Derby Day - Wakeful Stakes preview

Next up on the Derby Day preview roster is the debutant @CJAAAAY07 from ThisWeeksPunt, assessing the Wakeful Stakes, a Group II contest for three-year-old fillies at set weights plus penalties conditions, over 2000m.

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The Wakeful Stakes is a race steeped in history which falls between the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield and the Oaks on Thursday, to which it is used as clear lead-up. By this point many of the formlines are exposed which can often result in some short-priced winners of this race. In the past 30 years, 20 winners of this race have come through the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield with 13 out of those 20 winners placed in that lead-up race. This bodes well for the favoured runners here in Zydeco (3rd) and Dear Demi (2nd).

The 2000m start at Flemington is one of the fairest in the country; quite a long run to the wide sweeping turn with an extended straight which will give every runner a chance.

1. DEAR DEMI
Unlucky in Thousand Guineas, form around all the best horses in career but has to carry the penalty in this race.

2. MAMA'S CHOICE
Blinkers first time to try and help the horse get a trip, recent form says not going well enough.

3. DONNA CATTIVA
Form hasn't measured up this preparation with the best horses.

4. ZYDECO
Has been progressively improving with each start, hit the line like Flemington & 2000 would suit.

5. TRANSONIC
Should come across from wide gate and attempt to lead. Has exposure at the trip when stayed on well.

6. MARAATIB
I don’t like backing Redoute's Choice fillies at distances & this one hung in badly last start.

7. TYANNA
Strong in last two winning performances, should get nice run mid-field.

8. KATE
Best performances have been on rain-affected tracks in NZ.

9. MADAM ARCHER
Impressive at Wangaratta before not much luck at Caulfield in the Ethereal Stakes. Should get good run.

10. LA ZUMA
Outsprinted but poor in Thousand Guineas, should enjoy quieter run from better gate. May like sting out of ground.

11. ZUCCOTTO
Should enjoy step up in trip, will get back.

12. TEN BLACK
Not much luck last start, but doesn’t appear to have the ability of others here.

The market has responded to the history of this race with Zydeco and Dear Demi the clear favourites. Tyanna is coming off two victories at the provincials by impressive margins and is on the next line of betting with double figure value for the rest. The concern for the favourites could be the fact the tempo doesn’t appear to be overly quick here. Transonic should come across from the wide gate and lead easily with the inside four runners pushing up to hold their positions.

There isn’t a real trick to this edition of the Wakeful, the top two in market seem to have a clear advantage on the field and it is best to play the percentages of history and go with the best runs out of the Thousand Guineas. My suggestion for betting is to work around 4. Zydeco & 1. Dear Demi and include runners who look to get good runs in transit combined with class jockeys which is a must for Derby Day. I suspect 10. La Zuma (Corey Brown) will be put into this race earlier from an inside barrier, 7. Tyanna (Michael Rodd) & 11. Zuccotto (Hugh Bowman) to fight out the minors.

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