Group 1 winning mare Griante draws well at barrier three in the Group 1 $400,000 UBET Classic (Registered as Robert Sangster Stakes) (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Griante, above, has drawn barrier three in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Steve Hart.
The David Brideoake trained Griante joined the Group 1 winners’ club when she took out the $700,000 Banjo Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 19 with Craig Williams aboard.
Williams has retained the mount and is certain to give Griante every chance from barrier three in the capacity twenty horse field to claim anther Group 1 trophy.
The big race jockey was back aboard Griante in between races at the Mornington race meeting on Monday when the five year old galloped over 1000m and Williams was very happy with her work.
“I was really happy with her major gallop going into Saturday’s Group 1 assignment,” Williams said.
“She had a similar preparation to when she won the Galaxy – David was able to gallop her between races at Moonee Valley on the Monday.
“So it worked out really well to come to Mornington – the track’s got nice cushion in it, plenty of grass cover, and it’s a surface he was very comfortable with her giving her a good push for her last gallop going into Saturday’s race.
“When I asked her to quicken inside the last 400m, she responded sharply for me.
“She looks lovely, balanced and smooth.”
In a very wide open betting race, Griante is on third line of betting for the Robert Sangster Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au at $$8.50 behind Don’t Doubt Mamma at $7.50 and Petits Filous at $8.
The Tony McEvoy trained Don’ Doubt Mamma has drawn poorly at barrier fifteen but could come in three spots if all three emergencies fail to gain a start.
Dwayne Dunn hops back aboard Don’t Doubt Mamma after the pair combined earlier in the Autumn for a win in the in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 20 and second in the Group 2 $200,000 TAB Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 12.
Dunn replaces Jason Holder who steered the Not A Single Doubt filly to a narrow win in the Listed $100,000 Projection Graphics Redelva Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 23.
Second favourite Petits Filous has drawn barrier nine and could jump from eight if the emergencies aren’t required and trainer Ciaron Maher is looking for a better performance in the Robert Sangster Stakes after the filly failed to handle the clockwise direction when last of thirteen in the Group 2 $500,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’ on April 9.
Petits Filous had previously scored an all the way first up win over 1100m in a three year old filly’s race at Caulfield two weeks earlier.
