Spinster – Grade I [BC]
KEE   Race #2   1 1/8m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $500.000  For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Way Up, trained by Team 7 Illusions
With just five runs to her name and just two wins you have to be dubious of her chances against some war hardened fillies and mares here but such is the advantage that three year olds have and such is the quick development at HRP that she has a very real winning chance. Two maiden placings in poor company didnt suggest she was a star as a two year old but when she came out as a three year old and broke her maiden in a high level allowance the signals were all there. She went on to run a creditable fifth in the grade one Alabama but then shocked the racing world by running from a wide gate and still managing to dead heat for the win in the grade one Cottilion. Her works arent even as quick as the two year olds but she will love this draw and must have a chance of another unlikely win.

2 Track Queen, trained by Heavens own
Took the Gazelle back in April and has been up against the top racers of her age ever since. A great third in the KYO was followed by disappointment from a wide draw in the Acorn but she bounced back with strong placings in the IND Oaks and The Alabama. Like Way Up her works arent the quickest but she has the form on the board to run a big race here.

3 Halloween Candy, trained by Kopites
Behind Track Queen in the Gazelle and the IND Oaks she is a tough sort but has so far lacked something. She was bought for $150 from Harrell Racing and took a nice allowance in the first time of asking for her new owner. She will put up a show here but it is hard to see how she can turn the form around with Track Queen.
4 Quiet Elegance, trained by Mb Stables
The four year olds have been sneaking back into contention recently and this one has posted one of the fastest mile works in the field. The winner of the La Canada Stakes back in January she has struggled against the three’s and the weight allowance since but still has run some decent races. Her seventh in the Personal Ensign last time was better than it looked but a lot will depend on whether she can control the pace from the front.

5 Lullaby Maker Tf, trained by Team 7 Illusions
Another four year old who has struggled against the three year olds she has finished in front of Quiet Elegance in her last two and should do so again today. She won the grade one la Troienne back in May and has run well since, she could be the biggest danger to the three year olds.

6 Heart Nebulae, trained by Samlam
Ran in the IND oaks finishing between Track Queen and Holloween Candy so must be right in the mix for this race too. She won the Fleet Indian last time so is in tip top form and if she can get a trip from this widish gate she should be right in the finish.

7 Mint Condition, trained by Australia Wide
One of the best workers in the race she has a horrible draw to contend with but is atleast an on pace runner so could cope. She has been picking up pay checks in statebred stakes races recently but was within a quarter length of Heart Nebulae in the SA Oaks so clearly has the class factor to be a contender.

SUMMARY
It’s ridiculous to look at this field of class three and four year olds and see that none of them are working as fast as the two year olds i have just reviewed for The Champagne Stakes. But ridiculous as it is we have to find a winner for this and that is not easy. The four year olds seem to have undergone a boost or the three year olds have stopped improving so i am not entirely put off of Lullaby Maker for this, especially as all the three year olds in this race should finish in a heap.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES