Champagne Ruby will take plenty of beating at Sandown-Hillside today when she lines up in the D’Urban 0-78 Handicap (1600m).
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Greg Eurell-trained runner has been in outstanding form of late and drops back in grade after a close third behind Secret Liaison last start at Moonee Valley.
Champagne Ruby has not been far away in all three runs this preparation and won at Mornington three starts back over a similar distance to this.
Jamie Mott has an outstanding record on the Four-year-old mare and she holds the highest weight Adjusted Timeform rating of the field.
She is likely to settle pretty handy from barrier 8 and I expect she will take plenty of running down here a course she has placed at previously.
Looks to be a competitive field, and Street Diamond looms as the main danger, on the back of a last start win.
She has drawn to get a good run and has shown plenty of ability in recent times to suggest she will be in the finish again today.
The Ultra consistent Battles End from the Jason Warren yard steps up in grade for this but has been very good in easier company and would not be surprised to see her in the mix as well.
Bona Fides has won two of her last three, including a 2.5L win at Echuca last start and has a good record over the trip.
Princess Mossman is the best of the rest, following up two wins with a last start third placing at Cranbourne.
Sayangku who resumes here also has each way claims after producing some solid form last preparation and trial form leading into this was solid enough, she just may need more ground.
Whilst there appears to be a fair bit of depth in this Champagne Ruby has form in some handy metropolitan races and should prove too strong for this lot.
