The 2016 Myer Classic is one of four Group 1 events at Flemington on Saturday and it has drawn a strong field of fillies and mares.
This is one of the most open races of the day and there are a variety of form lines that are set to converge in the race.
I have analysed form of every single horse in the 2016 Myer Classic field and below you can find my thoughts on every single runner in the race.
Rising Romance
Rising Romance is a tricky horse to analyse in the Myer Classic as she has developed into a very inconsistent mare. She was second in the Memsie Stakes first-up and a repeat of that performance would put her right in this race, but you couldn’t back her off her plan effort in the Stocks Stakes. The wide barrier draw probably doesn’t help her chances, but she is a better chance than the quote of $20 suggests.
First Seal
First Seal looked like a horse that had had enough when she resumed with a flat fifth in the Golden Pendant, but she returned to a semblance of her best form with a fighting victory in the Tristarc Stakes. She won that race easier than the margin suggests and she should take another step forward when she steps up a mile. That would put her at a level that very few horses in this field can replicate and she is deserving of her place as a clear favourite.
Zanbagh
Zanbagh has failed to fire this campaign and it looks as though her best days are behind. It would take a massive turnaround of form to win this race.
Danish Twist
Danish Twist looks like the main danger to First Seal in the Myer Classic. She was excellent first-up in the Premiere Stakes in what turned out to be a strong form race and she was not suited by the track pattern, but still ran strong closing splits in the Tristarc Stakes. Danish Twist normally produces the best performance of her preparation third-up and she has the benefit of Joao Moreira in the saddle. She is great value at her current price.
Heavens Above
Heavens Above was flying in the autumn, but she hasn’t been able to return to that sort of level during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival. She made up ground late in the Epsom Handicap, but she was entitled to due to the brutal early pace. I can’t have her at her current price.
French Emotion
French Emotion was the beneficiary of the perfect run in the Blazer Stakes, but nothing went her way in the Tristarc Stakes. She has never really produced a performance that indicates she is capable of winning at Group 1 level, but as always you can’t rule out the Chris Waller/Hugh Bowman combination.
Don’t Doubt Mamma
Don’t Doubt Mamma has been racing in excellent form and may never have a better chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level. You can’t knock her form, she possesses an explosive turn-of-foot and her record at Flemington is nothing short of outstanding. The problem is the speed map and the worry I have is that she will get too far back. If Dunn times his run she will be right in the finish.
Serene Majesty
Serene Majesty has been thereabouts without really impressing this preparation. She would need to improve on her very best form to win the Myer Classic.
Pearls
Pearls has bounced back to a semblance of her best form this campaign and she was good in the Tristarc Stakes. She still needs to take a step forward to turn-the-tables on First Seal and I am not sure she can do that at this stage of her campaign, but she should run better than her odds suggest.
Dixie Blossoms
Dixie Blossoms produced a new career best performance to win the Angst Stakes and she now has the benefit of a run over a mile under her belt. She has shown plenty of tactical versatility during this campaign and Tim Clark is riding with plenty of confidence. There is a question over whether her best form is up there with the likes of First Seal or Don’t Doubt Mamma, but she can definitely win this race if the big guns don’t fire.
Denmagic
Denmagic is a consistent galloper, but her winning strike rate doesn’t inspire confidence. She maps to get a lovely run into this race and she can finish in the top five, but I don’t think that she is good enough to win.
Euro Angel
Euro Angel is another horse that heads into the Myer Classic on the back of a career best performance after taking out the Ladies Day Vase. She did the job well that day, but she did not beat a great deal. She is definitely heading in the right direction and she is good enough to be competitive, but the autumn could be her time to shine.
Pure Pride
Pure Pride finished second in the Blazer Stakes, but there is big question marks over that form and that was clearly a spike performance. It would be a big surprise if she won.
Whispering Brook
History is against Whispering Brook as no filly has ever won the Myer Classic and a lot of very talented ones have tried. There was no knock on her run in the Thousand Guineas and she obviously gets into this race well in at the weights, but she still needs to improve to win and I can’t get her as short as her current quote.
I Am A Star
I Am A Star looked to have the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic absolutely shot to bits, but she tired late. That was the performance of a filly that is feeling the effects of a long campaign and it is tough to see her bouncing back in the Myer Classic.