Plates prove popular with promising gallopers
Story By by Gary Crispe
Wednesday, 16 August 2006: Class 6 Plates are only a recent addition to the Queensland racing calendar but Vietnam’s trainer, Liam Birchley, is already a fan after his mare slips into the race with just 51.5kg.
Following her claim for in-form apprentice Rachel Mason, the mare, runner-up in a Group 1 race last start, will carry just 50kg.
Vietnam was one of the most improved horses in Queensland last campaign, winning a 1300m maiden fresh-up before disappointing at her next start, then winning her next two over 1400m and 1600m.
She then tackled the Princess Stakes (1600m) on her home track at Eagle Farm before her first run in stakes grade when a fast-finishing fourth behind Super Lacuna in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) after being held up for a run.
From there she contested the Group 3 Doomben Roses (2020m), where she got well back and seemed one paced in the straight, battling home into eighth behind Gaze.
In that race, though, she appeared to be looking for further so stepped up to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) back on her home track.
Aft5er settling towards the tail she moved up out wide turning and worked home strongly in the straight to finish runner-up behind Allow.
The rating was a career best and although she won’t reach that figure again today she won’t have to with her light weight.
It’s worth noting she is already a fresh-up winner, and the 1400m journey on her home course looks an ideal start to her campaign.
It’s also worth noting that although resuming the break from the winter carnival to spring isn’t very long so it’s doubtful she will be overly out of condition.
With just 50kg, the mare will be biding her time off the pace but will no doubt be doing her best work late and looks hard to hold out.
The biggest two hurdles look to be the in-form Step Right In and My Son Day.
The latter, prepared by Less Ross at the track, was racing in tougher grade earlier in his campaign before dropping back to a Class 3 at Ipswich where he proved far too good, scoring by almost four lengths over the 1350m journey.
He then raced at Doomben over the same trip and sat just off the pace before proving too strong again.
Last start he stepped up to a mile at Doomben in this class and sat just off the pace again before battling out a tough fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length, behind Bold Reason.
Today’s race is rated no easier but he does drop back to 1400m which should suit and he drops 2.5kg after the claim.
From a good draw the entire should have the run of the race again and if it turns into a sprint home he will certainly prove hard to run down with the light weight.
Topweight Step Right In will appreciate the easier grade and despite the big weight looks hard to hold out.
Prepared by Bryan Guy on the Gold Coast, Step Right In resumed with a ninth in the Listed Lightning Stakes, then finished fifth behind the highly rated Natural Destiny in the Group 3 Healy Stakes.
He then stepped up to 1400m of the Listed Ascot Handicap and finished ninth behind Consular.
With the winter carnival over, he dropped back in grade to a Class 6 here over 1400m and got well back before running on strongly to score a long neck win over Nexgen.
He then tackled Saturday class over 1630m at Doomben and ran on well to finish fourth behind easy winner Mitanni.
Today’s race is easier and although up in the weights meets a similar race to the one he beat here two starts back.
Whether he can give Vietnam 7.5kg in a sprint home remains to be seen but on his recent form looks hard to hold out again.
Others to include in the multiples are the in-from Braebrok, who has won his last two but is up in weight, grade and distance, and Mersey Beat, who is racing well and will take catching with his light weight.
Sir Success, who finished last at his last start behind Step Right In, can improve out of sight today if ridden more patiently and will be big odds.
The interesting runner is Scattergun, who comes from the Brian Smith yard and is a promising galloper heading for bigger targets further down the track.
He resumes today following a last start fifth in the Queensland Derby and will be looking for further but, like Vietnam, has a light weight and could figure on his ability alone.
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