3 minute read

We look back at the key ratings from a big Group 1 day in Adelaide.

Tobin Bronze Stakes – Tycoon Star (109)

Starting with the Tobin Bronze because it's often a pretty good guide to The Goodwood in a couple of weeks' time and Tycoon Star is at the pointy end of that market.

He's run to a RAS rating of 109 under James McDonald who was happy to sit wide on a fairly slow pace and put them to the sword.

His career peak of 114 came winning Mcneil Stakes in the Spring although both races have returned a similar time figure.

A rating of 109 in a Tobin Bronze is pretty good going compared to recent history. Last year's winner Reserve Bank who of course won The Goodwood went 113 which is the highest in the past 15 years.

109 sits alongside Skybird in 2024 and two pound ahead of Royal Merchant in 2023 who is the other horse to come through the Tobin Bronze and win The Goodwood in recent times.

Off just 20 runners, the market has only expected 1.2 winners and been given two. In what looks a very weak Goodwood, Tycoon Star has to be a big chance, as does the runner up Extragalactic who flew home.

She's ripped home and the splits suggest she was as good as the winner on the day. She'll still need to make the field but she'll be on the minimum in the set weights and penalties and if she can hold a spot early she's definitely a winning hope.

Australasian Oaks – Panova (108)

It was J-Mac and Waller again, coming to Adelaide and taking the Oaks with Panova who ran to a RAS rating of 108 in good style.

It must be a touch frustrating for Dan Clarken & Oopy Macgillivray to turn up with Mating Call who has peaked on the day and just bumped into the mega yard, but Panova was the rightful winner on the day and has done it with some good late splits.

It's not quite up to her 110 peak she ran winning the Carbine Club – she did that when efficiently ridden despite sitting well back off a suicidal tempo.

Here she's sat mid-back off a much gentler speed but still ripped home to suggest she's at least as good as a 110 filly.

A rating of 108, while low by typical Group One standards, is actually quite strong for an Australasian Oaks, which has often been the lowest rated Group One on the Australian calendar.

Since 2010, it sits only behind Lights Of Heaven (115) and Delicacy (110), and alongside Abbey Marie in 2016.

It sits above some recent winners including Benagil (107), Vibrant Sun (106) and Affaire A Suivre (103).

No excuses in behind either – Getta Good Feeling had her chance once she was out and either the platform wasn't ideal or she just doesn't stay 2000m into the back end of her three-year-old campaign (the latter is far more likely).

Robert Sangster Stakes – Geegees Mistruth (113)

Geegees Mistruth won a desperately close Sangster with four horses all within 0.1 lengths on the line, notching up her first win outside of Tasmania.

She'd been right around the mark in plenty of races and hopelessly unlucky in a couple, given a good steer by Childs to track up at the right time and dash best in a compressed race.

A rating of 113 is on the low side for a Sangster which is unsurprising, sitting alongside Charm Stone last year and only one pound ahead of a trio that tie for lowest – Miracles Of Life, Instant Celebrity and Precious Gem.

That list is of course well and truly topped by Black Caviar at 126, while Climbing Star (115), Ruthless Dame (115) and Snapdancer (116) are also recent winners to rate higher.

It appears no real stars are coming for The Goodwood which is a shame, and this form looks very shaky if a few do head there.

Flying For Fun was clearly the unlucky runner in the race and should've won, but I'm always wary of backing unlucky runners in a bunched finish next time out, she was probably suited off the moderate tempo to show a turn of foot and that may not be the case next time.

Reserve Bank won The Goodwood last year with a RAS rating of 118 and that sort of standard would almost certainly win this year with what looks a very moderate field.

He hasn't even raced since The Goodwood and has surely had some issues with a few jump outs and trials across a couple of preparations.

Quite a few from the Sangster won't run including Geegees Mistruth and it hasn't been a huge surprise to see Extragalactic firm given she might not have to beat much at all.