Inside Running: Colt chases passage into Stradbroke

29 May 2020, 14:17 by Damien Ractliffe

Saturday’s group 3 TAB Fred Best Classic at Doomben shapes as a last-ditch effort for a number of three-year-olds looking to get into next week’s group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Among the contenders is Dawn Passage, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Hawkesbury Guineas-winning colt.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.375%2C$multiply_2.1164%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/653cead5f7037db89db689d17eeceb92aafb269f — Dawn Passage was a dominant winner of the Scone Guineas at Rosehill last start.Credit: Getty Images

The son of Dawn Approach has won his past two races, both at Rosehill, but faces a number of other tough competitors including Chris Waller’s Subpoenaed, Godolphin’s Exhilerates and top weight The Odyssey.

Dawn Approach is a $2.40 favourite with Sportsbet.

MAY BLOOMERS

A number of two-year-olds will be looking to improve their record at Caulfield on Saturday before they turn three in August.

Jabaldi Ridge resumes for Mick Price and Mick Kent Junior, having last run ninth to Hanseatic in a Blue Diamond Prelude in February. Before that, the juvenile was a smart winner at Flemington.

Also in the field, unbeaten colt Dark Horse, smart Godolphin colt Valaquenta and Tony and Calvin McEvoy debutant Kahaylaan.

JAPAN THREAT

Betfair has pulled Japanese racing from its markets after the Japanese Racing Association threatened to pull their vision from Australian televisions, as well as potentially restricting horses from racing in Australia.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.188%2C$multiply_2.1164%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/17f04d3c2ff7d1097f49b27df18d6e80f83d212a — Jockey Damian Lane and Lys Gracieux at the Cox Plate.Credit: Getty Images

"Given the disruption this would pose to Australian punters and Australian racing bodies alike, as fans of racing, we have ceased offering markets on the exchange," Betfair said in a statement on Thursday night.

Last year’s spring carnival was dominated by the Japanese, who collected the Cox Plate with Lys Gracieux and the Caulfield Cup with Mer de Glace.

PREMIERSHIP UPDATE

With just over two months to go in the season, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams leads the metropolitan title race with 56 winners, ahead of champion Damien Oliver (51).

Dwayne Dunn is third with 46 with Jye McNeil in fourth with 40 metro winners. McNeil has the most winners across the state with 113, just ahead of Daniel Stackhouse (109).