3 minute read
Group One racing continues in Sydney this Saturday with the Tancred and Vinery.
Tancred Stakes day at Rosehill where the headline is anything but. The Vinery is the other feature on the card and is a better clash between two very good fillies.
Orchestral comes over to the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) rated 113, which is only a pound better than Zardozi, but she's done it backed up by big margins and strong times which indicate there's more in her.
Last year, Prowess was rated 111 and then went 115 to win an incredibly weak Vinery. This year, there's every chance Orchestral will need to run better than that, considering she's only rated a pound higher than Zardozi for now.
Perhaps they should be a bit closer in the market in a race that might not end there, but regardless it doesn't stimulate any real betting desire and for that we head to the male equivalent, run at Group 2 level (all for the page!).
That race is the Tulloch Stakes (2000m), often a strong pointer to next week's Derby and the horse on the up is Wymark.
He destroyed very little two back at Newcastle over 1850m in very fast time and backed it up with an effortless win against the older horses here last time, running to 105.
It's the same Bm78 that Angel Of Truth ran fifth in prior to winning the Tulloch and Wymark is already rated much higher than he was.
He'll have to improve again but looks likely to do so and he should be able to roll forward to offset the wide draw.
The value play comes up in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m). The Tancred has unfortunately been lost a bit in recent times, which is strange because it's the only WFA mile-and-a-half we have.
Post Impressionist couldn't have been much more impressive last week, relishing a good gallop and putting them away with ease. He's not certain to run, but if he does, he's naturally the one to beat.
That said, I think Gear Up is a decent roughie. He was gelded leading into this preparation so I think you just have to focus on his last two runs, and what he did overseas.
It's easy to forget he's a Group 1 winner over 2000m in France and a Group 3 winner over this trip in England, and showed he was getting back to that sort of form when only second-up at Caulfield.
He won a slowly run race last time but the horses he beat aren't walkers, and he was clicked up at the 600m, not ridden for a late burst. I fancy he wants 2400m now and Nash should really suit him.
Tipping he can land in the 1-1 from a middle draw here and try similar tactics to get those back in the field chasing. At 40-1, I think he's worth something each-way.
SYDNEY SPECIALS
Bet of the day: Race 4 #3 Wymark at $3.50
Each-way play: Race 8 #6 Gear Up at $41/7
