Race Preview by Gary Crispe
c/ Racing & Sportshttp://www.racingandsports.com.au/racing/racingpreview.asp?NID=169364Talented mare Rathsallagh can bring up her biggest career win in today's Group 3 AAMI Hobart Cup (race
at Hobart.
The lightly-raced Aquanita mare has won only three races in her career, but has been flying of late with trainer Robert Smerdon having won her last two.
But she has always shown good ability with some excellent form in stronger races as a three-year-old, and perhaps with a little more luck would have won the Queensland Oaks two years ago after being blocked for a run and missing out by a neck behind Riva San.
That effort remains a career best rating, easily good enough to win this 2200m race, and was run in similar conditions on a heavy track.
After two short campaigns of just two runs the mare was transferred to Smerdon at Caulfield Where she has raced only four times but has hit her straps once out to a suitable journey.
Rathsallagh kicked off over 1400m at Cranbourne where she was beaten for speed but battled home fairly to finish sixth behind Red Flair.
Next start was over a mile at Flemington, where she settled midfield on the inside but dropped out in the straight, coming in at the tail in a career worst run.
But back in easier grade next and over 2100m in mares grade at Betfair Park Lakeside, was taken to the front from her wide gate.
Travelling well there she turned in front before clearing out in the straight, scoring by 5.5 lengths over Cape South.
Last start and her final lead into this, she returned to the Lakeside track over 2400m and after a shaky start was driven through to the lead by Glen Boss.
After being able to dictate the pace there she kicked clear again in the straight, scoring by almost three lengths over Wildly Excited as she was eased down over the final stages.
That win confirmed a start in today's feature race and it's good to see a horse win but with something in reserve like last time.
This is a tougher race and it's hard to see her having as sweet a run in front, but she drops nicely in the weights to the minimum and has drawn to either be in front or take a sit from barrier two.
Although yet to win in heavy ground she has finished runner-up at both starts in the conditions, including her career best rating over 2400m in the Queensland Oaks.
She will be strong over the distance and will give her backers a great sight.
Aquanita stablemate De Fine Lago has been aimed at this race and should be hard to hold out.
The Tony Vasil-trained gelding strung three wins together recently, the latest over 2500m at Moonee Valley, after which he was given a quick break to target this race.
He returned over a mile and could manage only ninth as he was outsprinted home but improved sharply as expected when up to 2000m last time behind Anavalanche, beaten just over a length after being held up at the top of the straight.
This distance is ideal now and he both drops in weight and has a better draw.
He is a heavy track winner and is very consistent at 2000m plus.
The Steve Richards-trained Playwright has good soft track credentials and also comes to Tassie with excellent form.
The gelding is a little like Rathsallagh in that he has contested all the good races through his career but doesn't boast a strong winning record.
But since getting out over a bit of ground he has been excellent lately, including a fast finishing and close-up fifth in the Eclipse Stakes at Flemington at the tail end of the spring.
After almost a month off he was just edged out over 2000m at Flemington behind Right Fong, then returned there over the same journey to score at his next start over Sadalbari.
He then had another month off and dropped back to a mile at Flemington where he was caught wide for much of the race then had that stirring three way dual in the straight, going down narrowly behind import Our Aqaleem.
He will be fitter for that as he steps up to the longer journey this time.
He carries the same weight and has drawn wide again but has a good heavy record and will be hitting the line hard if he can run the journey.
The Tiger may prove a value hope if the track lends itself to being on the speed, as the Colin and Cindy Alderson-trained gelding comes here at his top after four runs from a spell.
The had little luck last time at Moonee Valley when fourth and won his previous run there over 2040m.
His only try at this trip was a victory in the Geelong Classic as a three-year-old and with his light weight and good draw today will be prominent throughout at odds.
The race is choc full of other chances as always, but the soft track makes it tougher for some of the more fancied runners and brings right into others, like Ista Kareem.
Last year's runner-up Zavite is going well but the conditions and weight will test, while Darren Weir's excellent record in this race hinges on Bangerang Quikpic not only overcoming a wide gate but scoring his first soft track win.
