Consistent sprinter-miler Entirely Platinum gets his chance to break through into the Group 1 winning list when he lines up in the Group 1 $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Entirely Platinum’s new rider Tommy Berry rates the six year old’s Spring Carnival form first class as he returns to Sydney after running second to Boban in the Group 1 $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 followed by a third to Fawkner in the Group 1 $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.
The Team Hawkes trained gelding is on the fourth line of betting at $10 with Ladbrokes.com.au and Berry considers him a better chance than he price suggests.
“I’m very surprised about the price actually. He’s got a great record at the mile, he’ll be on-pace and he’ll be very hard to hold out,” Berry told AAP.
“He’s been Group One placed his two runs this preparation and been beaten by Boban and Fawkner and they’ve both franked the form in their recent runs.”
Top Melbourne jockey Dwayne Dunn has been aboard Entirely Platinum at his last eight starts and as well as his Group 1 placings at his last two starts, the combination ran second to Dissident in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
But Dunn decided to stay in Melbourne this weekend and ride at Caulfield on Saturday, opening the way for Berry to take up the ride.
Berry is not concerned with Entirely Platinum’s wide barrier draw and will use his early speed to cross over from gate fourteen and take up a position in or near the lead.
Entirely Platinum was able to set the pace when second in the Memsie Stakes and then sat outside of the leader, Hi World, before fighting on strongly for third behind Fawkner and Rising Romance in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
“It’s always nice to draw in a bit closer but from the Randwick mile start you’ve got a very long run down the back straight so we can take our time,” Berry said.
“If you’ve got a horse with speed it’s not too much of a problem, it’s when you draw out there and you’ve got a horse who sits midfield, it makes it a bit harder to get in.”
The Star Epsom market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Winx, $7.50 Sadler’s Lake, $8.50 Lucia Valentina, Silverball, $10 Entirely Platinum, $11 Rudy, $16 Kirromosa, $17 Sweynese, Sons Of John, $21 Messene, $26 Ecuador, Hooked, $61 Malice, $71 Pressing, $81 Teronado.