A small six-horse field contested Saturday’s $160,000 Eskimo Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday, but it was Kris Lees’ Gem Song that emerged as the triumphant victor down the main straight.
Gem Song, above, has firmed onto the second line of betting ahead of next month’s Randwick Guineas. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
Installed as a $5.00 chance first-up, Gem Song enjoyed a gun run from barrier 1 to race past odds on favourite Sandbar ($1.80) down the inside. The win marked the three-year-old’s fourth win from six career starts, placing him well on the path to contest next month’s $1 million Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 9.
Gem Song looked cool, calm and collected compared to the rest of the field, a true credit to jockey Jason Collett. Sandbar and Charge both looked edgy as they failed to settle into the race, leaving Collett with plenty of room along the rails to do his work.
Gem Song has firmed from $13.00 into $7.50 with Ladbrokes ahead of the Guineas, while second place-getter Purple Sector remains a horse to watch.
