Mic Mac again too strong at Valley, and find a winning Mentality at Rosehill
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday September 12, 2009
BLINKERS are expected to give added horsepower to Racing To Win and Whobegotyou, striving to reach their best, in their respective engagements today.Racing To Win is a strong fancy in the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, while Whobegotyou will be attempting to do "a Maldivian" in Moonee Valley's Dato Chin Nam Stakes.Racing To Win, a seven-year-old and winner of this race in 2006, needs a trigger despite his unlucky fourth first-up behind Trusting in the Warwick Stakes on August 22. Today's assignment is testing because of his 60 kilogram equaliser and 11 gate.Down south, Whobegotyou, prepared by Mark Kavanagh, has been responsible for two strong seconds after a spell but faces a considerable hurdle in Mic Mac, winner of seven out of eight starts.Kavanagh applied blinkers to Maldivian for the Cox Plate last year, and he burst back to his best. Whobegotyou was beaten 1.3 lengths by Mic Mac, which led all the way in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 29 so he has to make up considerable ground. Despite his come-from-behind racing style, Whobegotyou has notched three out of three around the tricky Valley circuit.With Singapore speedster Jolie's Shinju engaged, the tempo should suit Whobegotyou but Mic Mac's trainer Greg Eurell doesn't see it as a drawback. "It will give us something to chase," he said, adding the 1600m of the Dato Chin Nam Stakes would give him an idea about whether to pursue the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley with the gelding or concentrate on sprints.Traditionally, this race is a stepping stone for spring stars, and today is no exception. Precedence, part-owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam and trained by Bart Cummings, is one expected to give an indication of his Melbourne Cup prospects.Maybe the Theo Marks lacks the substance of the Melbourne event but it should prove a good betting medium. Apart from Racing To Win, blinkers will be applied to Rock Kingdom, one of the more promising types to come out of the autumn, although his recent barrier trials have been sluggish.Gai Waterhouse also has Dreamscape and Common Objective engaged. Dreamscape isn't producing his best, and under different circumstances, or whip rules, could improve on recent efforts with stronger handling, but the main dangers to Racing To Win are Mentality and Triple Honour, a solid third in the Chelmsford at Randwick last Saturday.On the same program, Mentality was ninth to Rangirangdoo in the Tramway Handicap, 1400m, but pulled so hard jockey Jay Ford looked like a dentist trying to extract a difficult molar without using anaesthetic. But note his form when backing up within a week: four attempts for two wins (group 1s), and the two times he was beaten were on rain-affected ground, which he dislikes.VERDICT: Mic Mac gets my vote, and Mentality in the Theo Marks.SISTER ACT: Dystopia, a sister to Golden Slipper winner Stratum, hardly sizzled in winning a recent Canterbury midweeker at her first start but trainer Chris Waller today will use blinkers in the Myer Handicap. Despite being only a Ratings 79 event, the Myer has some promising fillies, including Nathan Tinkler's Run For Naara, Break Card, Country Club and Sister Madly. Sister Madly ended up third on debut in a Randwick midweeker but was caught wide.VERDICT: Try the quinella Dystopia and Sister Madly.FULL VOICE: Blinkers certainly worked with Voice Coach, a strong chance in the Kingston Town Stakes. After their application by Waller, Voice Coach won three in a row before his good second to Emperor Bonaparte at Rosehill on August 29. Still, that was his first run for three weeks, and he will be more seasoned today. Emperor Bonaparte will again be hard to beat, and New Zealander Mr Tipsy, a mudlark, has been racing against much better company.VERDICT: Voice Coach to produce a high note.NO SHOCKS: Trainer Mark Kavanagh is a key player in the Big6 legs at Moonee Valley. While Whobegotyou will have a tough struggle in the first leg, he must be included in multiples, and the quick back-up should work for Cats Whisker in the Stocks Stakes. The trainer ends the day with the promising Shocking (Curran Chemical Handicap). Cats Whisker led all the way at Flemington last Saturday, and takes on a more difficult task, made so by Zarita, which could be getting back to her three-year-old best. "Combined with some ordinary rides, her performances have been pretty good," trainer Pat Hyland told Melbourne media regarding her seeming lack of form. Shocking has had only nine runs for three wins and four placings, and his second in the Queensland Derby was an indication he could be a top-liner. La Rocket, Philda and Silky Smooth will be supported but lack Shocking's promise.VERDICT: Cats Whisker can again make her own luck, and Shocking is a stand-out in the final leg.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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