The Clarry Conners trained Torvill remains the favourite for Saturday’s Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions The Roses (2000m) at Doomben despite drawing a horror barrier.
Torvill, above, remains the favourite for The Roses at Doomben despite having drawn a wide barrier. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have Torvill at the top of the betting at $3.90 for The Roses even though the Not A Single Doubt filly drew barrier eighteen in the final field of sixteen plus five emergencies.
At best, Torvill will jump from gate fifteen in the final sixteen horse field with three of the five emergencies drawing inside of her and the filly will have the services again of local hoop James Orman.
Torvill is on a path towards the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 26 and Conners is hoping for a solid performance to give him confidence heading towards the Blue Riband Classic for the fillies.
“If she runs as I expect her to, she will run in the Oaks,” Conners told The Courier-Mail.
“If we don’t think she will go the Oaks distance — which is only 2200m this year — I will drop her back to the mile of the Queensland Guineas.”
Torvill has brought her best form to Brisbane for a comprehensive win in the Listed $125,000 The Bracelet (1630m) at Doomben on April 28 which followed mixed results during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Torvill’s best Autumn Carnival performance was a second to Shoals in the Group 1 $500,000 James Boag’s Premium Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on March 3 followed by a second again at her next start in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Draught Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange on March 16.
The Not A Single Doubt filly was then unplaced at her next two runs for a sixth to Hiyaam in the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 31 before running fourth to California Turbo in the Listed $150,000 The Agency South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick on day two of The Championships.
On the second line of betting for The Roses at $5.50 is the first of Chris Waller’s three runners, Youngstar, who has drawn in close at barrier four with Kerrin McEvoy to ride.
Youngstar is chasing a hat trick of wins but is facing a huge step up in class after winning a 1500m maiden at Hawkesbury on April 17 followed by a three and a quarter lengths win in an 1885m BenchMark Handicap at Newcastle on April 28.
Next in the betting at $6.50 in the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained Snogging and Waller’s second runner Another Dollar.
Snogging has drawn barrier thirteen with Corey Brown booked to ride and is coming off a last start win in a 1600m three year old Handicap at Caulfield on April 29.
Another Dollar was also out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up with gate fifteen in the original draw, and will be ridden by Brisbane’s premiership winning jockey Jeff Lloyd.
The lightly raced Ocean Park filly has two wins and three placings from five race starts and is coming off a last start second to Torvill in The Bracelet.
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