Expect a Sweet Victory in Race One
SWEET DESTINY has not been in top form in recent weeks but gets the perfect distance tomorrow and will be hard to beat in the opening event of the Sunrise-Six.
The six-year-old has shown himself to be somewhat of a specialist over 1000 metres straight and will not be inconvenienced by the poor draw. His last run over the distance suggests that the number one postposition will be no obstacle.
On November 3 last year, the Steven Todd-trained gelding closed fast and lost out to Dr Banner by just half a length. Both were awarded the same time, 1:00.0. Only LET IT SNOW has gone faster (59.4) over the distance in recent months, but she will have matching speed throughout the event and will not be able to withstand the selection’s usual late rush.
Race Two is also over 1000 metres straight, and ZI BEAST is the one they all have to beat. The five-year-old horse found splits of 22.2x44.3 just too fast against MR PANTHEON last November and ended up sixth by nine lengths in an eight-horse field. This is, however, a far easier assignment and ZI BEAST will not be caught coming from the advantageous outside draw in tomorrow’s race.
The third is a knotty 1200 metres race for four-year-old maidens. SACRIFICE, PURE HEART, and LAZER LIGHT have all shown some degree of ability, but all three appear to be marking time at this level. PURE HEART actually passed the post first on November 3 but was disqualified. In four subsequent efforts, he has failed to really impress.
ANASO, a lightly raced son of Distorted, appears to be the one to be on. In his only start last Boxing Day, the four-year-old colt came forward willingly in the straight after a poor start and was beaten by only four lengths while finishing fourth to Acapella. The more experienced SACRIFICE was just a length in front in third spot.
The connections of ANASO have replaced the sparingly used Sadiki Blake with top jockey Richard Halledeen, and punters can expect a big effort tomorrow.
Ian Parsard’s FATHER TIME and Philip Feanny’s GOD IS LOVE are set to fight for top spot in Race Four for three-year-old maidens over 1100 metres. Both have been working very well, but the former appears to have the edge at this time. On January 5, FATHER TIME breezed 1000 metres in 59.2 seconds while GOD IS LOVE did 1:00.2 for the same distance on the following day. Also in FATHER TIME’S favour is the fact that he is a halfbrother to crack grade-one sprinter Crucial Appeal, both out of the winner-producing mare Late Appeal.
Take Feanny’s CUSTER to lead his rivals all the way home in the fifth while the very light LATE N DRAFTY should close the Sunrise-Six.
SUNRISE-SIX SELECTIONS
1. SWEET DESTINY
2. ZI BEAST
3. ANASO
4. FATHER PATRICK
5. CUSTER
6. LATE N DRAFTY