Last start winner Nakeeta Jane’s performance in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick will determine the remainder of her 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign.
Nakeeta Jane, above, is one of the top fancies for the 2019 Surround Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Mark Newnham will decide Nakeeta Jane’s next assignment after he analysis the So You Think filly’s run in the Group 1 race for the fillies.
“Saturday will decide what the third run is,” Newnham told AAP.
“It will either be the Phar Lap Stakes or the Coolmore, and a rough possibility is the Randwick Guineas which would mean backing her up the following week.”
Nakeeta Jane was impressive in scoring a first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 16 but Newnham hasn’t finalized her lead runs heading towards the Group 1 $1m Heineken 3 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13.
The lightly raced Nakeeta Jane made a meteoric rise into the spotlight during the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival and after winning her maiden at her second race start, Newnham stepped her straight up to Group 1 company and the filly didn’t disappoint with a creditable third behind Oohood and Fiesta in the $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Newnham has the option of taking on the colts and geldings in next week’s Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick and he is also considering taking on the older mares in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 16.
Nakeeta Jane has drawn nicely at barrier six in the fourteen horse Surround Stakes field with the Light Fingers Stakes winning jockey Josh Parr retaining the mount.
Betting for the Surround Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has Nakeeta Jane as one of the top fancies at $5.50 and Newnham will also saddle up $51 chance Greysful Glamour who has drawn barrier nine with Corey Brown booked to ride.
The James Cummings trained Pohutukawa has gained a slight advantage at the top of the market and is now the $4.80 favourite over the Chris Waller trained Fiesta at $5.
