South Australian Racing Expert Terry McAuliffe has Magnifisio on top of his 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes tips and he believes that the leading Western Australian mare represents value in the Group 1 event at Morphettville tomorrow.
Wawail is one of several horses that Terry McAuliffe believes are winning chances in the Robert Sangster Stakes. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Magnifisio produced the best performance of her career to date to beat the likes of Angelic Light, Moment Of Change and Bel Sprinter in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in November last year, but she was slightly disappointing when she made her debut on the eastern seaboard of Australia with a fourth place finish in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 18.
McAuliffe told RSN that Magnifisio had genuine excuses for her first-up defeat in the Irwin Stakes and he believes that the Magnus mare is great value at her current 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes odds of $12.
“The weather has been a lot better in Adelaide this week,” McAuliffe said.
“Her run here a fortnight ago in the Irwin was on a slow track, she had never seen a wet track and she wasn’t hopeless, but it certainly wasn’t the mare that we have seen perform so well in the west.
“Her record is outstanding, she has won 12 from 24 and she does get the conditions to suit tomorrow.
“She could be the big improver tomorrow and she is a good chance at a nice price.”
While McAuliffe fancies the chances of Magnifisio, he believes that this is one of the most open editions of the Robert Sangster Stakes that he has ever seen and he feels there are plenty of chances in the Group 1 event.
McAuliffe believes that Politeness is a genuine chance following her impressive win in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m), while he is not ruling out talented three-year-olds Sabatini and Wawail, who have both performed well in Melbourne this preparation.
“The two three-year-olds down the bottom can both run well,” McAuliffe said.
“It is interesting that Robert Smerdon is going with the blinkers tomorrow for Politeness, which is coming off a last start win at Listed level at Caulfield.
“This is a cracking race and as far as quaddies are concerned you are going to have to put a lot in.”
Miracles Of Life is currently available at 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes odds of $4.60 and she is a narrow favourite from Vain Queen ($5), Avoid Lightning ($7), Politeness ($8.50), Tycoon Tara ($11), Sabatini ($11), Gregers ($11) and Magnifisio ($12).
