Chevauchee is the big attraction at Kenilworth tomorrow. The Australian-bred with a tall reputation and a pedigree to die for was odds-on to beat Fillies Guineas second favourite Bela-Bela three weeks ago and yesterday she opened as short as 7-10 for the Property Pride Graduation Plate.
However she ran as if she needed further last time and, as this is 200m shorter, she could be worth opposing.
Victoria Lavelle just might be better value at yesterday’s 3-1 (with Betting World) despite having to give weight all round and having little chance on adjusted merit ratings. She was far from disgraced in the Choice Carriers and could be better than that run would suggest.
Joey Ramsden saddles Chevauchee
“She is a good filly but the race wasn’t run to suit her,” says Chris Snaith. “She was drawn badly, her rider had to use her up too much early on and she didn’t like it.”
On ratings 10-1 shot Folk Law has 4.5kg in hand and the Irish-bred was returned not striding out when disappointing on her first start here. “Maybe she was a bit fatigued – she hadn’t run for over a year – but she has never been lame,” says Brett Crawford. “However I have always thought that her rating was suspect and that’s why I put her in this plate race.”
Elusive Stars (7-1) is next best on ratings – she comes out 3.5k better than Chevauchee – and Ronnie Sheehan is putting blinkers on, saying: “I could have run her in the 1 400m but she was drawn wide. She has run some very good races over this distance.”
Forever Alert’s much-improved last run makes her the form horse in the opening International Police Association Maiden (Paul Reeves: “She was getting herself in a tizz. I gave her a nice break and she came back a better horse”). She is a big price at 7-1.
Don’t ignore Midnight Spy (5-1) who was found to be coughing after disappointing when favourite at Durbanville but the favourite this time is Oli Miranda who ran way above expectations on debut ten days ago.
“She had never been on grass and for the first 800m she had no idea what was required of her,” reports Greg Ennion. “Then she flew home. She surprised me, particularly as her dam stayed all day.”
Yesterday’s 18-10 is much too short with so many others having good chances – and the Crawford newcomer New Found Glory is 5-1 joint second favourite – but hopefully MJ Byleveld’s mount will ease to a price that makes her worth backing.
Sheehan is also putting blinkers on 10-1 chance Kwando for the first time in the Ahmen & Hammon Attorney Maiden but stable companion Elusive Empress (8-1) makes more appeal and 3-1 favourite Florrick may beat them both.
Playboy Buddy has started favourite on the last two of her three starts and gone close every time. The Dean Kannemeyer-trained filly again heads the market (at 5-2) and may finally get her head in front in the concluding IPA Westcoast Maiden.
By Michael Clower
