Wet tracker Jungle Edge is going to get his favourite track conditions when he steps out for the Group 1 $700,000 The PFD Food Services 2018 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Jungle Edge, above, will get conditions to suit in the 2018 Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Jungle Edge is a noted mudlark with all his thirteen wins coming on rain affected tracks and is going to get a wet surface again on Saturday with the Rosehill course proper being rated a Soft 6 on Wednesday with more rain forecast for the Sydney area in the lead up to the weekend.
The Mick Bell trained Jungle Edge has drawn barrier seven in the final Galaxy field of sixteen plus one emergency and will again be ridden by veteran jockey Kevin Forrester.
Forrester has ridden Jungle Edge for the majority of his starts since finishing third to Russian Revolution in last year’s Galaxy twelve months ago and was on board for his most recent start when second on a good 4 track to Redzel in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 10.
The James Cummings trained Viridine also went around in the Challenge Stakes for a fourth and has drawn barrier eleven with Brenton Avdulla booked to ride again.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English will wear blinkers for the first time in the Galaxy and has drawn nicely at barrier three with Sam Clipperton booked to ride.
Clipperton is no stranger to English and guided her to victory in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on a soft track during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival and the Encosta De Lago mare also showed her liking for a rain affected track with a win in heavy conditions in the 2017 Challenge Stakes.
In Her Time will be having her first start since running second to Hey Doc in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival and trainer Ben Smith has tuned her up for her return with a slashing 1000m barrier trial win on the Beaumont tack at Newcastle on March 14.
Hong Kong based jockey Zac Purton takes the ride on In Her Time who has drawn awkwardly at barrier thirteen.
The Galaxy final acceptors Secret Agenda (Damien Oliver, barrier 14), Supido (Craig Williams, barrier 9), Thronum (barrier 8) and Pariah (Kerrin McEvoy, barrier 5) are also included in the final field for the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night.
Jungle Edge has been installed the early $3.90 favourite for The Galaxy odds at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of In Her Time at $4.20 and Viridine at $6.
Final field for the 2018 Galaxy (1100m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11202x250x | LE ROMAIN | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 58kg | 114 |
| 2 | 76875113×2 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 7 | 55.5kg | 109 |
| 3 | 5x523x112x | IN HER TIME | Benjamin Smith | Zac Purton | 13 | 55kg | 112 |
| 4 | 167x5114x1 | SECRET AGENDA | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 14 | 55kg | 112 |
| 5 | 266x4269x5 | ENGLISH | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Sam Clipperton | 3 | 54.5kg | 111 |
| 6 | 847x5400x7 | TAKEDOWN | Gary Moore | Tommy Berry | 15 | 54.5kg | 107 |
| 7 | 394x2531x6 | BALL OF MUSCLE | Joseph Pride | Jason Collett | 1 | 53kg | 104 |
| 8 | x930x15x45 | SUPIDO | Michael Kent | Craig Williams | 9 | 53kg | 104 |
| 9 | 306x13x140 | THRONUM | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – | 8 | 52.5kg | 103 |
| 10 | 2121x11x22 | SNITTY KITTY | Henry Dwyer | Tim Clark | 6 | 52kg | 106 |
| 11 | 1368x008x9 | DERRYN | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 52kg | 102 |
| 12 | x307324017 | LADY ESPRIT | Aaron Purcell | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 4 | 51kg | 98 |
| 13 | 11x115x4 | VIRIDINE | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 11 | 50kg | 94 |
| 14 | 1220x129x | PARIAH | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 50kg | 91 |
| 15e | 61x70600x8 | THE MISSION | Paul Perry | Ms Rachel King (a) | 10 | 50kg | 90 |
