Webb reckons SA trend is his friend
THERE’S been plenty of worse punting systems than backing horses coming off a last- start Adelaide run in a Brisbane feature race and trainer Stuart Webb has an inkling the trend will continue at Doomben today.
Webb saddles up Ana Royale, a brilliant last- start winner of the Group 3 SA Classic ( 2500m), in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Before that win she was a closing third to Egg Tart in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks.
South Australian form is proving good Brisbane form and the market tends to underestimate it.
In recent years we have seen Linton ($ 26) and Under The Louvre ($ 11) win Stradbrokes, while other features have fallen the way of Werther, Galah and most recently Kenedna.
Backing all feature runners in Brisbane off a last- start Adelaide effort is yielding a healthy 23 per cent profit over the past five years.
Egg Tart and Ana Royale can build on that trend in today’s Oaks. Webb feels Ana Royale would have been more advantaged in a 2400m Oaks, but still feels the 2200m can be enough to turn the tables on Egg Tart and Kenedna from their 2000m Morphettville meeting.
“The extra 200m will suit her, but I reckon it will also suit Egg Tart. She looks a good stayer in the making,” Webb said. “I know my girl is going good, but so are the other two. They are good fillies. A fair bit will come down to luck in running.”
Today will be Ana Royale’s ninth run in a campaign that kicked off in January, but Webb said she was thriving, rather than resenting it.
“As a prep goes on, some horses start falling apart at the seams, then others thrive into a prep and get better and better. I do think she fits into that boat,” he said.
“I’m full of confidence. A lot of times you get to these races with the younger stayers and they start having little issues and that’s just not the case with her. She’s gone from strength to strength. She looks terrific and she’s going great.”
Webb tasted Group 1 suc- cess in Queensland when Yosei won the 2011 Tatts Tiara.
Ana Royale’s jockey Mark Zahra has been sick in the past 48 hours and pulled out of engagements at Geelong yesterday, but he has assured Webb he will be right to ride today.
Punters yesterday warmed to Egg Tart and she was the best backed with UBET.
SOUTH Australian racing yesterday announced a new seven- year partnership with broadcaster Racing. com. SA racing will stay on SKY 1, but also be part of Racing. com’s TV and digital platforms.