Anthony Cummings’ rising stayer Strike The Stars has had their 2011 Spring Champion Stakes odds slashed following an eye-catching win in the $200,000 Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on the weekend.
Strike The Stars is favourite to win the Spring Champion Stakes on Epsom Handicap Day
The improving Savabeel three-year-old now sits at the top of the Luxbet odds for the $400,000 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick’s Epsom Handicap Day meeting Saturday week, October 1, at a quote of $4.40.
Having previously run a gallant third behind subsequent Hill Stakes winner Trusting in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on September 3, Strike The Stars ($2F) broke their maiden status on Saturday with a three quarter length win over Doctor Doom ($6.50) in the Gloaming Stakes, King’s Pact ($26) finishing a further three and a half lengths away in a distant third.
It was a gallant victory in the Gloaming as Strike The Stars made a mess of the jump but still managed to win running away.
2011 Spring Champion Stakes Odds
After five earlier career wins that produced three minor placings but no victories, Strike The Stars finally enjoyed their time in the winner’s stall and look to have an elite level win in the Spring Champion Stakes within their grasp.
“I’ll be absolutely disappointed if he doesn’t win the Spring Champion,” Cummings admitted.
Cummings also said there was a slim chance Strike The Stars may travel down to Melbourne for a shot at the $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but that the October 29 feature was unlikely with the autumn next year shaping up as a better aim.
“The option is there to take him to Melbourne for the Victoria Derby, a huge temptation, but I can’t see it as being the right thing to do,” Cummings said.
“It is his first preparation, he has only had one week in the paddock, he is a really good horse.
“If we put him away we’ll have the best staying three-year-old in the autumn.”
Following closely in the Spring Champion Stakes 2011 markets at Luxbet is $4.80 second favourite, the Paul Messara-trained Rekindled Alliance.
Other horses at single-figure odds for the three-year-olds classic include the Peter Snowden-trained Ambidexter ($6.50), Group 3 Newcastle Spring Stakes winner Darci Be Good ($7.50) and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Just The Tonic ($8.50) while Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes runner-up Doctor Doom is at $13.
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2011 McGrath Gloaming Stakes Result & Finishing Order
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | STRIKE THE STARS (NZ) | Anthony Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 56.5kg | $2F | |
| 2 | 7 | DOCTOR DOOM | Guy Walter | Rod Quinn | 0.8L | 11 | 56.5kg | $6.50 |
| 3 | 6 | KING’S PACT | David Payne | Christian Reith | 4.3L | 7 | 56.5kg | $26 |
| 4 | 9 | ALL SERENE | Grahame Begg | Brad Pengelly | 4.7L | 8 | 56.5kg | $201 |
| 5 | 8 | TUNES | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 5L | 1 | 56.5kg | $20 |
| 6 | 1 | COCKY RAIDER | David Payne | Corey Brown | 7L | 6 | 56.5kg | $7 |
| 7 | 5 | DENWOOD | Darryl Hansen | Chris Munce | 7.7L | 2 | 56.5kg | $31 |
| 8 | 4 | SANGSTER (NZ) | Trent Busuttin | Glyn Schofield | 7.9L | 10 | 56.5kg | $4.60 |
| 9 | 2 | WIN FOR WILSON | John P Thompson | Joao Moreira | 8.8L | 3 | 56.5kg | $19 |
| 10 | 10 | LIEUTENANT COLONEL | John P Thompson | Nash Rawiller | 23.2L | 4 | 56.5kg | $101 |
| 11 | 11 | LAKE LYNETTE | Grahame Begg | Brenton Avdulla | 47.3L | 9 | 54.5kg | $151 |
