Good draw pushes Graff to favourite
GRAFF is set to start favourite in Saturday’s $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill after he drew barrier four while The Autumn Sun copped a bad break and will come out of gate 10.
Tim Clark is getting back on Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott colt Santos for the first time since the Golden Slipper and he’s on the quick back-up after a luckless fifth in the Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
He was given no chance that day after running into trouble all the way up the straight and he never got a clear crack at them.
Clark rode him to two wins from three runs last preparation and he’ll jump from barrier six.
“I’m really happy to get back on him this weekend,” Clark said.
“He’s an exciting colt who goes really well. He didn’t have much luck the other day and he’s always competed at a good level.
“He seems like a more mature horse this time in and he’s going well.
“Over 1400m he should be able to get forward pretty comfortably and I’m sure that draw, out in the middle, will be good for him.”
A horse on a quick backup is always a good sign but he’s got to beat some crack colts and a Group 1-winning filly in Seabrook.
One punter plonked $5000 at $8 on The Run To The Rose winner Lean Mean Machine while The Autumn Sun attracted a few $1000 and $2000 bets at $6 to get the job done.
Trapeze Artist claimed the race as a $41 hope last year and Santos was rated a $17 chance after the barrier draw.
“He didn’t have a hard run on Saturday and for Gai and Adrian to back him up means he’s come through the run well,” Clark said.
“We saw what Siege Of Quebec did last Saturday off a quick back-up and Santos didn’t have a gut buster on the weekend. He’s been ready to go for some time now too.
“You’d expect it to be a good field. It’s a stallion making race and this race is targeted so I’m not surprised to see it come up so strong.”
■ DEFENDING The Everest champion Redzel looks to be back on track after he was scratched from the The Shorts on Saturday due to muscle soreness.
Trainer Peter Snowden told stewards Redzel had received chiropractic treatment and a gallop yesterday confirmed he was back to normal.