Simon Miller has Key To Fame in the 2015 Western Australian Guineas field, but he believes that the fillies are set to have the edge in the Group 2 event at Ascot on Saturday.
Rommel (pictured winning the Zeditave Stakes) took out the Western Australian Guineas last year. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Key To Fame has been a consistent performer since he made his racing debut with an unlucky second behind Mystic Maid in the Thoroughbred Breeders (1016m) at Bunbury on February 12 and he started his summer campaign with back-to-back wins at Belmont on September 16 and October 17.
The Al Maher gelding was beaten in both the Crown Metropol Plate (1500m) at Ascot on October 17 and the Hosemasters Handicap (1500m) at the same venue on October 31 before he made his black-type racing debut with a credible fourth in the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) on November 7.
Miller has a big opinion of Key To Fame and he thinks that the three-year-old is a very tenacious horse, but he believes that the fillies like Showy Chloe, Blackwood, Arcadia Dream, Spirit Bird and Secret Doubt could prove tough to beat in the WA Guineas.
“He is a model of consistent and his record is impeccable,” Miller said.
“He has never been beaten by more than a length and I am really pleased with him.
“He has drawn a gate, there is no speed and we will land into a good position again.
“My concern in that race is that I think the fillies are really dominating this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the fillies win this race.
“One thing that he does is that he just doesn’t lay down.
“He will be honest and he will give a good sight, but my concern is that the fillies are better.”
Arcadia Dream is currently available at 2015 Western Australian Guineas odds of $3.80 with Ladbrokes and she is favourite following her placings in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on October 21, the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) on October 31 and the Group 3 Western Australian Championship Stakes (1600m) on November 14.
Lindsay Park-trained He’s Our Rokkii is on the second line of betting at $5, while Burgess Queen Stakes winner Blackwood has been steady at $6 and Showy Chloe has drifted from $6 out to $7.
There has been a sprinkling of support in WA Guineas betting markets for Universal Law ($16 into $11), George ‘N’ Ernie ($67 into $61) and Express Snooper ($101 into $81), while Key To Fame ($34 out to $41), See Me Sizzle ($34 out to $41), Big Red Costa ($31 out to $51) and Secret Doubt ($67 out to $81) have all been on the drift.
