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Emancipation Stakes preview


Easter Saturday used to be the biggest day in Sydney racing, featuring the Derby and the Doncaster at Randwick. But the boffins decided the flexible date based on the lunar relationship to some mythical event alleged to have occurred over 2000 years was too hard to deal with, so that'll be next week. 

But enough of the old man moaning at the clouds scenario, that gives us another week at Rosehill before 'The Championships', and as with any meeting in the midst of a major carnival, it's packed full of strong contests, including a very good G2 mares' race.

Returning to the blog after his debut last week is budding Sydney form analyst Joshua Reed, @joshuareed22. And this week you can listen to some of his work on the Racing Nation podcast.

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Emancipation Stakes
Group 2, 1500m, AU$200,000
Rosehill, Saturday 31/3
1420 local, 0420 BST


This year's edition of the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes features a small eight horse field which brings a lot of interest into the race as over half the field have come through the Coolmore Classic.

We get to see the Ron Quinton pair clash once again with the Coolmore Classic winner Daysee Doom taking on stablemate Dixie Blossoms. Add in the ever unpredictable Foxplay, the rock hard fit Prompt Response and the emerging runners in Eckstein and Oregon’s Day and you have a cracker of a race!

As we dive further into the form, we take a look ahead at the track and weather. The track is currently a Soft 5 but with nothing but sunshine leading into race day, we will work off a Good track. The rail is out +4m the entire track, so it will likely favour those running from the inside barriers and the on-pace runners.


1.      Daysee Doom – This ever-consistent mare from the Ron Quinton yard is chasing a hat-trick of wins here after her terrific victory in the Coolmore Classic. She has drawn the inside gate which is a huge plus, but has to give away weight to some of her Coolmore rivals. Being third-up she will only be fitter and once again she will be there in the finish.

2.      Foxplay – Third-up and should be nice and fit now. Last start was very modest finishing well back in the field, in which Kerrin McEvoy suggested she would prefer a track with more give in it. If the real Foxplay turns up Saturday she will go very close, but I do not like her under these circumstances.

3.      Dixie Blossoms – Ran on from well back in the Coolmore Classic sitting 11th at the 400m mark and finished sixth, within a length of the winner. Should be nice and fit though the query is the outside barrier and where she sits in the run. Will be better here.

4.      Prompt Response – Yet another runner from the Coolmore Classic. She ran fifth, within a length of the winner despite racing wide and without cover throughout the majority of the race. The run before she stuck on well for fourth despite travelling in probably the worst ground on the day. She should be fit as a fiddle now, gets a nice run and Oliver aboard just sweetens the prospect.

5.     Zanbagh – I couldn’t have her given its recent form though surprised everyone this time last prep winning the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle. Not in the hunt.

6.      Alizee – Scratched

7.      Eckstein – She is as honest as they come and ran a terrific race in the Coolmore Classic. Has been up a while though I keep thinking about her run in the Myer Classic in the spring. The weight gap between her and the winner of the Coolmore closes by 1kg which works against her, even though Avdulla is willing to stick with her. She wouldn’t surprise me if she ran another super race.

8.      Oregon’s Day – Has raced consistently this prep and was very close to getting two wins on the board. Third-up here and was very impressive in the Coolmore. The weights again play a factor as the gap to the winner closes. Will need her best to crack this field but a place is more likely.

9.      Slightly Sweet – Freshened up but unlikely to make an impact.

This is how I’ve rated them:
1.       Prompt Response
2.       Dixie Blossoms
3.       Eckstein
4.       Daysee Doom

Betting Strategy:
Backing Prompt Response with a saver on Eckstein for a place. For those playing the exotics, I would play all four selections in all exotics, that’s how close this race is going to be.

Good Luck and Good Punting!


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