Australian Racing: Lady Of Camelot can gallop to glory

There’s plenty of racing action for punters on Saturday, including at Rosehill where the Group 1 Coolmore Classic is the highlight.

Race 8 Rosehill

Lady Of Camelot @ 7.00

Race 6 Caulfield

Zardozi @ 2.20

Race 7 Gold Coast

Apuntar @ 7.00

Camelot to take Classic

The previously mentioned Group 1 Coolmore Classic comes up as the eighth race at Rosehill.

This race, expected to take place on a soft 5 track, is set to see 14 fillies and mares go to post, including Lady Shenandoah who is likely to jump as favourite.

The daughter of Snitzel suffered defeats in her first two starts but has won all four outings since, including twice in Group 1 company.

This three-year-old’s most recent success saw her come home just under half-a-length clear of her rivals in The Chase Surround Stakes, a Group 1 event held over 1400m at Randwick.

Notably all four of her victories have come on a sound surface and, while she placed in the top three in both defeats, they did come on wet tracks.

With a seeming preference for good going, Chris Waller’s representative looks opposable with LADY OF CAMELOT the selection here.

The filly has chased home Lady Shenandoah in each of her last two starts, including when placing second in the previously mentioned The Chase Surround Stakes at the start of this month.

Last season’s Golden Slipper winner was stepping up to 1400m for the first time that day and appeared to have no issues with the extra distance jumping from barrier five.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, she has gone well on wet tracks in the past, including when fourth at the highest level in The Tab Everest over 1200m at Randwick in October.

The Written Tycoon filly tackled her elders that day and she is taken to record her first win of the season jumping with Tim Clark, on board for her last two starts, set to ride.

Zardozi for Peter Young success

The highlight at Caulfield is the Group 2 Pert Young Stakes, an 1800m contest that comes up as the sixth race on a 10-race program.

A good 4 surface is expected, with Pride Of Jenni set to make her first start since finishing last of 11 in the Group 1 VRC Champions Mile at Flemington in November.

The seven-year-old registered her sole success that prep when taking out the four-runner Group 2 Feehan Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley in September.

That success preceded a Group 1 second in the 1600m King Charles III Stakes over the same distance at this venue when racing on a wet track.

The mare usually improves for her first run back and the race fit ZARDOZI is the selection for the James Cummings team.

The four-year-old failed to make an impact when jumping at a big price for the 1400m Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick when resuming last month.

Zardozi finished last of eight that day but took a step forward when third in the 1600m Group 2 Blarney Stakes at Flemington subsequently.

The daughter of Kingman did most of her racing last prep over further, including when finishing fourth off a low weight in November’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

However, the filly is effective over shorter distances, having performed well in Group 1 company over 1600m when fifth in the Empire Rose Stakes three days prior to that Cup run.

Jamie Melham retains the ride here with her mount expected to prove hard to beat.

Apuntar to salute at Gold Coast

The Gold Coast meeting, postponed from last weekend due to Cyclone Alfred, is set to take place with the seventh race of the day in the 1200m Gold Coast City Council QTIS Jewel.

This 1200m contest, restricted to three-year-olds, is set to take place on a soft 5 track with APUNTAR selected to deliver a victory dropping back in distance on his return to action.

Apuntar registered a victory over 1400m when racing on a heavy 8 track at Sunshine Coast in November and he has shown up well in two starts since.

The most recent of those efforts saw the youngster race from the front, prior to finishing fourth in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm in December.

Apuntar raced over 1800m on a heavy 10 track on that occasion and he was spelled following that effort.

Kevin Kemp’s representative should have no issues with the quicker going expected here and, while the drop in distance is a concern, he is taken to deliver a victory jumping from barrier two.