The Emirates Stakes meeting will be held at Flemington this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with fine weather in Melbourne leading up to the weekend, Flemington will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Top weight Qewy is the class stayer in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and he will show his staying prowess by taking out this Group 3 event (Melbourne Race 5, 2600m). This Godolphin-owned gelding is no stranger to Australian racing as he won the Geelong Cup and the Sandown Cup last Spring with a 4th place finish in the Melbourne Cup in between the two wins. This year, Qewy has continued where he left off last Spring with a 1st up win in the Bendigo Cup (2400m) on the 1st November. The 8YO broke the 2400m track record, clocking 2 min 27.50 secs. Trainer Charlie Appleby decided to missed the Melbourne Cup and instead concentrate on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. Over 2600m, Qewy will be too strong for this field on Saturday.
While all the attentions were on Redzel, Chautauqua & Vega Magic, consistent mare In Her Time could fly under the radar in the Darley Classic (Melbourne Race 7, 1200m). Last preparation, the Benjamin Smith-trained 5YO finished 2nd in the Stradbroke Handicap before a 3rd in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara. In Her Time started off this campaign with a bang winning the Premiere Stakes and the Sydney Stakes before a close 2nd to Hey Doc in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes over Saturday’s trip. Six furlong is In Her Time’s pet distance having won 4 times with 2 placings from 8 starts over the trip. Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown will be on board the mare and from barrier 1, In Her Time will settle just behind the pace on the fence and she will be hard to hold out in the run home. Currently In Her Time is at pretty good odds at $8.00 in the fixed odds market.
Former French galloper Gailo Chop will have conditions to suit in the Emirates Stakes (Melbourne Race 8, 2000m). This OTI Racing-owned gelding has been in good form this Spring with a 3rd in the Underwood Stakes followed by victory in Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), leading from start to finish, beating Melbourne Cup runner-up Johannes Vermeer in the process. Last start in the Cox Plate, Gailo Chop took up the running which resulted in Winx’s record breaking run, eventually finishing a creditable 5th to the great mare. With fairly good pace in the race, Gailo Chop may just sit off Samovare and Cliff’s Edge to get some cover. Gailo Chop will be strong in the run home.
By Owens Wong, Editor
