Thursday, September 09, 2010

2010 Spring Racing Season – Week 7 – Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes

Typhoon Tracy
As I will be attending the races at Moonee Valley this coming Saturday, it’s pleasing to see it boast an excellent program of racing with two Group Two races, the feature race being the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Formerly known as the Feehan Stakes, this race over 1600 metres (a mile in old parlance) has always been a good indicator for the Cox Plate being almost a mini Cox Plate itself. This year it has attracted a top class field of eight runners that include Whobegotyou, Shoot Out and Typhoon Tracy. Alas, So You Think is being saved for next week’s Turnbull Stakes, so I won’t get to see him in the flesh. However, I’ll be more than compensated by seeing long time favourites Shoot Out and Typhoon Tracy.

Whobegotyou won this race last year, beating Mic Mac with Singapore mare Jolie’s Shinju running third. He faces tougher competition this year, though Shoot Out will be racing at Moonee Valley for the first time. He was taken to Moonee Valley for a gallop earlier this week, and it was observed that he didn’t handle the track all that well. Of course that may change on race day when he’s got some opposition to chase. Typhoon Tracy, recently awarded the 2009/2010 Champion Racehorse of the Year, is a winner on the course and has drawn an inside gate which will pretty well ensure she takes up a forward position without expending too much effort, so may this time give Whobe a run for his money.

One of Lloyd Williams Melbourne Cup hopefuls, Rundle, looking at his form, could surprise as could the other Williams runner, old warhorse Zipping, who runs well fresh. Bart Cummings’ stable is represented by Brightnight and Precedence, but the 1600 metres could be a tad too short for both of them.

Whatever the result it looks a top notch race, though of course my heart will be with Tracy & Shoot Out.

The Group 2 Stock Stakes, also run over 1600 metres is restricted to mares four years old and upwards. I’m looking forward to seeing Faint Perfume and her arch rival Valdemoro racing, but they face real competition with the in form Ghostmilk from Peter Moody’s stable. Ghostmilk loves the wet, has won on the course so is top choice and will probably start as favourite.

Though it hasn’t rained as much this week as it did last week, the Moonee Valley track will most likely be rated slow at best, with the weather bureau predicting showers for Saturday - hopefully not too many in light of my attendance at the track.

As well as the two Group 2 races, the Group 3 McEwen Stakes, a sprint over 1000 metres has attracted top sprinters Reward For Effort and Hay List as well as speedy mare Rostova, so along with some interesting Listed races the racing card for Saturday is of excellent quality.

In Sydney at Rosehill the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes is the feature race. More Joyous, who began her spring campaign a fortnight ago with a win in the Sheraco Stakes, is one of the main contestants in the field, along with Sniper’s Bullet, Black Piranha and Brilliant Light.

No comments: