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Eclair Mystic to press on for shot at 2011 Australian Guineas
Eclair Mystic is expected to continue onto the 2011 Australian Guineas after winning the Zedative Stakes
On Australia Day Stratum gelding Eclair Mystic bought their impressive career record up to six wins from just eight starts with a narrow victory in the $100,000 Listed Zedative Stakes (1200m).
Despite the victory, however, trainer Robert Smerdon admitted Eclair Mystic “didn’t have much to spare on the line”, but remained firm that the $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) is still the main aim for the galloper.
Eclair Mystic may have won the Zedative on Wednesday, but it was a close call and a gritty fight to maintain the lead with just a half-neck the margin from a fast finishing Spirited Eagle as the $2.40 favourite Eclair Mystic seemed to lose steam over the final strides.
There are now questions over their ability to last the 1600m distance of the Australian Guineas, running at Flemington on March 5.
The longest distanced win for Eclair Mystic is only 1400m when they won the Community Raceday Handicap at Flemington back in April last year as a two-year-old.
Currently Eclair Mystic is paying $41 to win, slashed from their opening quote of $61, and $11 to place in the 2011 Australian Guineas odds at Luxbet.
Early Australian Guineas betting is lead by $9 favourite Star Witness with reigning Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva the next shortest priced entry in the Luxbet markets at $10.
The Peter Moody-trained Anacheeva resumed racing for the season on Wednesday’s Australia Day meet also contesting the Zedative, finishing over two lengths back from the winner in seventh.
The placing may have been disappointing, but Moody was still pleased with the first-up effort by his Anabaa colt.
Indeed, Anacheeva did manage to make up around six lengths on the home straight boasting the fastest final 200m sectional time of just 11.57s of the Zedative field and is far more confident over the mile.
Caulfield-based trainer Smerdon has named the $200,000 Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on February 19 as Eclair Mystic’s next start on way to the Australian Guineas.
To view the full 2011 Australian Guineas odds and get in on the generous futures prices for this autumn carnival feature, head over to leading online bookmaker Luxbet today!
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography
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