Form expert Adam Blencowe has Sacred Falls on top of his 2014 George Main Stakes tips, but he believes that there are a number of winning chances in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick tomorrow.
Sacred Falls is the 2014 George Main Stakes tip of Racing And Sports Senior Handicapper Adam Blencowe. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sacred Falls won the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and finished second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but he has not been overly impressive in his two race starts since returning to the races this campaign.
Blencowe admits that Sacred Falls does not often run at his best, but told RSN that on ability he is the best miler in Australia and can win the George Main Stakes if he produces his best form this weekend.
“There are plenty of interesting angles to look at with the three-year-old, the two best four-year-old mares and a good mix of older horses including Sacred Falls,” Blencowe said.
“He doesn’t fire that often, but when he does I think that he is the best mile/middle distance horse in the country.
“I think this is really d-day for his spring.
“At this stage based on what he did in the Doncaster and the Queen Elizabeth in the autumn, I think that of the local chances he deserves to be as likely as anybody in early Cox Plate markets, but this is the day when he has really got to fire.
“This is really his race, third-up is a good spot for him, the Randwick mile is obviously his go and he has Zac (Purton) back down to ride him.
“This is his day I think.”
While Blencowe is happy to stick with Sacred Falls, he added that there were plenty of winning chances in what he thinks will be a key form race for the rest of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
The leading form expert said that talented three-year-old Panzer Division adds another element to the George Main Stakes and he also has a high opinion of Royal Descent, Lucia Valentina and Rising Romance.
“Lucia Valentina was obviously fantastic first-up,” Blencowe said.
“Whether she comes off that figure second-up, on profile she might and I think that she might run below that figure and is still an excellent Caulfield Cup chance.
“The three-year-old adds another factor into the race.
“He should go forward and the form around him in the Golden Rose really stood up there and suggests that if we mark his figure up, through his stablemate Scissor Kick and Shooting To Win in the Golden Rose there, that he has a figure to win.
“Royal Descent will track him and doesn’t seem to know how to win, but doesn’t know how to run a bad race either.
“I think that there is plenty going on in this and it is a really interesting race going forward.”
Panzer Division is available at George Main Stakes odds of $4.60 and he is a narrow favourite from Royal Descent ($5), Lucia Valentina ($5.50), Sacred Falls ($6) and Hawkspur ($7.50).
