Terravista among 2016 The Galaxy nominations

Trainer Joe Pride’s number one stable sprinter Terravista is among the twenty-seven nominations for the Group 1 $700,000 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Terravista is among the nominations for The Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Terravista is among the nominations for The Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Pride was forced to abort a start in last weekend’s Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington after Terravista sustained a minor hoof injury.

The six year old chestnut has recovered and Pride will either run him in The Galaxy or barrier trial him prior to running in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’.

“Terravista is doing OK so we may go to the Galaxy or give him a trial ahead of the TJ Smith Stakes,” Pride told AAP.

“It’s such a shame because I think he could have won the Newmarket.”

Terravista claimed Group 1 glory when he scored a narrow win over Chautauqua in the 2014 Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

But Pride said he was unlucky not claim a second Group 1 trophy when a nose second to Chautauqua in the  Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 20 after rider Damien Oliver fumbled his whip at the 100m mark.

“It’s a Group One race that got away,” Pride said.

Pride has also nominated Ball Of Muscle who ran a sixth to English in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 5.

The Gai Waterhouse trained English is also nominated for The Galaxy and looks one of the main chances going on her return to the winner’s circle in the Challenge Stakes.

Peter Moody has entered Bring Me The Maid and last start winner Flamberge who defied all the odds to score a scintillating win in the Group 1 $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 27.

Bring Me The Maid will be having her first run back since finishing tenth in the Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown at the end of the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

The Matthew Dale trained Fell Swoop, a winner of eight of his eleven race starts, ran an eye catching second to Flamberge in the Oakleigh Plate and will get his chance to go one better in The Galaxy.

Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller has only one nomination in Counterattack who was a late scratching from the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington last Saturday after he dumped rider Glen Boss on the way to the barriers.

Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have three entries  for the Galaxy, Bounding, Dothraki and Redzel.

Dothraki, seventh, and Bounding, ninth, are coming off a run in the Oakleigh Plate while Redzel will get his chance at Group 1 level after a gutsy all the way win in the Listed $125,000 Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on March 5.

Nominations for the 2016 The Galaxy: English, Flamberge, Terravista, Rebel Dane, Our Boy Malachi, Famous Seamus, Bounding, Ball Of Muscle, Dothraki, Lord Of The Sky, Lumosty, Shiraz, Cradle Me, Scissor Kick, Boss Lane, Fell Swoop, Griante, Pittsburgh Flyer, Malaguerra, Miss Promiscuity, Bring Me The Maid, Brook Road, Headwater, Counterattack, Spill The Beans, Redzel, Skip Course.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.