This is a wonderful race. The favourite is the Marc Quinn trained Pentasia who has been competing well in Queensland and Grafton. But he is currently around $5.00; any feature race that is $5.00 the field is a hard proposition. The track is currently a slow 6 but the sun is shining and will continue to shine tomorrow. We might for the first time in a little while have a fair / dry track. That is good for everyone.
The only last start winner in the race is the old boy Youthful Jack who won the Ramornie two weeks ago at 30-1. On that day he beat the likes of Pentasia and Griffon; both are back and looking for revenge in this race on Saturday. Also engaged is Funtantes, a very talented mare that can lead and kick on really well, plus the former ‘bush champion’ Border Rebel. Border Rebel has not won in over a year and has not shown his best in three years, but you never know. Mic Mac has fired back up recently so who is to say Border Rebel won’t do the same.
Havana Rey, See The World, Pentasia, Griffon, Master Harry, My Destiny and Soledad are all currently at single figure odds. Then there is the Ramornie winner Youthful Jack at $12 then Border Rebel at $15 then Funtantes at $19. The only horse left is the former Wagga Wagga Cup winner Sainthood at $31; we all know the power of a stayer first up.
Seven horses in the eleven horse field have had their last start at least 200km from Randwick; this includes Youthful Jack, Border Rebel, Pentasia, Griffon and Soledad who all have come through the Ramornie. From first to eighth in that race there was less than three lengths.
Verdict: While this race is a potential field leg in the quaddie, there is huge value if you like a runner. These are all good off-season horses and it indeed is a very even race. Maybe see if any of the corporates are offering odds on the first to last margin. The race has all the hallmarks of a blanket finish.
4th. Border Rebel. The old boy is generally right up in the weights, but this week he sneaks in with 56kg and has a talented 2kg apprentice aboard. He is $15 and can easily hold on for a place. Yes his best was three year ago but back then he was beating the likes of Youthful Jack and The Jackal who at the time were extremely hard to beat.
3rd. Griffon. $9.50 is a fantastic price for a horse that runs on well and is in very nice form. He was beaten by two inches in a Group Two race and should have won easily. Griffon really has not achieved much in his career, but he is starting to improve. He has upside whereas we have seen the best of most of his rivals.
2nd. Pentasia. $4.60 is a little short, but he deserves to be favourite. Last prep, Pentasia was in the form of his life, and then first up this time in he won in brilliant fashion. He has enjoyed a recent freshen up and will be extremely hard to beat.
1st. Funtantes. $19. Whenever a talented Queensland horse runs in Sydney, you get overs. This mare has been running in really nice races in Brisbane with big weights. She drops to 55kg here and even has a 3kg apprentice aboard. With just 52kg and a typically bias Rosehill track, Funtantes can lead, kick and will be mighty hard to run down. Barrier five certainly helps this theory.
By Zeb Armstrong
