The build up to the Golden Slipper kicks into overdrive this week and given the Sydney Autumn Carnival is back in full swing it is quite obvious that a mid-week race will struggle to capture the public's attention however the second race at Warwick Farm this afternoon shapes up as a highly competitive contest.
Photo by Racing and Sports
While only a small field of eight will line up over the 1200m journey it is easily the most competitive contest of the seven race card program with a majority of the field given some chance of saluting the judge.
Having resumed from a 15 month spell to score in impressive fashion at Gosford last start the Gai Waterhouse trained Blazing Snitzel appears the hardest to beat in this very open affair.
In what was a very pleasing return to the racetrack, the daughter of Snitzel proved successful in living up to her handy debut performance when finishing second to her stablemate No Looking Back as a two-year-old in November 2011.
One of the forgotten juveniles of Waterhouse's 2012 Golden Slipper contingent, Blazing Snitzel was not seen again in the Spring with Waterhouse electing to abort her two-year-old preparation giving the progressive galloper 12 months on the sidelines.
Not seen again until February this year, Blazing Snitzel gave all indications that she had come back in great order when taking out a barrier trial in good time at Rosehill Gardens over 900m. Proving her trial performance was no fluke, Blazing Snitzel again proved quite impressive when saluting in her following trial at Randwick by 3.5L over 1050m.
Proceeding to step out at Gosford as a easing favourite, Blazing Snitzel was able to find plenty in the run home holding off a late charge from the Bart Cummings trained Five Rocks to score by half a length.
While her performance wasn't rated anywhere near as high as her debut effort at Warwick Farm it was quite obvious she would have derived plenty of benefit from that performance and more impressively became one of few horses to make a successful return to the races from over a year on the sidelines.
Recording a Timeform figure of 83, Blazing Snitzel sits third in the race on ratings recorded in the last 50 days with her career peak figure of 104 sitting clearly on top.Given the large disparity of the two numbers it is clear that Blazing Snitzel is open to plenty of improvement and if successful in returning a figure anywhere near her peak she would prove very hard to beat.
With very little speed engaged in this afternoon's affair, Blazing Snitzel is expected get her own way in front with leading rider Nash Rawiller back in the saddle.
Adding to that, it is a clear advantage to be racing up on the speed at Warwick Farm over the 1200m journey with the first three horses to pass the 400m point providing 51.5% of all winners and more impressively the horse that is in front at the 400m point has gone on to win 21.1% of the time.
The Peter Snowden trained Dazzler appears the greatest danger to Blazing Snitzel having made the switch to Darley's Warwick Farm base following her seventh placing at Caulfield last start in Saturday company.
A half sister to talented two-year-old Guelph, Dazzler has somewhat failed to live up to her strong two-year-old form subsequently finishing unplaced in all five starts since notching up back to back wins in her first preparation.
While she is clearly a galloper who possesses a bit of talent her racing pattern of sitting off the speed has often played against her as she has regularly worked home strongly from the back only to finish just outside the placings.
The switch inter-state has often worked wonders for various Darley trained gallopers and given she is racing on her home track she should have no concerns with the Sydney way of going.
On ratings she sits second on overall Timeform figures and while her form in Melbourne doesn't read that well on paper this is a big drop back in grade today and she is expected to be right in the finish.
The Bart Cummings trained Duet appears next in line when she makes her return from an unplaced finish in the Group 1 Coolmore Flight Stakes.
While she was clearly thrown in the deep end on that occasion she wasn't disgraced when beaten only 5.8L by her stablemate Norzita.
Her form prior had been very good in similar company and her two trials in the lead up to this have been encouraging.
Drawn wide expect Bowman to take a sit off the speed and although she may be short of her best over 1200m she is still shapes as one of the leading hopes.
One of the more interesting runners in the field is the Guy Walter trained I've Got The Looks who is making the sharp step up in grade from a very impressive maiden victory at Goulburn.
Finishing second behind the Tim Martin trained Kakakakatchme on debut the daughter of Choisir would go on to prove too strong in her following start scoring by 2L in very quick time.
Obviously this is step up here but given her pull in the weights she clearly cannot be discounted and looms as a major threat.
The Chris Waller trained Here De Princess must be included in the multiples with the blinkers on for the first time.
Good luck and happy punting.
