Form analyst Adam Blencowe has Driefontein on top of his 2015 Expressway Stakes tips and he believes that the talented mare represents great value at her current odds for the Group 2 event at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.
Racing And Sport’s Senior Handicapper Adam Blencowe is happy to back Driefontein in the 2015 Expressway Stakes. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Driefontein has not recorded a race win since she took out the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in May, but she finished a close second behind Deep Field in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day and she had no luck when fourth in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.
The Fastnet Rock mare does not have the best record on wet tracks, but Blencowe told RSN that he believes the Expressway Stakes is a very suitable race for the five-year-old if the Rosehill Gardens track is able to dry in the next 24 hours.
“It is a race that is pretty tough to sort out and answers more questions after and is probably a real learning race for a few of these going on to the autumn,” Blencowe said.
“The two best suited here by 1200 metres are That’s A Good Idea and Driefontein.
“Her second in the Salinger was terrific and that sort of form would make her hard to beat.
“That’s A Good Idea is going ok, but both of them are big queries on wet ground and we have had a lot of rain in Sydney during the week.
“We will have to keep an eye on the track and that would obviously enhance their chances if the track does come up on the better side of soft.
“Driefontein handles soft ground and it is probably just bottomless ground that doesn’t suit her.
“She is probably the one best suited by the race.”
Panzer Division is currently available at 2015 Expressway Stakes odds of $3.40 and is a clear favourite in betting markets for the Group 2 event.
Blencowe said that he has a high opinion of Panzer Division and he believes that it will be interesting to see how the Redoute’s Choice colt returns to racing after he was set a very tough assignment by jockey Tye Angland in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at the end of his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
“Panzer Division is fairly interesting and I think that he is a really good talent,” Blencowe said.
“He went out to the Spring Champion Stakes trip and he got gassed there after setting a suicidal pace and how he returns off that is going to be very interesting.
“He certainly rates to measure up and we will get a better look at that type of form with Better Land in a far easier race at Flemington.
“You probably want Better Land to be taking care of that lot at Flemington to give that form a bit of a push.”
Driefontein is currently available at 2015 Expressway Stakes odds of $8.50, while That’s A Good Idea has drifted out to a quote of $7.50.
