English at top of huge 2017 Galaxy Nominations

First up Challenge Stakes winner English sits at the top of the huge nominations for the 2017 Group 1 $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel, above, is among the nominations for the Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel, above, is among the nominations for the Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The twenty-two nominations for the Galaxy will be reduced to fourteen plus four emergencies when final acceptances are taken on Wednesday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English bounced straight out of the barriers for her Autumn Carnival campaign with a first up win on a heavy 10 track in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 4 when she was able to hold out Redzel by a nose.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Redzel will get his chance to reverse the result in the Galaxy and the Randwick trainers have also nominated their talented three year old Russian Revolution who will be resuming on Saturday.

Russian Revolution showed plenty of promise during the 2016 Spring Carnival and after winning the Group 3 $150,000 KS Environmental Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and the Group 2 $300,000 The Star Roman Consul (1200m) at Randwick finished fourth to Flying Artie in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29.

The Snitzel colt has trialled twice at Randwick for two wins in preparation for his return to the race track.

Warwick Farm trained Bjorn Baker has nominated his Doomben 10000 winner Music Magnate who has had two runs back for the Autumn for a first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on January 28 followed by a fifth to Le Romain in the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig has entered a strong contingent of sprinters for the Galaxy, Group 1 winner Sheidel and the well performed Faatinah and Miss Promiscuity.

Sheidel is coming off a last start fourth to stablemate Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington last Saturday which followed her win in the Group 1 $500,000 The Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25 when she beat Faatinah with Miss Promiscuity finishing in fifth position.

The Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained Heatherly is among the nominations for the Galaxy and has earned another shot at a Group 1 trophy after scoring a last start win in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 4.

Heatherly is yet to salute at the top level but has been Group 1 placed on two occasions for a third in the 2016 Oakleigh Plate behind Flamberge and Fell Swoop and a second to Extreme Choice in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Matthew Dale has nominated Fell Swoop for the Galaxy and the Not A Single Doubt five year old will be fitter for one run back for a sixth to Sheidel in the Oakleigh Plate.

Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have released a very wide open betting market for the Galaxy with English and Music Magnate sharing the top position at $7 just ahead of Russian Revolution and Sheidel at $8 each.

Early market order for the Galaxy at Ladbrokes.com.au: $7 English, Music Magnate, $8 Russian Revolution, Sheidel, $10 Fell Swoop, Redzel, $11 Heatherly, $13 Supido, $17 Faatinah, Kaepernick, Petits Filous, $21 Big Money, Dal Cielo, Felines, Kuro, $26 Target In Sight, $31 Glenall, Missrock, $41 Hieroglyphics, Zestful, $61 Miss Promiscuity, $71 Jungle Edge.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.