It’s Her Time to Shine

[Chief Stipe]

While some of the gloss of Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith S. (1200m) may have rubbed off due to the fact the enigmatic galloper Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) will not be attempting a fourth-straight win in the race, talented mare and last start G1 The Galaxy winner In Her Time (Aus) (Time Thief {Aus}) surely won’t mind, with the Ben Smith-trained runner set to give the race one hell of a shake. Unbeaten over the track and trip, the mare will also be attempting to highlight her class in the hope that a slot owner takes her on for The Everest in October.

The only other runner in the field who is unbeaten at the track and trip, is last year’s The Everest winner and A$8.2-million earner Redzel (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) who should prove the hardest to run down. Arguably one of the best sprinters in the world, with one defeat from his last seven starts, the Group 1 winner has been readied since his G2 Challenge S. win with a comfortable three-length barrier trial victory over Doncaster Mile hopeful Lanciato (NZ) (Per Incanto).

Narrowly defeated in the G1 Newmarket Hcp on Mar. 10, behind Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}), Darren Weir’s Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) will be looking to add a second Group 1 victory to his win in the Futurity S. two starts back over the Caulfield 1400m.

Third in 2016 and second in 2017, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) will be aiming to not only add a significant pedigree boost to her Snitzel (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) half-sister set to sell on Monday as lot 77 during the opening session of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, but a second victory at the elite level would see this mare as one of the most valuable in the land.

3-year-old colts Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) and Showtime (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) are both coming off good efforts at Group 1 level at their past few starts and a victory by either would further enhance their future stud careers.

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