Future stallion prospect Graff has overtaken Redzel at the top of the betting for the Group 1 $700,000 OOH!Media Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Graff, above, is the new favourite for the 2019 Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Sprinting supremo Redzel has been lumped with the 59.5kg top weight for the Galaxy which is the reason his price at Ladbrokes.com.au has drifted from $4 to $4.80 while Graff, with only 52kg, has now taken over favourtism, firming in from $6 to be the top pick at $4.60.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained dual Everest winner Redzel failed by a nose to peg back Ball Of Muscle when runner up at his first start back in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 9 under weight for age conditions.
The Kris Lees trained Graff has just missed a place at his last two runs down the Flemington straight during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival when fourth in both the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and the Group 1 $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Graff has a two out of two winning record over the Rosehill 1100m course and the three year old colt’s owner Alan Bell said a win in the Galaxy would greatly enhanced Graff’s future stud career as a stallion.
“With a colt like him you want to get that Group 1, so it is another big day for him. He has shown he is up with those very good sprinters and is back in grade from the Newmarket if you at the field,” Bell told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I think he will appreciate being back at Rosehill but he has to beat some very good sprinters.”
Graff will have his third different jockey is as many starts in the Galaxy and Brenton Avdulla will be able to give the Star Witness colt every chance from barrier two in the thirteen horse Galaxy field.
“He should get the right run from a soft draw and we saw in the spring he can produce a big sprint with the right run at Rosehill when he won the San Domenico Stakes. He might be better on his Sydney leg and around a turn,” Bell said.
“He just wanted to overdo it in Melbourne and just didn’t leave himself with much left in his legs. If he relaxes it will be a different story.”
On the third line of betting at $5 is the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip who disappointed with a last start tenth to Booker in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 23 but could redeem himself after an impressive barrier trial win over 735m at Randwick on March 14.
