Sancerre will return to Australian racing in the 2015 Glenlogan Park Stakes and trainer Tony Pike admits that she faces a tough test in the Group 3 event at Doomben on Saturday.
Sancerre will take on the likes of I’ve Got The Looks (pictured) in the 2015 Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Sancerre has not been seen in Australia since she failed to fire in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm in May last year and she was not overly impressive in her return to racing in New Zealand, but he recorded her first race win in almost a year when she scored a dominant victory in the Brighthill Farms Handicap (1200m) at Te Rapa on May 2.
Pike told Racing Ahead this morning that he has been reasonably happy with the form of Sancerre this preparation, but he believes that the O’Reilly mare would likely need to go to another level in order to win the 2015 Glenlogan Park Stakes this weekend.
“She has come up reasonably well this preparation,” Pike said.
“She was a touch disappointing, after two good runs runs, her form just tailed off a bit last prep and she has come back with a good win at her last start albeit in a rating 85 grade race, but she was dominant that day and ran good time.
“She is going to have to take a huge step-up in class this Saturday, but if she can get some black type in Australia that would be great for the owners and she will be doing her best on Saturday.
“She has drawn gate one, which will be great and Zac rides again and if she puts her best foot forward she has plenty of ability, but obviously it is going to be a huge jump in class for her and there are some handy mares in that race.”
Sancerre will face 11 rivals in the 2015 Glenlogan Park Stakes field and she will face stiff competition in the form of Juanmo Stakes winner I’ve Got The Looks, Peter Moody-trained Peron, Darley Crown winner Solicit and talented Chris Waller-trained mare She’s Clean.
Sancerre has been an early drifter in the 2015 Glenlogan Park Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes and there has been a sprinkling of support for Solicit ($6.50 into $5.50) and Discreet ($18 into $15), while Peron has been a clear market mover and she has been backed from $5.50 into $4.40 to record her first race win since she took out the 2013 Gai Waterhouse Classic.
