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Liam Birchley’s What A Gal looks poised to further validate last year’s red-hot TJ Smith form at a sodden Eagle Farm this afternoon.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The chestnut filly lines up in the Winning Edge Presentations Maiden (1200m) today at the site of her most recent start where she finished sixth in the Group 1 two-year-old TJ Smith back in June, getting within three lengths of Sizzling.
What A Gal is the last horse out of that field to race again. Incredibly, six of those including Sizzling have come out and won again.
Sizzling won the Listed Gold Edition Plate late last year but his best performance since that narrow TJ win was a 1.9L sixth to Nechita in the Grouop 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day at Flemington.
Kabayan, who fell a nose short of Sizzling in that TJ Smith, came out over the spring to beat home boom Peter Snowden colt Albrecht in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).
TJ Smith third placegetter Academus went on to win the WA Guineas in November while Dances On Stars, Choice Bro and Courtz Boy are also subsequent winners from what’s proven to be one of last season’s hottest juvenile races.
Given the impressive alumni from that race, a midweek maiden at Eagle Farm doesn’t look like too big an obstacle for What A Gal.
Her TJ run netted a weight-adjusted Timeform rating of 99. That puts her lengths clear of this field on ratings.
An extra slice of insurance ahead of today’s resuming run lies in her debut performance, in October at this track in 2011.
That was on a heavy surface in open two-year-old grade where she ran on strongly for second.
Jockey Paul Hammersley certainly hasn’t forgotten about Birchley’s classy filly and will jump straight back aboard after engineering that bold TJ Smith run.
If she’s come back anywhere near her best she really should win this in a canter.
There only looks to be one genuine challenger on paper.
Gallinari was only beaten half a length 18 days ago in the annual $100,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast maiden.
Unsurprisingly it’s proven to be a strong race over the past few years and she gets back to her home track today which should give her an edge.
Her second placing behind Danrho landed a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 66 – well behind What A Gal but she should have a fitness edge.
She’ll be made to carry half a kilogram extra than What A Gal though which certainly provides a test, as does barrier 11.
On form however, none of the rest of these are likely to threaten What A Gal.
Ex-Snowden galloper Prose has been scratched while Robert Heatchote’s Shamtilly Lace, who rates next best, only looks a minor place chance.