“It wasn’t obvious before the Australian Cup, but when we compare the gallop before the Australian Cup and the one before Queen Elizabeth it was.
“She had a longer stride length and slightly higher stride frequency in the gallop before last Saturday, which showed what we did was right.”
Pride Of Jenni is in a world of her own at the end of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.Credit: Getty
Anderson watched in awe as Pride Of Jenni crushed her rivals in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. “It gave me goosebumps,” she said.
But the work continues on all the horses at Maher’s massive stable to gain an edge on their rivals. There are more races to win, and this week it’s the All Aged Stakes with Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon.
He hasn’t been seen since beating Veight and Riff Rocket over the mile at Flemington on March 2 but the form looks fantastic. Veight has won the George Ryder in Sydney, and Riff Rocket has lifted the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby since coming to Sydney.
Southport Tycoon missed the Doncaster two weeks ago because of a wet track, and the data teams were on track for a barrier trial at Warwick Farm eight days before Saturday’s 1400m group 1. Anderson and her team also use gene tests to find the distance range where a horse will be at its best.
“I looked at his genes test and he is more of miler-2000m horse eventually, but the other data we have on him shows he is still sharp,” Anderson said of Southport Tycoon.
“We have been able to give him a freshen-up to come back to this trip, and he had a real sharp trial.
“I think he is in perfect order, and all our data says he has continued to improve. That puts us in a great place heading to Saturday.”
Jamie Kah, who rode Southport Tycoon in the Australian Guineas and the barrier trial, will be in the saddle.
“She was very happy with him after the trial and thinking he is ready to drop back to 1400m,” Maher said.
Kah will also ride the Champagne Stakes favourite Manaal for Michael Freedman.
Private Eye to finish on a high in All Aged
Joe Pride has had a tough autumn but he is hoping to end with a group 1 victory from Private Eye in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
The six-year-old’s autumn started with promise in Melbourne when he went down in a photo to Imperatriz in the Lightning Stakes, but since he has returned to Sydney, Private Eye has finished down the track in the Challenge Stakes and the Galaxy.
“I wouldn’t say he has been disappointing; the races just haven’t been run to suit him,” Pride said. “He is going really well, and if he runs up to his work he will be in the finish.”
Espiona is the $4.20 favourite for the All Aged. Private Eye has found some support at the $8.50 mark.
Manaal looks for Sires-Champagne double
Sires Produce Stakes winner Manaal could make a case for being two-year-old of the year if she can add the Champagne Stakes to her season’s bounty at Randwick on Saturday.
The Tassort filly won the opening two-year-old race of the season, the Gimcrack Stakes, last October and has proved to be at the top of the class throughout the season.
Southport Tycoon wins last month’s Australian Guineas.Credit: Getty
Trainer Michael Freedman got her to peak in the Sires when she came with a late charge to beat Traffic Warden, and he believes her relaxed nature will stand her in good stead stepping out to 1600m.
“We are really hoping she runs the mile because her pedigree says it should be on her outer limits,” Freedman said. “She is very good at relaxing and getting into a nice rhythm in her races, and that should help her at the trip.”
Manaal is the $2.30 favourite for the Champagne Stakes.
