in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m).

After sitting just off the lead, he was game in holding off the challengers to score a half length win over Johan’s Toy.

At Randwick the gelding has two wins and a second placing from three starts and has a win and a placing from two tries at the trip.

He also has a win and a second placings from two fresh-up runs.

O’Shea has slowly worked the gelding into fitness with a very easy trial initially before a more strenuous hit-out more recently.

He has drawn well and Michael Rodd takes the mount for the first time, replacing Glen Boss who is aboard the topwegiht.

Like most of the top Sydney gallopers Racing To Win will use this race as a springboard to features down south, including the Tattersall’s Cox Plate later in the spring.

In a classy field full of stars he looks hard to beat fresh.

Lightly raced veteran Court’s In Session is another resuming in the race and should run a big race fresh.

Prepared by Guy Walter, the seven-year-old started favourite in this race last year when second-up from a spell and although fourth was beaten just a long neck in a very busy finish behind Sir Dex.

He went for a spell following the run before resuming in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes, where he sat on the pace and held off the challenge of Shanie Dane right on the line to score by a head.

He then stepped up to 1400m in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes and ran well below his usual best, finishing sixth and just over three lengths from Ike’s Dream, before running in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes where he led but was under pressure a long way out and finished eighth behind Desert War.

Walter finished his autumn campaign then and there and has given him a good break.

Although he comes into this race fresh-up this time around, he is fitter for two recent trials, the latest when a 5.5 length winner over 1200m on his home track at Warwick Farm.

The gelding has a good fresh-up record and has drawn well in barrier five, where he should have no problem leading.

On his best form there’s no doubt he’ll still be there at the finish and looks hard to catch at each-way odds today.

Gai Waterhouse saddles up two runners in the race but the mare Aqua D’Amore might prove a value chance fresh.

The Danehill mare was hard to follow last campaign mixing her distances and her form but showed she was still up the best around at her last start before a spell, the a half length second behind Eremein in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

While most of the field have long spring campaigns ahead and could be vulnerable fresh, Aqua D’Amore boasts a superb fresh-up record of three wins and a fast-finishing second from four starts.


She goes well at the course, her home track, with two wins and two placings from four starts, has trialled well with two placings and has drawn okay in barrier eight.

From there she is likely to settle midfield or worse but has an excellent turn of foot and should prove hard to hold out.

Stablemate Desert War is yet to win first-up but on his effort when resuming last campaign must be considered.

He resumed his autumn campaign over the same trip in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, where he sat on the pace and battled on well for third behind Ike’s Dream.

He then won the Group 1 Chipping Norton, finished third in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes then a close-up sixth in the Group 1 Doncaster and seventh in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes where he had obviously had enough and went for a winter spell.

The gelding handles all conditions, has had two trial hit-outs and is yet to miss the placings at the trip.

Although drawn wide he should slide across to sit second behind Court’s In Session and should give a bold sight.

Eremein is the early Cox Plate favourite and will be well in the market in not favourite today but might be vulnerable fresh-up.

Prepared by Allan Denham at Rosehill he took all before him in the autumn, including winning his last three starts – the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes, the Group 1 BMW Stakes and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

He has a top record at the track and placed at his only try at the trip but doesn’t have the bets fresh-up record and this campaign in particular, he will have plenty of improvement left in his for longer races over the spring carnival.

He should be doing his best work late and may get home over the top of them but is likely to find this race a shade short and could be under the odds this time.

Headturner is in the same boat as he’s being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but he does boast a good fresh-up record and can feature at good odds.

A winner of the AJC Derby at his last run before a spell, the John Hawkes trained four-year-old ran an eyecatching race in a recent trial and should have a good run on the inside from barrier one.

He could sneak a place at odds but is another who will improve on whatever he does.

From AAP...
http://www.aapracingandsports.com.au/