Punters are sticking with the Chris Waller trained Lady Le Fay who will start favourite again in the Group 2 $300,000 7News Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Hugh Bowman, above, rides Lady Le Fay in the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Lady Le Fay was sent out as the $2.40 favourite last start when sixth to Kaniana in the Group 3 $150,000 Merlin Garage Door Openers Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 and is currently at the top of the market order for the Matriarch Stakes at $3.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Jockey Hugh Bowman copped some criticism for his ride on Lady Le Fay at Moonee Valley for sticking to the inside fence while the rest of the field scouted to the middle of the track but Waller thinks the bigger track at Flemington will suit her better.
“Flemington might just bring some change,” Waller told RSN’ Racing Ahead.
Waller admits that he was disappointed with the result at Moonee Valley and will be looking for a better outcome ridden back further in the field that has been reduced to sixteen runners with the early scratchings of Real Love Tidy Prophet.
“I was disappointed. I heard a few people say we were in the wrong part of the track but he was simply there because he wasn’t going well enough to get out wider,” Waller said.
“So it was disappointing. We will just revert to riding her a bit quieter tomorrow.”
Bowman takes the ride again on Lady Le Fay who will move in from gate three to gate two after the withdrawal of Tidy Prophet who had drawn barrier two in the original draw.
The David Pfieffer trained Denmagic is on the second line of betting for the Matriarch Stakes at $6, firming in from $11, and is coming off a last third to I Am A Star in the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.
James McDonald takes over from Tommy Berry on Denmagic who will jump from gate five.
The John Thompson trained Zanbagh is next in the betting at $8 and will jump from gate eight with Mark Zahra retaining the ride following her last start sixth in the Myer Classic.
