Great Sphinx
Angel’s Flight stable have dominated the Great Sphinx Cup in recent years and the trophy looks set to find a new owner for the season 39 renewal.
St Simon Racing saddles the Breeders Cup winner Captains’ Quest, a very talented son of Secret Aurora. He looks very nicely poised in the race to grab a fifth win from six starts. Village Idiot, the smart son of Willo The Wisp enjoys the short distances and he has performed well in this company. The superfast Ultrasonic was outgunned in the Breeders Cup, he is drawn nicely here and will be a factor in the race. Moonlight Special appeals with his positive draw and a top jockey up. Addie Over Skipper ran on well last time and might prefer the extra here. Woodchucker saddles the Talent By Blood colt Hercules Starz whose recent form is inspiring. He will strip fit and we can expect further improvement. He would rate a major threat on his best form. Magnolia Otis has her first run in a cup final and may find herself a few lengths short in this company. Laura Muir is a very game and tough customer, who finished third in her last race. Leonida Quintona rides the recently purchased Flying Zverev, who ran a very decent race at his only start for the stable and he could set the pace if he can overcome the wide draw. Fressa Thunda has won 3 of her 6 starts and gets the services of Stan Bann from a wide draw. Crotch Footsie finished fourth in the heat last week, the draw will count against her here but she will enjoy plenty of support.
| # | Form | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,1,2,1,1 | Captain’s Quest | St Simon Racing | Eliana Selnes | N/A |
| 2 | 15,7,5 | Treacle Tart | Sootie | !Carlee Mukhtar! | N/A |
| 3 | 3,1,2,4,3 | Village Idiot | DR Stables | !Flossie Hillegas! | N/A |
| 4 | 1,1,2,2 | Ultrasonic | RCS Locos | !Frankie Rodier! | N/A |
| 5 | 1,4,1,3,1 | Moonlight Special | Moonlight Stables | !Daniell Attkisson! | N/A |
| 6 | 1,4,4 | Addie Over Skipper | Addictive Racing | Kendall Gordley | N/A |
| 7 | 2,2,4,1 | Hercules Starz | woodchuckers | Mitchell Reckleben | N/A |
| 8 | 20,12,1,2,3 | Magnolia Otis | O’Reilly Park | Velda Salle | N/A |
| 9 | 1,3,2,2,3 | Laura Muir | stewwillwin | Owen Mun | N/A |
| 10 | 10,2,10,5,2 | Flying Zverev | flying spurs | Leonida Quintona | N/A |
| 11 | 4,1,1,4,2 | !Fressa Thunda! | avitblues | Stan Bann | N/A |
| 12 | 13,5,8,7,4 | Crotch Footsie | Gaspers | Dayle Muranaka | N/A |
Pre-race comments from:
DR Stables – “Village Idiot should be in the mix at the end. Just not sure he can out sprint Captain’s Quest in the stretch. I see five horses with a chance of winning, but Captain’s Quest is the horse until beaten in a cup final. Village Idiot should be top five.”
Moonlight Stables – “Once again I am looking for Moonlight Special to do something special in the final. This time, the poor thing’s manager messed up travel for his jockey and he had to run a Sunday heat. Surely he will earn his Special name if he can pull off a win in this one. Going to be another great cup final with this line-up of super 3yos.”
St Simon Racing – “Captain’s Quest has ran an OK heat and should be fit by the final without any issues. I’m hoping for another good run on Saturday. That said there are a few capable of a win here so I’m expecting a competitive race.”
O’Reilly Park – “Magnolia Otis is a lightly raced filly that was purchased from Manor Park as a 2 year old. Not expecting much from her in the final as I think her best work will come as she gets older.”
woodchuckers – “The Sphinx looks a tough race Hercules is in the the conversation, but the good ground looks very suitable for the fast finishers with captain and crow look the goods. Hopefully Hercules can do enough to be a pest and place.”
stewwillwin – “Not much chance for my horse Laura Muir, will be hoping for a top 5 finish at best. Can’t see much between Captain’s Quest, Moonlight Special and Hercules Starz, should be a great race, will the conditions turn fast?”
flying spurs – “Flying Zverev has plenty of speed I just have to keep enough in the tank so he can finish in the money in what looks a above ave field this season good luck to all.
Addictive Racing – “Don’t like my chances in this one, forgot to change training in the last couple of weeks and Skipper looks more like a sprinter than a short. Don’t think it will make the distance and will be struggling in the last quarter.”
avitblues – “For the other one (Fressa Thunda) again hoping for a good run but hoping it will last home.”
RCS Locos – “Ultrasonic was beaten by Captain’s Quest on a dead track in his last race. With the going looking good or maybe even fast for the final, I think hoping to finish top 5 would be more realistic than looking for the win.