Outsider Durendal is at long odds to turn the tables on favourite State Solicitor when they clash again in the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Viddora, above, is one of the main chances in the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
State Solicitor heads the betting for the $1m weight for age feature Summer Carnival sprint at $3.10 at Ladbrokes.com.au coming off a last start win in the Group 3 $150,000 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot in Perth on November 18 while runner up Durendal has been posted as a $41 chance.
Trainer Chris Gangemi pointed out that Durendal will meet State Solicitor 2.5kg better for being beaten a long neck and thinks his sprinter is well over the odds for the Winterbottom Stakes.
“He will be better for the run again,” Gangemi told RSN Racing Pulse.
“He has drawn barrier one and he meets that horse (State Solicitor) two and half kilos better for the other day. He probably shouldn’t be $41.”
“He probably doesn’t have the class of some of the other horses.”
Shaun McGruddy takes the ride replacing Jarrad Noske on Durendal who has drawn the inside gate and Gangemi can see the six year old getting the run of the race from the pole position and figure in the finish.
“From barrier one if he can sit in the box seat he is definitely a place chance.”
Gangemi will also saddle up his tough sprinter Rock Magic who is due for a chance of luck after finishing in the placings once from four starts during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Rock Magic was only beaten one and a half lengths when fourth to She Will Reign in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29 and then finished third to Super Cash in the Group 2 $400,000 Keno Kwikpik Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 14.
The eight year old was out of luck at his next two Melbourne starts when seventh to Hey Doc in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 27 followed by a sixth to Redzel in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 11.
Gangemi said that Rock Magic has settled back into his home surroundings in Perth and is giving him a great chance of claiming the Group 1 trophy in the Winterbottom Stakes.
“A huge chance in Rock Magic and he probably deserves to win a Group 1 and a good second string in Durendal,” Gangemi said.
“He had four runs over there. He has had three weeks since and travelled back a couple of weeks ago. He hasn’t missed a beat. He travelled back beautifully, he has eaten everything, worked brilliantly so he is in good order. He has got one more big run in him I think.”
“In Melbourne he had no luck. If we get a bit of luck on Saturday he will definitely be very hard to beat.”
Jarrad Noske finds himself back on Rock Magic and Gangemi can see him getting a nice run midfield from barrier six in the twelve horse field.
“Midfield with a bit of cover would be nice. He has drawn pretty well so he should be able to possie up midfield or a touch worse,” Gangemi said.
Rock Magic is well in contention in the betting and is the third pick at $6 behind State Solicitor at $3.10 and the smart Adelaide mare Viddora at $4.20.