The headline race of this Easter long weekend is looking to be The Galaxy 2013 which, with Black Caviar scaring away the bulk of the sprint stars from other events, has attracted a brilliant field.

Reigning The Galaxy champion Temple Of Boom is back to defend his title in 2013. Photo: Taron Clarke.

Set to light up Rosehill Gardens as Race 7 at 4:10pm (AEST) this year’s $350,000 Group 1 Canterbury BMW Galaxy (1100m) field originally drew a capacity 14 starters plus four emergencies.

The first two of those runners-in-waiting however have earned a start with Unpretentious and Isabella Snowflake to replace the injured Hay List and the also scratched Adebisi.

Early favourite in The Galaxy odds is sizzling filly Snitzerland at a quote of $3.30, the Gerald Ryan-trained daughter of Snitzel having set a track record at Warwick Farm first-up with her three length win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes.

The other top fancies in the BMW Galaxy betting markets are then returning three time Group 1 winner Sea Siren ($4.40) and Glen Boss’ light-weight mount Pampelonne ($7.50) with gate 17 to overcome.

There’s plenty of talent at much juicer odds too for punters that like a bit more value including the well-weighted Howmuchdoyouloveme ($10), Challenge Stakes runner-up Decision Time ($16) and the defending Galaxy winner Temple Of Boom ($26) who is the early market mover.

Of course there’s always more than just the odds to consider when placing your bets so to help out our readers we’ve gone over the 2013 Galaxy field, form guide and betting history to come up with the below must know facts.

2013 The Galaxy Form Facts & Betting Stats

• Last year’s winner was the Tony Gollan-trained Temple Of Boom who came off an unplaced run in the Sebring Stakes, jumped from barrier 8 (of 14) with 57kg and was ridden by James McDonald
• This year #4 Temple Of Boom ($26) is back to defend their title coming off a seventh in the Challenge Stakes, set to carry 55kg from barrier 10 with Hugh Bowman aboard

• James McDonald meanwhile will vie for back-to-back wins this year having picked up the ride on #3 Decision Time ($16) while last year’s winning barrier (8) was drawn by #18 She’s A Fox ($26) who is the fourth emergency and unlikely to gain a start
• Should the last two emergencies fail to gain a start it will be #4 Temple Of Boom starting from barrier eight again
• The most successful barrier meanwhile has been gate 7 with five wins followed by barrier 1 with four wins; this year these gates belong to #17 Fire Thunderbolt (7) and #13 Dystopia (1)
• There are just two last-start winners engaged in the race with #5 Snitzerland (Group 2 Challenge Stakes, 1000m, Warwick Farm, 16/03/2013) and the #16 Isabella Snowflake (Listed BOB Hoysted Handicap, 1000m, Flemington, 02/03/2013) who has gained a start as the second emergency
• No last-start winner has The Galaxy in the past 10 years however with the last to do so being Jetball (1994)
• #16 Isabella Snowflake ($17) also boasts the highest Win Rate of the field with 80%, the lightly-raced Not A Single Doubt filly having won four of her five starts to date
• As for the form on the Challenge Stakes which this year’s favourite #5 Snitzerland won there has been three Galaxy champs in the past decade to come through the race but only Snowland (2003) placed in the lead-up
• She is followed by last emergency #18 She’s A Fox (60%), #5 Snitzerland (58.33%), #8 Howmuchdoyouloveme (55.56%) and #2 Sea Siren (54.55%)
• #16 Isabella Snowflake also has the best Place Percentage (100%) followed by #2 Sea Siren (81.82%), last emergency #18 She’s A Fox (80%), #8 Howmuchdoyouloveme (77.78%) and #9 Tiger Tees (76.47%)
• At the track the horses with the best record are #3 Decision Time (7-3-2-0), #5 Snitzerland (3-1-1-0), #9 Tiger Tees (1-1-0-0), #10 Title (11-4-4-0), #12 Pampelonne (3-1-2-0) and #13 Dystopia (7-2-3-2)
• Over the distance the best form belongs to #3 Decision Time (2-2-0-0), #8 Howmuchdoyouloveme (2-2-0-0), #9 Tiger Tees (7-5-2-0), #4 Temple Of Boom (4-2-0-1), #5 Snitzerland (1-1-0-0), #6 Atomic Force (17-7-2-3), #11 Golden Archer (3-2-1-0), #12 Pampelonne (1-1-0-0), #13 Dystopia (7-2-3-0) and #15 Unpretentious (3-2-0-0)
• Horses that have previously won at the Track & Distance are then #6 Atomic Force (8-2-1-2), #13 Dystopia (1-1-0-0), #5 Snitzerland (1-1-0-0), #3 Decision Time (1-1-0-0) and #10 Title (2-1-0-0)
• Only one favourite in the past 10 years has won The Galaxy; this year the favourite is #5 Snitzerland ($3.30)
• Also going against the punters’ pick is that six of the past 10 The Galaxy favourites have failed to run a place
• There has been 11 double-figure The Galaxy winners since 1983
• The best guide to The Galaxy in the past 10 years has been age with five three-year-olds saluting (eight in the previous 20 years); this year the three-year-olds engaged are #5 Snitzerland and #16 Isabella Snowflake while the last two emergencies #17 Fire Thunderbolt and #18 She’s A Fox also fall within the most successful age group

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for our insider The Galaxy tips to be published shortly.

Already have your selections picked out based on the above facts and stats?

Head straight to bookmaker.com.au and bet with the best making sure to check out their exclusive Pick Your Own Odds markets on all the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival majors including The Galaxy 2013!

2013 The Galaxy Field & Form Guide

Rosehill Race 7 – 4:10pm (AEST) – 30/03/2013

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from bookmaker.com.au and subject to change

*Form Guide Credit – [sportsbet]