The 2013 Crown Oaks tip of leading Australian racing analyst Vince Accardi is Kirramosa and he expects the clear betting favourite to be very difficult to beat in the Group 1 event at Flemington this afternoon.
Vince Accardi rates Kirramosa very tough to beat in the Crown Oaks at Flemington on Thursday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Kirramosa stamped herself as 2013 Crown Oaks favourite when she stormed home late to win the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) in dominant fashion at Flemington and Accardi told RSN that he could not have been more impressed with the performance; declaring that he does not believe it is possible for any horse that was beaten by Kirramosa in the Wakeful Stakes to turn-the-tables this afternoon.
“When they raced over 2000 metres most horses, with the exception of Kirramosa, all really struggled to get the trip,” Accardi said.
“Pretty much every runner that raced against Kirramosa, you can wipe them all out.
“I can think that we can all bet with a lot of confidence that we can collect.
“Horses from that position generally can’t win.
“To be 13.9 lengths behind the benchmark standard, giving the leader almost eight lengths start and crushing the competition with a blinding last 600 and 800 metres; that is solid.
“It is going to take a serious horse to get near this.”
May’s Dream, Arabian Gold, Gypsy Diamond, Solicit, Every Faith, Melalecua and Tear Gas are all backing up from the Wakeful Stakes and Accardi believes that the two horses coming from other form lines, Zanbagh and Quayside, are the only real threats to his Crown Oaks tip.
Zanbagh is coming into the Crown Oaks on the back of two straight wins at Ballarat, including a five length romp on a heavy track on October 24, but Accardi said that she still needs to find plenty of improvement to be competitive against Kirramosa.
“That was a strong performance and it was the strongest run of the day, considering the heavy track, compared to benchmark history,” Accardi said.
“It was four and a half lengths stronger than any other performance on the day and that gives a big tick that she is a superior wet-tracker.
“If we had a slow or heavy ground today, I would mark her clearly on top and probably unbeatable but we don’t have heavy ground today and that makes it a lot tougher.
“I think that she is still a genuine place chance but she needs to find three or four lengths improvement to be able to match Kirramosa in any shape or form.”
Quayside was beaten by Arabian Gold comfortably at Royal Randwick on July 27 but improved significantly when stepping up to 1900 metres for the first time in the Canterbury League Club Handicap at Rosehill Gardens just over a week ago.
Accardi said that he was impressed with the victory and rates Quayside a strong each-way chance in the 2013 Crown Oaks this afternoon.
“Quayside is a new emerging horse,” Accardi said.
“What I like about it was the positive sectionals through the first half of the race and she was also good enough to have above benchmark standards for the last 400 and last 800 metres.
“That is a good sign stepping up to 2500 metres because no other runner has been able to do that apart from Kirramosa.”
Kirramosa is currently a clear favourite in 2013 Crown Oaks betting markets at odds of $2.60; with Zanbagh currently available at $5 and Quayside $21.
