Strykum is currently available at 2015 Cap D’Antibes Stakes odds of $15 and co-trainer Lee Freedman believes that the talented filly is great value in betting for the Listed event at Flemington on Saturday.
Strykum has the chance to record her second straight win in the 2015 Cap D’Antibes Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Strykum started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a comfortable win in the Quest Moonee Valley Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 22 and Freedman told Racing Ahead that the daughter of Stryker can replicate that performance and upset odds-on favourite Petits Filous in the Cap D’Antibes Stakes.
“I am very pleased with her,” Freedman said.
“I am looking at the fixed odds as I talk to you and $15 seems extravagant to me.
“I trialed her up the straight a couple of times, once before she won the Queen Adelaide and once this preparation, and she has a real liking for it in the trials.
“That should convert to race day and I think that she will run extremely well.
“I think this is a better race and Petits Filous has been very good in her three runs and they all have good form, but she has improved to and I don’t really hold too many fears for her.”
Strykum has shown plenty of tactical speed during her racing career to date and she led from start to finish in the Quest Moonee Valley Plate, while she sat off the leader when she took out the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on May 2.
Freedman said that Strykum does not need to lead in the Cap D’Antibes Stakes, but he said that the three-year-old will still be ridden right on the speed without over racing in the early stages of the Listed event.
“She is a filly that can race on the speed and she won’t be getting in a scrimmage back on the fence,” Freedman said.
“She will be tracking the pace somewhere and the blinkers have added another dimension to her.
“She is one of those rare animals that when you put blinkers on it focuses her, but it doesn’t stir her up and that is the perfect scenario.”
Petits Filous is currently available at 2015 Cap D’Antibes Stakes odds of $1.95 with Ladbrokes and she is a clear favourite from the resuming Payroll ($8), Mike Moroney-trained Serenade ($9.50), the talented My Poppette ($10), Wez Hunter-trained Parcel ($14) and Strykum ($15).
