Minson can make it seven
Story By by Gary Crispe
Saturday, 19 August 2006:  | | Damien Oliver |
The four-year-old won his first five starts of last campaign and towards the end stepped up to stakes grade with wins in the Listed Zedative Stakes and Group 3 Debonair before a spell.
Prior to his return trainer Michael Hibbs mapped out a path to this year’s Cox Plate, which began in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
There he settled second but quickly got through the take the lead in the straight and, as he does, kept fighting and holding off the challengers.
The gelding has far less knockers now and it’s worth noting his fresh-up rating was a career peak but he still obviously has plenty in hand given he has a long spring ahead.
Today is another step up in grade but so often in the Liston, with many of the better class horses resuming and looking for further, Minson will get his chance to keep his unbeaten run intact and extend the winning sequence to seven.
He sprinted away quickly of a strong early pace fresh-up but today he looks the only leader and mightn’t have to do it both ends.
If that’s the case, he will certainly prove hard to run down as he regularly carves out excellent sectionals and can keep lifting at the end of his races.
From barrier three and with Damien Oliver in the saddle he should have a good run and it’s hard to not see him in the finish.
With the higher rating gallopers vulnerable, he looks the one to beat again.
Top trainer David Hayes believes he has one of the spring stars on his hands in the form of De Beers who should prove hard to beat fresh-up despite his wide gate.
Fresh-up last campaign he resumed in the Group 2 Sovereign Stakes (1200m) where he got well back before charging home to finish third behind Flying Pegasus and Racing To Win.
He then went on to finish runner-up in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), fifth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), scored in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas then finished runner-up in the Group 1 AJC Derby.
The entire had obviously come to the end of his campaign by the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) where, although covering ground throughout, dropped out to finish last behind Eremein.
It’s worth noting he has had more time to settle in with the Lindsay Park regime after a good spell now and Hayes has been trying to keep a lid on his enthusiasm for the galloper’s spring prospects.
He is yet to miss a place from three starts fresh-up and will be hitting the line hard fresh-up over the 1400m journey today.
Red Dazzler, fitter for one run from a spell, could prove the value chance if he steps up a notch this campaign.
The entire measured up to some of the best races last campaign despite not winning, including a head second behind Fields Of Omagh in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes.
Fresh up in the Bletchingly he settled third and chased Minson for the length of the straight, battling on well for a length second.
He is fitter now and better suited at the 1400m journey. Price is confident he can take out a spring major with the four-year-old this campaign and on his fresh-up run and with the added fitness must be considered a winning chance here.
Maybe Better, prepared by Brian Mayfield-Smith, tackles his toughest test today but is another on the way up and looks a solid winning chance at each-way odds.
The gelding was a soft last start winner in far easier grade and is probably not that well treated under the weight-for-age conditions.
But he has a good record at the course and distance and has a fitness edge on most of his rival.
From barrier one he should have the run of the race and there’s no doubt Mayfield Smith believes he can measure up to the better grade.
There are a host of other knockout chances, including classy mare Serenade Rose and the talented Lad Of The Manor, who is no stranger to this grade.
|
