Single Rose Right For Big Occasion

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday May 13, 2006

Max Presnell.

A highly promising filly may be about to bloom, writes Max Presnell.

WIDE barriers - or in the case of Darren Beadman at Doomben today, the "visitor's draw" - promise to play a major role, particularly with the promising Falaise in the group 1 BTC Cup.

Beadman found the 13 barrier too much on the highly talented Ike's Dream in the Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast last Saturday, and Falaise, one of the top chances before the barrier draw, has a formidable task from 15.

Trainer John Hawkes prefers to be drawn in close under any circumstances and when the likes of Ike's Dream and Falaise have to launch near the outside they must be ridden for luck.

Last start Falaise did reasonably when a two-length second to All Bar One in the weight-for-age Sir Byrne Hart Stakes at Eagle Farm over 1200 metres and has a return bout under the same conditions today but with the possibility of more pace being injected up front by Virage De Fortune and Impaler. That could give a midfielder, sitting off the pace, the last shot at those sapped by a demanding speed.

However, the picture is now clouded for Falaise. How far will Beadman have to go back to get cover and avoid being trapped wide? Another Sydneysider, Media (barrier 11), isn't as far out but will still get back.

The form horses are All Bar One (three) and Virage De Fortune (seven), winner of the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in February followed by a second in the Oakleigh Plate, although a tad disappointing when fourth in the TJ Smith at Randwick last month.

Possibly the local three-year-old Single Rose, with Dan Nikolic up, will get the sweet run behind them, bouncing from gate eight. Single Rose is prepared by Shaun Dwyer, trainer of Regimental Gal, which was third in the past two BTC Cups. Single Rose hasn't the credentials of her former stablemate but with only six starts is a filly of much potential, emphasised by her second (she lost on protest) to Daunting Lad in the Power Quality, 1200m, on April 22. She ran 1 minute 8.9 seconds for the race, very quick indeed. Dwyer reported she was slow to recover from the hard race but galloped brilliantly at Deagon on Tuesday.

Another likely improver is the Tony Wildman-tuned Miss Mooney Mooney, which has had the benefit of two recent barrier trials in Sydney, but she, also, is out too far for comfort in nine. Not so Undue (six) from Darwin. He is capable of surprising.

VERDICT: Single Rose in a tough race.

NO BARRIERS: Randwick two-year-old Turban, with four Sydney races under his girth this preparation, is building up to a peak performance in the Jacob's Creek Golden Stakes at Doomben, but again the skill of Beadman will be tested from the 13 gate.

And Queensland two-year-olds this season, emphasised by Pure Energy and Gold Edition, have more than held their own against the southern youngsters.

In March, Turban was seventh to Plagiarize in the Silver Slipper at Rosehill, a race in which the Mark Webb-conditioned Reigart, which takes him on today, was fourth.

Reigart hasn't raced since the Silver Slipper in which he came from gate 10, but the Iglesia colt has the benefit of a recent Gatton barrier trial. Reigart has had only five starts for three wins with his other "failure" being third, after being wide throughout, in the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast behind Mirror Mirror and Churchill Downs, with Cruskit fourth. Cruskit, a member of the Webb team, goes around again in opposition and will have supporters.

VERDICT: Reigart has the credentials and the barrier.

GAME PLAN: Beadman could get some relief from barrier 13 on Coalesce in the Chairman's Handicap at Doomben, as three of the reserves have drawn inside him.

Coalesce is near a win going on his stout third to Fighting Fund in the Rowley Mile, 1600m, at Hawkesbury on April 29 at his second start after a spell. Still, Coalesce will find Game On, in the Makybe Diva colours, hard to beat.

Like Coalesce, Game On is by Zabeel, and he has won his past three starts, albeit in weaker company. Game On has the four gate and tactical pace so he should get the run of the race.

High Academy (two) is a chance, while the Wyong stayer Brave Lancer has the ability, but the 17 draw is a query.

VERDICT: Game On.

ICE AND EASY: Race maps where keen judges place horses in the running look good for Born To Rule (five) and Majorca (two) in the Doomben Classic.

But other strong fancies from the south Kincharm (nine), Belmonte (14), and Anapine (17) are more difficult to chart. Born To Rule was second in the Frank Packer Plate, a suspect form race, and Majorca was eighth but wide in the same race. The AJC Derby fifth of Beadman's mount Kincharm had more depth but he has to come back in distance from 2400m to 1615m and Belmonte looked strong winning the Carbine Stakes. There was merit in Anapine's fourth in the AJC Oaks but to what degree will they be disadvantaged by their starting positions?

Ice Chariot, running for the in-form combination of Ron Maund and Glenn Lynch, followed two Eagle Farm wins with an unlucky fourth over 1400m there on April 29 - from the 18 barrier.

VERDICT: The map favours Ice Chariot - from the rails.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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