3 minute read
Helmet might be the value on ratings
This weekend's Golden Rose shapes as a terrific renewal of a race that is rapidly becoming a major part of the Australian racing calendar.
Smart Missile and Helmet head both the betting and the ratings, both assessed here at Racing and Sports at 123 on the Timeform scale.
Photo by Racing and Sports
He was not far away from his 2yo peak when he resumed in the Run to the Rose, carrying a penalty and running on strongly despite laying in over the last 50m.
With a run under the belt and the blinkers going on we can expect Helmet to be at his best here.
Smart Missile eclipsed his Todman Stakes winning figure resuming in the Run to the Rose and looks on track for a big season.
Having settled well back he looked little hope with 200m to go there but picked them up in fairly spectacular fashion.
1400m looks ideal and he should be able to settle much closer provided he bring his barrier manners.
Only Denman, who ran 124 when bolting away from a handy field in 2009, has produced a better figure in this race than what these two have already achieved in their short careers, setting up what looks a terrific duel.
Rated 119 Foxwedge is a classy colt in his own right with only a handful of runners, including a pair of Golden Slipper winners, having come into this race with a higher rating in recent years.
He split Smart Missile and Helmet in the Run to the Rose and while they both meet him on better terms here he certainly has the ability to keep them honest.
Manawanui was a comfortable winner of the Up and Coming, rated 115, and while he faces much stronger opposition here has plenty of upside.
The same applies for Aeronautical who only beat moderate opposition last start compared to what he faces here but was fairly emphatic in the way he went about it and is clearly capable of measuring up in better races.
Flight of Pegasus rounds out the field and despite being a promising galloper with some handy form in the book appears to have too much to do to worry these.
Good luck in the Golden Rose from Aspro
