FEATURE PREVIEWS: THE GALAXY

Group 1 | Handicap, Minimum Weight 50kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices cannot claim | $1,000,000 | Rail: +2m | Track Conditions: Good 4

Time for the sprinters to contest the Group 1 over 1100m. Mares have won 6 of the last 10 runnings of this race with Zapateo getting the job done last year in nice fashion. Somewhat surprisingly, this has been a race won by horses with light weights with only one horse carrying more than 55.5kg since 2013.

Still coming to grips with what happened in this race in 2022 when Shelby Sixtysix had his 8^th run in 9 weeks and won his first Group 1 race.

1^st up (4/24), 2^nd up (2/80), 3^rd up (3/30), 4^th up (2/17), 5^th up+ (1/8)

7-day break (1/7), 14-day break (3/75), 21-day break (2/33), 28-day break (2/12), 30-130 day break (0/17), 140-148 day break (4/11), 150+ day break (0/4)

Settled 1^st-3rd (3), Settled 5^th-8^th (7), Settled 12^th (1)

3yo (1/28), 4yo (2/48), 5yo (6/44), 6yo (2/23), 7yo (1/16)

Mare (5/48), Gelding (6/69), Colt (1/16), Filly (0/10), Entire (0/16)

Barrier 1-7 (6), 8-14 (6)

SP Under $8 (5), $10-$26 (7)

Weight 50.5kg-51.5kg (4/39), 52kg-53.5kg (2/55), 54kg-55.5kg (4/40), 56kg-57kg (2/25)

Career Wins 1-5 (2/67), 6+ (10/92)

Last Start Class G1 (6/33), G2/3 (6/86), Other (0/31)

Last start distance 1000m (2/62), 1100m (4/51), 1200m (4/26), 1300m-1600m (2/20)

Zapateo’s victory last year was dynamite on the Exchange! A $38.11 Betfair Starting price dwarfed the corporate average ($23) by 49% post commission!

This equates to an extra $112 for a $10 outlay.

No doubt they will go quick here as they often do in the Galaxy. Big field and a good pressure expected. #8 FRONT PAGE has speed and #15 TIME TO BOOGIE likewise if gaining a start. Then there is pressure from plenty of others. #12 EAGLE NEST, #2 UNCOMMON JAMES, #6 GROWING EMPIRE, #13 PRIVATE HARRY, #9 OSTRAKA, #10 ESTRIELLA all have speed and draw outside #3 I AM MA and #4 LADY LAGUNA who will kick up and be handy. Plenty of pressure. The worst drawn is unfortunately #11 BRIASA out in 15 and we also don’t love the barrier for #14 COMMERATIVE as we prefer her drawn wide.

Brilliant race this. We are keen to focus on three horses first up who have all trialled impressively and we are against those at the top of the weights. #11 BRIASA has won 6 of 7 and is a serious racehorse. Loved his trial leading in, waltzing by #12 EAGLE NEST who came from that to win impressively first up. BRIASA has continued to improve throughout his career, going from a BM78 fresh last campaign to winning the $1M The Hunter in style when we last saw him. He runs time, is here with a winnable weight and looks a major player. Where does her get to from the barrier, that is the biggest concern. If he can slot in, get cover and sit off the fast speed, he can be charging over them late.

Beware the unbeaten horse. #13 PRIVATE HARRY is 4 from 4 and looks a star in the making. This is his hardest test to date but what he did to Lady Of Camelot and Arabian Summer when we last saw him was utterly brilliant. He draws well, has tactical speed and looks the one they have to beat. Synthetic Hoof Filler First Time a query. The other fresh horse on the scene is #8 FRONT PAGE. Love this horse and he continues to fly under the radar. He flies fresh and has won 6 times at the 1200m. Drawn to perfection and can run a good race. Beaten a whisker last start down the straight in a high rating performance. Would have preferred #14 COMMEMORATIVE to draw a wider barrier but if she gets a suck run, and luck at the right time, she has the ability to win.

#13 PRIVATE HARRY
#11 BRIASA
#8 FRONT PAGE
#14 COMMEMORATIVE