Josh Jenkins Sports

Two more Group 1’s possess deep and competitive fields for Menangle’s incredible night of racing this Saturday night.

The $200,000 Group 1 Ladyship Mile for the elite mares is set to be a sizzler whilst the free-for-all stars go to head-to-head in the $100,000 Group 1 Bohemia Crystal FFA.

Let’s sink our teeth into the Ladyship Mile;

1 Rocker Band – Ashlee Grives for Mark Jones
This former Kiwi has gate speed and has raced well at Menangle before – two great ingredients for success. I doubt she wants to lead all the way but she’s a major player in this one and her almost $10 quote looks really tasty.

2 Ameretto – Kerryn Manning
Since joining the Manning barn in Great Western, this mare has been incredible. She’s won big races in Victoria, Western Australia and has placed in a Victoria & Hunter Cup.
There’s one big knock on this girl though, she’s 0/15 in Group 1’s. She has every chance in this one and it would be quite a shock to see her miss a placing.

3 Partyon – Mark Purdon for Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen
This mare was the culprit for the All Stars stable-wide virus and such is the condition she has been in, co-trainer Mark Purdon has withdrawn the mare from the race.

4 Our Golden Goddess – James Rattray
She’s my girl in this one. The former All Star has gone to a whole new level with Kerryn Manning and has been unbeatable in the red, white and blue colours.
She looms as a likely leader and getting her to the pegs would nearly mean race over in my books. Get on!

5 Ima Mystery Girl (Emergency 1) – Jarrod Alchin
Beat no one home last week and probably looks to get immediately to the pegs for an easy run. Unlikely to feature.

6 Carlas Pixel – Luke McCarthy for Emma Stewart
Was a dominant winner last week in a slick enough 1:51.7 and was a pretty comfortable victor in the end. She does not have the aide of the ace alley this week but she does have decent gate speed so might end up pretty handy. A decent each-way chance.

7 Miss Riviera Belle – Chris Geary for Lauren & Shane Tritton
They’ll be burning off the arm but she may spend a bunch of petrol tickets trying to obtain a handy position in the run. She’s capable of hanging on for an outside place chance if she were to get to the pegs easily.

8 My Rona Gold – Lauren Tritton for Lauren & Shane Tritton
Like the stablemate, she will probably hunt for a spot up front. Crossing horses like Rocker Band and Our Golden Goddess seems unlikely but should she get across, handing up would be essential to end up among the big money.

9 A Piccadilly Princess – Natalie Rasmussen for Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen
Last year she dominated the Aussie scene in Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales but this season’s campaign has not been quite as successful.
Purdon has stated he’s very happy with her work on the training track this week which sees her set for a big race in what may well be her last ever run.

10 Berisari (Emergency 2) – Chris Alford for Emma Stewart
She ran home beautifully last week but was fifth home meaning she’s only second emergency – unlikely to get a look-in.

11 Delishka – Blake Fitzpatrick for Ken Mowbray
This ex-Kiwi’s really found her feet in Sydney with two excellent wins in her past two runs. She knocked off A Piccadilly Princess in 1:51.1 but is near-on crippled by the saddle cloth on her back. She’s built for sustained success against the mares but not this season.

12 Shakahari – Rebecca Bartley for Stephen O’Donohue
This mare has done a fantastic job to make the big dance but even from a more favourable alley I doubt she was ever going to be a major player. From 12, she’s next to no chance.

Selections:
1 Our Golden Goddess (4)
2 Ameretto (2)
3 Rocker Band (1)
4 Carlas Pixel (6)

BOHEMIA CRYSTAL FREE-FOR-ALL (Group 1, $100,000)
This one should be an interesting contest with many Grand Circuit competitors engaged and some veterans still with something to offer at Group 1 level.
The 2400m will add something to the race and bring the horses drawn out wide into the race with much more opportunity to make a mid-race move.

Franco Nelson will lead for much of the way and you’d suggest whatever beats him may be the winner. Stablemate My Alpha Rock was a stunning victor last week but that was over a mile and we perhaps need to be convinced he can compete at this level across longer journeys.
He crossed them easily in the Miracle Mile prelude so you’d imagine Mach Doro may again try and blitz them early then take cover which brings him into exotic betting.

My two hopes from out wide and ex-New Zealander Moonrock and Victorian fan-favourite San Carlo. Moonrock is versatile and has ran in a NZ Cup which means he can cop the long trips but he does also have a nice burst of speed when driven quieter.

San Carlo – after testing himself at the Perth Inter Dominion – was luckless in the Miracle Mile qualifier but will enjoy a move away from the mile and into the 2400m. Driver Rebecca Bartley should be making a relatively early mid-race move and I like his chances sitting outside a Franco Nelson or My Alpha Rock.

Selections:
1 San Carlo
2 Moonrock
3 Franco Nelson
4 My Alpha Rock

Tune in tomorrow night for my Miracle Mile preview!