Gai Waterhouse will have English in peak condition when she lines up for a re-match with brilliant sprinter Redzel in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) on day one of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
English, above with white cap, beats Redzel in all red colours in the 2017 Challenge Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
English and Redzel have clashed on five previous occasions with the Waterhouse trained mare getting the upper hand once when they ran the quinella in the 2017 Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.
Their four other meetings have seen Redzel come out the victor with their latest clash resulting in English finishing fifth to the Peter and Paul Snowden trained speedster in this year’s Challenge Stakes four weeks ago.
English has had one more run since for a flashing second to In Her Time in the Group 1 $700,000 The PFD Food Services Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago as her final lead up run for the T J Smith Stakes and Waterhouse said that she will strip in peak conditions for the race that is named after her famous father Tommy Smith.
“English is in super order and has come through her last start brilliantly. She is holding her condition very well, she is peaking at the right time heading into her finale on Saturday and with Sam back aboard, she’ll be right there in the finish. Winning chance,” Waterhouse said on her website.
Hong Kong based jockey Sam Clipperton rode English in The Galaxy and will return to partner the Encosta De Lago mare again and will settled her in the second half of the field from barrier eleven.
Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott will also saddle up dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour in the T J Smith Stakes and the ‘Lady Trainer’ is giving the Star Witness mare a strong each way chance.
“We cannot fault Global Glamour heading into Saturday’s Group 1 assignment. She has had a bit of time between starts, she certainly has the fitness on her side and although it is a very strong field she’ll prove hugely competitive come race day. Strong each-way chance,” Waterhouse said.
Global Glamour has set the pace in her last two starts for a second to Endless Drama in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 17 followed by a second to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 10.
Tim Clark retains the mount on Global Glamour will who jump from barrier nine in the field that has been reduced to eleven runners on Friday with the early scratchings of Missrock, Showtime and Thronum.
Redzel heads the betting for the T J Smith Stakes at $2.30 with Ladbrokes.com.au while English is marked at $11 and Global Glamour listed as a $14 chance.
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