Ambience has drifted out to 2015 Wakeful Stakes odds of $4.50, but trainer John O’Shea remains confident that she can bounce back to winning form in the Group 2 event at Flemington tomorrow.
Ambience has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Wakeful Stakes at Flemington tomorrow. Photo by: Steve Hart
Ambience started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a third place finish in the Toowoon Bay Carpets Maiden Plate (1350m) at Wyong on August 30 before she recorded her maiden race win with an impressive performance in the Keith Ross & Guests Maiden Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange on September 12.
The Street Cry filly stamped herself as a genuine Crown Oaks contender when she showed an impressive turn-of-foot to take out the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 and she went into the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17 as a short-priced favourite, but she never looked comfortable and could finish no better than third behind Dawnie Perfect and Honesta.
O’Shea told Racing Ahead that Ambience was never able to handle the Caulfield circuit in the Ethereal Stakes and he believes that she will be much more suited by Flemington in the 2015 Wakeful Stakes this weekend.
“She looks really good,” O’Shea said.
“She was just really uncomfortable at Caulfield the other day.
“James gave her a gallop on Tuesday morning and he felt she was a lot happier left-handed and hopefully that reflects on Saturday.
“She was one too far from them the other day, so I thought she would be two or three pairs back, but wherever she is comfortable.”
Ambience remains a narrow favourite in 2015 Wakeful Stakes betting markets, but there has been plenty of betting support for Robert Smerdon-trained My Poppette and she has been backed from $6 into $4.60.
My Poppette performed well without winning in both the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26 and the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 4 before she led from start to finish to take out the Group 3 Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley last weekend.
Ethereal Stakes winner Dawnie Perfect is on the third line of Wakeful Stakes betting markets at a quote of $6, while Chris Waller-trained Muzyka is the only other horse that is available at single figure Wakeful Stakes odds.
There has been a sprinkling of support for Bannatyne ($26 into $21), C’est Beau La Vie ($34 into $31), Princess Aria ($14) and Zarabeel ($61 into $34), while The Grey Flash ($26 out to $31), Lazumba ($20 out to $34), Ashlee Marie ($51 out to $71) and Dawn Of Hope ($16 out to $18) have all been on the drift.
Don’t miss out on the best Wakeful Stakes odds with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote or Starting Price +20% on every single race at Flemington on Saturday.
