Classy Godolphin-raced mare Circular is among the key Breeders Classic 2017 nominations taken for the Group 2 Royal Randwick feature running in Sydney this weekend.
The Chris Waller-trained French Emotion is one of the class mares nominated for Saturday’s Breeders Classic 2017 at Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Headlining the racing action across the country on Saturday, this season’s $200,000 Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) attracted a dozen early entries with Racing NSW extending nominations until 11am (AEDT) on Tuesday.
Among the current nominees for the set weights plus penalties sprint for mares is the John O’Shea-trained Street Cry four-year-old Circular.
She won back-to-back races in November including the Goulburn Cup (1600m) defeating Sweet Redemption and has run third in all four of her previous first-up runs to date.
Sydney’s best Chris Waller has three Breeders Classic entries this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival led by French Emotion.
A five-year-old daughter of Snitzel, French Emotion races for the first time since her brave second as a $41 roughie in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
She has trialled twice since nicely at Warwick Farm, her latest hit-out producing a second over 1000m on January 23 behind Sezanne.
Winner of the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last October, French Emotion is yet to run at the Randwick track but looks set for a good autumn return.
Her stablemates also in the mix are Elle Lou and last winter’s Queensland Guineas winner Tsaritsa.
Higher up the ratings are the Kris Lees-trained Danish Twist and Flippant for Team Snowden.
Prepared at Newcastle, five-year-old Danish Twist was last seen running ninth in the Myer Classic in a blanket finish defeated only one and a half-lengths by the winner I Am A Star.
She was competitive in her other two spring runs when a neck away third at Randwick to Takedown in October’s Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) and under two lengths beaten when fifth to first Seal at Caulfield on Cup Day in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m).
Flippant is a four-year-old daughter of Hinchinbrook who has had just the one previous Randwick run to date.
She is a three-time winner over the Breeders Classic distance from seven starts though and her fifth to Private Secretary at the Gold Coast in mid-January’s $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m) was brave.
She jumped from the outside barrier (16 of 16) that day and was beaten under two lengths, so the step back to 1200m in Sydney should suit if she’s accepted into the Breeders Classic field.
Other notable nominees include smart Myer Classic third placed Denman mare Denmagic for David Pfieffer, and the Bjorn Baker-trained Egyptian Symbol who has stellar form at the distance (7-3-2-1) and is out to atone for her sixth in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares.
Check out the early Breeders Classic 2017 nominations below, the final field and barriers set for release on Wednesday followed by markets at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2017 Breeders Classic Nominations
Randwick Racecourse – 04/02/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 317x33311x | CIRCULAR | M | 4 | John O’Shea | 90 |
| 2 | 11118x359x | DANISH TWIST | M | 5 | Kris Lees | 104 |
| 3 | 262x44434x | DENMAGIC | M | 4 | David Pfieffer | 96 |
| 4 | 33236×1516 | EGYPTIAN SYMBOL | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
| 5 | 1315137×89 | ELLE LOU | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 89 |
| 6 | 14x7x01x05 | FLIPPANT | M | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 101 |
| 7 | 20x672162x | FRENCH EMOTION | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 101 |
| 8 | 8324404×50 | FRILL SEEKING | M | 6 | Matthew Smith | 78 |
| 9 | 4131x59x02 | I AM ZELADY | M | 5 | Joseph Pride | 92 |
| 10 | 10x9205x11 | IN HER TIME | M | 4 | Benjamin Smith | 79 |
| 11 | 180157×973 | MAGNAJOY | M | 5 | Jarrod Austin | 72 |
| 12 | 2x1113x39x | TSARITSA | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 92 |
