Inghams' Chance To Be Tickled Pink
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday May 20, 2000
TALENTED stayer Freemason, engaged in the Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm today, could again hit the spotlight for the ``cerise brigade".
The cerise silks of Jack and Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud syndicate were very much to the fore last Saturday with four Rosehill winners, and the trend promises to continue.
They have strong prospects at Canterbury as well as Eagle Farm.
Freemason is taking on strong opposition, including the AJC Derby winner Fairway, the promising local Magnifier, and the possible surprise packet, New Zealand filly Giovana.
The key to the race is its tempo. If Fairway is allowed to make play in front as he did in the dawdling AJC Derby, the gelding will again be impossible to run down.
In that event, Freemason could finish only 13th. But given a faster speed in the Frank Packer Plate, Freemason scored an overwhelming win over 2,000m at Randwick.
Following the AJC Derby, Fairway showed his versatility by going down gamely to the Gold Coast-trained Magnifier in the Queensland Guineas over 1,600m.
Magnifier, the winner of six of seven starts, rates highly in terms of potential but hasn't raced beyond 1,600m, thus the 2,200m is a risk, particularly if it is run at a solid tempo.
Even with only 50.5kg, Giovana, receiving 7.5kg from Fairway, can't afford to give much of a start.
Jockey Chris Munce is likely to take advantage of her weight and keep Giovana at least in touch with Fairway.
Prior to the AJC Derby, Freemason was a fast-finishing second to Diatribe over the Rosehill 2,000m, so today's journey looks very suitable indeed.
VERDICT: Hopefully, with the rail being out 6m it will be a level playing field. Take the gamble on Freemason.
HAMMERING THE FINISH: While it is unlikely sprinters of the calibre of Falvelon and potential of Palladium Star will be seen in the Mercedes-Benz Handicap, the race is full of talent.
For instance, the Lee Freedman-trained Astig was favourite for the Goodwood at Morphettville last Saturday before being scratched due to the rain-affected track.
By boom stallion Danehill, Astig has six wins from nine starts while Mallet, prepared at the Brisbane wing of the Woodlands Stud empire, has notched six from 10 locally.
Landsighting is also worthy of the promising tag while on his day, with the track firm, Normal Practice has a Group-winning finish.
However, Mallet has the Eagle Farm credentials with three runs over today's course and 1,200m distance for two wins and a second when resuming and unlucky on April 22.
The four-year-old does well second-up and the 14 gate shouldn't be a problem.
VERDICT: Mallet to deliver a knockout.
STRINGS ATTACHED: Although jockey Jim Cassidy lost his stirrup irons on Strings last start at Randwick, the filly was not badly disadvantaged. The effort was good enough to give her a show in the LA Ice Cola Series at Canterbury.
Cassidy was able to right the situation and Strings, another to carry the cerise, went on to finish third to Mulan Princess and Poppett, two promising types, over 1,200m.
High Rolling is a form horse opposed to her but has a handicap to match (60kg after a 3kg claim for Brian Carter) and Jibaili should have finished closer than fifth last start.
Jibaili was held up when beaten 11/2 lengths by Fashion News in a 1,200m Randwick dash on April 24.
Strings, though, is on an upward spiral and from five starts has notched three wins and two placings, including good Canterbury credentials.
VERDICT: Strings.
TOLL PAID: Being a six-year-old, Dylan, the winner of only six races, is past the point of improvement but John Hawkes, trainer for Woodlands, has placed him to advantage in the Toll Express Series at Canterbury.
Dylan is resuming after a spell and has a first-up record of three wins and three placings from eight campaigns.
Hawkes gave him a tune-up barrier trial in which he went well and, while doubting the gelding's quality, his form more than compares with his rivals'.
Two starts back, Dylan was beaten by less than three lengths in Flying Welter company at Rosehill and the 3kg claim for Brian Carter brings him in with only 54kg today.
The strength of the field is emphasised by Majanui, beaten in class-six company at Wagga Wagga last start, being on the short list of chances because of a claim for Michael Squires.
VERDICT: Dylan to hit a high note.
HEALTHY: New Zealand sprinter Quality Kingdom has been given a clean bill of ``clinical health" for the Nick's Seafood Series at Canterbury.
At his previous start, the visitor was beaten 13.7 lengths by Shy Hero in a 1,200m Randwick sprint and pulled up with a sore back. The vet's certificate, required before he could race again, indicates he is over the problem.
On his previous form, Quality Kingdom is one of the top hopes in a small but difficult event.
Veteran Batwing will carry cerise, but his stablemate, Barnacles, has the second set of Woodlands colours black with the cerise cap and he, too, is a chance.
With four wins and five placings, Barnacles, a four-year-old, is capable of improving and while he is resuming after a spell the gelding has been placed when fresh in the past.
VERDICT: With Shane Dye up, Barnacles, from the two gate, should get the run of the race.
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald