Anatina has been backed into 2015 Sir John Monash Stakes odds of $9 and has been a clear market mover in betting for the Group 3 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Anatina has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Anatina opened at a quote of $11 when the Sir John Monash Stakes field was released on Wednesday afternoon, but there has been consistent support for the talented mare and she is now on the third line of betting behind dominant favourite Lord Of The Sky ($2) and Peter Moody-trained Angels Beach ($7).
The daughter of Fastnet Rock returned to racing in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on June 13, but she never appeared to be comfortable under the heavy weight and she could finish no better than eighth behind Hard Romp.
Trainer Robert Smerdon told Racing Ahead this morning that Anatina had a number of excuses for her lackluster effort in the Rod Johnson Handicap and he believes that the four-year-old can produce a much improved performance in the 2015 Sir John Monash Stakes this weekend.
“Craig Williams said on the day she sort of blew out 300 from home, so she was going to take a lot of benefit from the run,” Smerdon said.
“Her work’s been good, but she does need to have come on to take this lot on.
“At her best she’s amongst them, but she was just a bit below expectation first-up so I’m looking for her to improve her form.
“The weight was a big thing too, so she’ll probably be better suited at this set weights scenario.”
Anatina joined the Smerdon stable before the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and she took out the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on October 5 and finished third behind the talented Missy Longstocking in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 12.
She returned to racing with a victory in the 2014 edition of the Listed Mss Security Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on March 8 before she was narrowly denied a maiden win at Group 1 level by Tiger Tees in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29.
Anatina was restricted to just two race starts during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and she was sent back to the spelling paddock after she finished a disappointing seventh in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 18.
