Chris Lewis
Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri predicts that star mare Sensational Gabby will be improved after her fighting half-length second to Indomitable last week and has excellent prospects of winning the $50,000 Hahn Superdry 3.5 Empress Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“That was her first run for five weeks and she will be fitter this week,” said Olivieri who has won the group 2 Empress Stakes three times. “She sat in the breeze and probably in hindsight you would have liked her to have put a bit more pressure on Indomitable early. But then again that might have been to our detriment.”
A victory in the big race on Friday night would give champion reinsman Chris Lewis his eighth success in the Empress Stakes --- after wins with Candy Nacray (1988), Armbro Lucy (1992), Meggie Dear (2001), Classical Mover (2002), Shes Royalty (2007), Ima Spicey Lombo (2011) and Sensational Gabby (2014).
To win, Sensational Gabby would become only the fourth multiple winner in the 46-year history of the Empress Stakes, following in the footsteps of Bellagena (1971 and 1972), Kiwi Cloud (1977 and 1979) and Golden Goddess (1997-98-99). Olivieri has won the race with Elysees Crest (2010), Ima Spicey Lombo and Sensational Gabby.
Olivieri conceded that drawing No. 4 on the front line in the 2536m mobile event was not ideal for Sensational Gabby. But his optimism grew when Indomitable drew awkwardly at barrier seven, the outside of the front line.
Indomitable started from the prized No. 1 barrier when Clint Hall drove her to an all-the-way victory over Sensational Gabby, who started from the No. 2 barrier and raced without cover throughout before fighting on doggedly to lose by just a half-length. Indomitable virtually sealed victory by dawdling through the lead time in an extremely slow 39.sec. and the first quarter of the final mile in a modest 30.6sec.
Indomitable, trained at Wanneroo by Barry Morrison, looks certain to be restrained to the rear at the start and held up for a final-lap charge. She possesses a blistering finishing burst and warrants great respect.
Twelve months ago Sensational Gabby started from barrier two on the back line and was favourite at 6/4 on. She settled in eighth position before moving to sixth (three wide) at the bell and running home strongly to win by a length from the pacemaker Famous Alchemist.
Drawing barrier two on the front line in Friday night’s race has greatly enhanced the prospects of the Chris King-trained mare Leda McNally, who caught the eye with a strong first-effort over 2130m last Friday night when she started from barrier six, raced in sixth position on the pegs and ran home with a spirited burst to be a close-up fourth behind Indomitable.
That was Leda McNally’s first appearance for three months and Chris Voak is likely to attempt an all-the-way victory.
Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice holds a powerful hand in the race, with three New Zealand-bred mares, Miss Madoff, Bettor Dreams and The Parade. They are all racing in grand style and cannot be underestimated.
Am Opulent, to be driven by Ryan Warwick for Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is also racing with considerable enthusiasm, with three wins and a close last-start second from her past six starts. She will start from the inside of the back line.
