Horse Racing

A quality field of three-year-old fillies are set to take to the Royal Randwick track this Saturday April 9 for the $150,000 Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) the closing race on the bumper 2011 AJC Australian Derby Day programme.

The 2011 Adrian Knox Stakes has drawn a full field of 16 starters plus one emergency, a number of the accepted fillies heading towards a start in the Group 1 AJC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick Saturday week.

Of the fillies lining up in the Adrian Knox Stakes on Saturday, the shortest-priced in the early AJC Oaks odds is the Gary Portelli-trained Rose Of Peace.

Rose Of Peace is rated a $15 chance in the AJC Australian Oaks markets, which are lead by Brazilian Pulse, after the Hussonet filly ran third in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 5.

At her most recent run Rose Of Peace was three quarters of a length away third behind Raspberries in a mile race at Warwick Farm on March 27, but she has suffered a harsh blow drawing the far outside barrier 17 for the Adrian Knox Stakes.

The Peter Snowden-trained Raspberries has also drawn wide with barrier 16 for Saturday, the Lonhro three-year-old having won two and placed second twice in her four most recent starts.

Another filly on the AJC Oaks path that is racing in the Adrian Knox on Saturday is the Lee Freedman-trained Becerra.

“She’s a nice filly, we didn’t give her a very big spring…we had the Oaks in mind for her all the way through,” Freedman said.

Becerra is one of the best-drawn fillies in the Adrian Knox field having come up with barrier two and will be ridden by Corey Brown.

Other notable runners in the Adrian Knox Stakes this year include the Peter Moody-trained Willow Creek (barrier one), Danny O’Brien’s Savabeel filly Placement (barrier eight) coming via the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks at Morephettville, Lady Lonhro (barrier 11) and John O’Shea’s lightly-raced Honor Net (barrier 12) coming off a third to Brazilian Pulse in the Keith F Nolan Classic on March 26.

One of the lesser-known hopefuls in the field is the Matthew Dale-trained Notjustaprettyface.

The daughter of Dehere is prepared in Canberra and made her Sydney debut in the Group 3 Keith F Nolan Classic (1800m) at Rosehill on March 26 where she finished four lengths away ninth behind Brazilian Pulse.

Having drawn well in barrier six for Saturday, Dale is hopeful Notjustaprettyface can be competitive at her second Sydney start.

“We were a little bit disappointed with her run the other day (in the Keith F Nolan Classic) as we thought she would finish a little bit closer,” Dale said.

“She wanted to lay in a bit so we have put the winkers on to try and resurrect that.

“It looks a strong Adrian Knox field, stronger than previous years, but she is fit and well and we will be there having a crack.”

The 2011 Patinack Farm Adrian Knox Stakes will bring Derby Day celebrations to a close at 5:00pm (AEST) on Saturday.

2011 Patinack Farm Adrian Knox Stakes Field, Barriers & Weights