ONT Matron Stakes – Grade III
WO Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $150.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Venezia D J C Racing Stables Salles L

There is a god bunch of three year olds here and this filly is a major contender from her inside draw. Third in the SA Derby against the boys she went on to win The Mother Goose in June and was looking a real contender for top honors. Her last two starts have been a little disappointing but both were at high level so she could be excused. A return to her Mother Goose winning form would put her in the finish.

2 Glip Glop TwinTowersRacing Stein J

Switches to dirt today after a terrible run in the KD ladies Sprint on the turf but she is like many from the stable who don’t really seem to have a preferred trip or surface. She ran a cracker in the SAR Oaks the race before the sprint so it may be that she prefers routes but whether she prefers dirt will be revealed today. As usual i am confused at best on how to assess her chances as i am with most from TwinTowersRacing but the perfect draw will certainly help her chances.

3 Catori D J C Racing Stables Wilson E J

This is a grade one winning three year old so she is very well placed in this grade three. That win came in the Acorn and whilst she hasn’t won since she has been fairly close up including a fourth in the Zenyatta last time over this trip. She is one of the best workers in the field so should be favorite to win today on the strength of her form so far.

4 League Of Legends Smokey Stover Moran D

Any filly from this stable must be considered a major contender and this one is no different. She won the Selene two back and then ran pretty well in the Test over an inadequate seven furlongs so certainly has the form lines to win this. Her last start came in a big ticket allowance on an off track at SAR and she did well to be second so whilst she is no dead cert she is a proven commodity.

5 Terra Command Threshold

The only older horse in the field she is a mare who has done well over all trips and surfaces and despite the wider draw and of course the weight allowance she should give her all if she can avoid a spinny legs start.

6 Dominance Nakamura Stables Crawford J

Proved once again the importance of teh draw by winning the MTH Oaks from an inside draw and then running too badly to be true in the Cottlion from an outside draw. With that experience behind her i am sure the trainer will have learned something useful about her and will put that to good use as she draws wide again.

SUMMARY

A small field but one with plenty of talent and chances. Terra Command would be the choice on level weights but the three year olds may take advantage of the three pounds and if they do I feel Catori may be the one to do so.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES