It’s been 12 months in the making, but the most talked about new race on the Australasian calendar takes flight for its second running tomorrow evening.
It’s always easy in hindsight, but the inaugural edition of The Rising Sun last year has subsequently turned out to be the form race of the season.
The winner AMAZING DREAM, the only mare in the race, came out a fortnight later to take on all-comers in the Blacks A Fake and beat them. Her deeds as a race mare in the Southern Hemisphere were elite and she is now taking on the best in North America.
BETTER ECLIPSE will be looking to overcome the 13 saddle cloth when he makes his Albion Park debut in The Rising Sun, and COPY THAT went within a head of doing so in last year’s edition. The Kiwi invader then went on to win the Sunshine Sprint and only a few months later, the New Zealand Trotting Cup.
EXPENSIVE EGO was the top seed leading into last year’s running after a Chariots Of Fire dominance which then led to the Queensland-bred pacer chasing home KING OF SWING into second in the 2021 Miracle Mile. Running third after working from the second row in last year’s Rising Sun, he was subsequently first past the post in the Inter Dominion before losing that crown in the stewards’ room.
And that’s only the first three past the post.
With the likes of current open class leader and Tab Blacks A Fake favourite SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS, KRUG and BUNDORAN amongst the beaten brigade, it truly was an all-star class.
So, what will we be saying about the class of 2022 this time next year?
While the likes of BONDI LOCKDOWN and ROCK N ROLL DOO would have been exceptional additions to the field, there is still nine Group 1 winners facing the starter for the $305,000 contest.
Of course, if either of the three-year-olds are to cross the line first, another $100,000 will be added to their prizemoney kitty.
While there are some runners at bolter’s odds with the TAB currently, such is the quality of the field that any of the 12 runners would not be a complete surprise as the eventual winner.
Here is how I have leant with my selections:
3) LADIES IN RED
Her dominance of her age and sex at two and three was astonishing, and often overcoming poor barrier draws, she has done the unbelievable on multiple occasions. Even in defeat last start in the 4YO Mares APG Final at Menangle, her effort was enormous after dishing out amazing personal sectionals to run Tough Tilly to a neck. Her ability to adapt to any situation means that she can be relied upon in several different circumstances, and while her gate speed is somewhat unknown, the barrier draw of three looks favourable. It’s never easy to take on the boys, but Amazing Dream proved that it’s possible last year and I think Ladies In Red can show that girls do it best.
6) BEYOND DELIGHT
The most popular runner this week in the fixed odds market, Beyond Delight’s last start Group 1 APG victory was a perfect display of this lightly-raced stallion’s extreme high speed. Slightly wayward as a youngster, he seems to have become more of a “racehorse” each time he steps out and his early speed will be a vital part of the initial race shape. If he manages to touch down to the fence first, he holds all the aces, although finding a position without over-exerting is crucial. Jack Callaghan jumps aboard for the first time, but has had plenty of practice driving speed horses in big contests since linking up with Spirit Of St Louis and will be hoping he can produce once again.
2) LEAP TO FAME
Have we forgotten about how dominantly he dealt with the NSW Derby field four months ago when only in second gear?
Queensland’s leading hope of a local victory, the three-year-old colt hasn’t been seen under race conditions since that maiden Group 1 success but has been readied for this assignment with two trials over the last few weeks. We saw from KRUG last year how hard it is for the youngsters to take on the hardier girls and boys 12 months older, but his talent is obvious.
He lands close and maybe he will be the hunter as opposed to the hunted here.
13) BETTER ECLIPSE
It was a dash of A Butt brilliance last year when COPY THAT ripped around from the outside of the second row to land outside of the leader and subsequently one-by-one, and an equally brilliant steer from Greg Sugars will be required from gate 13. Bursting onto the elite scene with a 1.47.6min record-breaking Chariots Of Fire mile rate, he proved it was no fluke with a wonderful Miracle Mile third.
He was sharpened up with a smart trial on Tuesday, but will need some early fireworks to assist his cause.
Sky Racing Active will bring audiences uninterrupted coverage of Saturday night’s Rising Sun card with Ryan Phelan, Chris Barsby, Greg O’Connor and myself catching up with all of the key players and trying to find plenty of winners. Hopefully you can join us from 5pm!
BEST of the weekend – R8 N3 Ladies In Red @ Albion Park
Brittany Graham is a regular host on Sky Racing and the Sky Racing Active app, plus In The Gig with Ben Way and Gareth Hall every Tuesday night on Sky Racing 2 from 6pm.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.
