Trainer Chris Waller believes that Red Tracer would have been near unbeatable in the Dane Ripper Stakes, but is happy to give the talented mare an opportunity to score her first Group 1 victory in open company.
Red Tracer is chasing his third win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap. Photo by: Steve Hart
Red Tracer won the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) and Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) against fillies and mares last year, but has been unable to score a Group 1 victory in open company.
The Dane Shadow mare made her Group 1 debut with a third place finish in the 2011 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and finished third in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) earlier this year, but failed to fire at the highest level of racing in the 2011 Emirates Stakes (1600m), 2013 Doncaster Handicap (2013) and 2014 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Red Tracer has won the past two editions of the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) and in the absence of stablemate Catkins would have started as a short-priced favourite in the Group 1 event, but Waller told AAP that the six-year-old deserves the chance to add a third Group 1 victory to her impressing racing resume.
“She’d win the Dane Ripper again every day of the week but she’s got two Group One wins next to her name and what’s another Group Two going to do for Red Tracer,” Waller said.
“No disrespect for the race but it’s not going to do anything to her value.
“This allows Red Tracer to run for $1 million in prize money and she’s a very good horse.
“She’s got a Group One (Tatt’s Tiara) in two weeks as well when she can come back to fillies and mares grade.”
Red Tracer has returned to 2014 Stradbroke Handicap odds of $10 this morning, after drifting out to a quote of $11 yesterday, and is currently on the fifth line of betting for the Group 1 event.
Classy filly Srikandi ($5) remains a narrow favourite from Phillip Stokes-trained Hucklebuck ($5.50), while Darley sprinter Knoydart has been the best-backed runner in the field and is now into a quote of $8.
Doomben 10,000 winner Spirit Of Boom has remained steady at Stradbroke Handicap odds of $7.50, but Rebel Dane has been the big drifted and is now available at a quote of $10.
