The Lindsay Park trained trio of Catchy, Formality and Tulip are set to clash in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Catchy, above, is one of the Lindsay Park Team to run in the 2018 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Steve Hart.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his father David Hayes and cousin Tom Dabernig at Lindsay Park, said that all three fillies are capable of winning the $1m race for the girls.
The stables other nominations, Miss Gunpowder, is a possibility of joining her stablemates when final acceptances are taken on Tuesday.
“Catchy, Formality and Tulip are definites but Miss Gunpowder is still a maybe at this stage,” Ben Hayes told The Advertiser.
“This is one of the tougher editions of the race that I’ve seen.
“There are so many quality fillies and mares going to it this year.
“I think all three of our horses have shown they’re up to Group 1 level.
“Catchy was impressive last start, Tulip was competitive in The Everest and Formality is a multiple Group winner and we definitely think she’s Group 1 class.
“On their day I think any of them could win but I do think this is an exceptionally strong field.
“It’s going to come down to the draws and luck in running.
“Most likely the horse that gets the best run will win.”
Catchy was one of the top two year olds of her year with a win in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and the Fastnet Rock filly has regained winning form at the right time with a last start victory the Group 2 $600,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on day two of The Championships on April 14.
Catchy is the most fancied of the Lindsay Park Team in the betting for the Robert Sangster Stakes at $9 with Ladbrokes.com.au while Formality is marked at $13 at her first run back since finishing tenth behind her stablemate Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) down the Flemington straight on February 17.
Last start Bendigo Gold Bracelet winner Miss Gunpowder and Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Tulip are both marked at $15.
Local mare from the Lloyd Kennewell stable, Viddora, has been installed the early $4.50 favourite following her second in the Group 3 $120,000 Hughes Limousines R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 21 with the in-form Darren Weir trained Quilista on the second line of betting at $7.50 after scoring a hat trick with her win in the Group 2 $300,000 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 14.
The final field for the 2018 Robert Sangster Stakes will be released on Tuesday, May 1.
Early betting for the 2018 Robert Sangster Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Viddora, $7.50 Quilista, $9 Catchy, Dainty Tess, Super Cash, Whispering Brook, $13 Formality, $15 Cool Passion, Ghisoni, Miss Gunpowder, Secret Agenda, Tulip, $17 Houtzen, Missrock, Shoals, $21 Zestful, $26 Danish Twist, Pedrena, $31 Mica Lil, $34 or better the rest.
