Stella Sea Sun has stripped fitter for two starts this campaign and is ready to win third-up on Inglis Millennium Day. The Kris Lees-trained mare ran home well to finish on the placegetters’ heels at this grade when resuming before filling the minors over 1350m at Rosehill last time out. She’ll enjoy further improvement into this race and will take beating.
2 Units Stella Sea Sun
A capacity field of country sprinters has been taken for this week’s Highway race and there is a case to be made for several in the market.
Zardoro has been finding it hard to fight back into the winner’s stall, but he is rock-hard fit for this contest and is drawn a peach in barrier 4. The Medaglia D’Oro gelding hasn’t been far away from the winner at any of his last five starts, which have included two placings in Highway races. This does look his best opportunity in some time.
1 Unit E/W Zardoro
Pandemic was an excellent winner of open company when resuming and the Eskimo Prince Stakes looks a lovely black type race for him. The Godolphin-trained gelding recording consecutive wins when debuting last winter and ended his prep third in Listed company. His first-up effort this time suggested that he has returned to the races a more furnished horse this time and he will appreciate stepping back into three-year-old company.
3 Units Pandemic
This race typically produces a couple of genuine Golden Slipper contenders and 11 juveniles will step out in this year’s edition, including two debutants.
Destination has only had one career start so far, but he was an impressive winner at Kembla Grange and looks another bright two-year-old prospect for Godolphin. The Exceed And Excel colt was settled off the pace at her first start and mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to record the win. He’s trialled extremely well in the lead-up to this and will have the added bonus of Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
2 Units Destination
Celsabeel is a star on the rise and is primed to win the Inglis Millennium. She’s only had two career starts but stamped herself as a filly to follow when fourth in the Golden Gift on debut, before giving her rivals windburn when resuming over 1100m at Rosehill last month. She’ll only improve from that effort and will probably win again, but she is far too short for me at $1.45 and I am happy to watch.
No Bet
Katalin puts an unbeaten record on the line in the sixth on Inglis Millennium Day and while this is the toughest task of her career so far, I think she’ll continue her rise through the grades. The Medaglia D’Oro filly was a smart winner on debut here before repeating that result with a dominant performance at Newcastle. She’ll take further improvement into this and is yet another outstanding prospect for Godolphin on Saturday.
4 Units Katalin
This is an excellent edition of the Inglis Sprint and one of the more open races on Inglis Millennium Day from a betting perspective.
I’m a big fan of the Richard Laming-trained Condo’s Express and he looks over the odds to win this at a double-figure quote ($11 at publish). The Rubick gelding was a strong and consistent performer during spring; winning the Listed McKenzie Stakes and finishing fourth in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire, and he’ll enjoy good improvement from his first-up run this time down the Flemington straight. James McDonald jumps in the saddle and the horse is up to winning.
1 Unit E/W Condo’s Express
Race favourite Shared Ambition has won five of his six career starts and must be respected, but I think he’ll be better for this first-up run and further out in trip.
Gaulois has a fitness edge over several key rivals and looks tough to beat under these conditions. The black type winner hit the line with intent to finish fourth in The Buffering when resuming, before filling the minors in the Listed Carrington Stakes two weeks ago. He’s back to his pet trip on Saturday and is ready to win.
4 Units Gaulois
Ashlor ran out of his skin to finish within a couple of length of the winner in the Australia Stakes and there is no doubt that this is a decent drop in class. The Hard Spun gelding has been a standout for Dan McCarthy throughout his racing career and led them into the straight at The Valley two weeks ago; ultimately being beaten by a few genuine Group 1 prospects. At publish he is available at odds of $9 to win this race and I’ll be happy to have something on each way.
1 Unit E/W Ashlor