PUNTERS prefer small fields with quality compared to large fields that cause ‘traffic issues’.
Tomorrow’s Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney has just six runners but multiple winning chances.
Four of the six appear, on paper, capable of winning and the early market reflects that.
Godolphin’s brilliant Sepoy four-year-old mare ALIZEE is the favourite at $1.90, which is not surprising given her stunning first-up win at Randwick a month ago.
That was in the Listed $150,000 Christmas Classic (1200m) when she came from a long way back and displayed a sizzling turn of foot to win easily.
The Expressway is a whole different story with the brilliant TRAPEZE ARTIST ($3.70), LE ROMAIN ($4.20) and evergreen star HARTNELL ($11) engaged.
TRAPEZE ARTIST is an intriguing galloper with incredible talent as his record suggests.
At his best he is arguably the best short-course horse in the country as his brilliant win in the Group 1 $2.5 million T. J. Smith Stakes (1200m) last year indicated.
He then followed that up with another quality victory in the Group 1 $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) two weeks later.
Trainer Gerald Ryan put the four-year-old son of Snitzel straight in the paddock after running a brave second to Redzel in the $13 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October.
His fresh record is impressive with two wins and a third placing from four starts and drawing the outside barrier of six is probably a bonus given his run-on racing style.
Punters have already shown an early liking for TRAPEZE ARTIST as he has firmed from $4.20 into his current quote of $3.70 since markets were released on Wednesday.
ALIZEE has been a marginal drifter from $1.80 out to $1.90 which is a natural reaction to the support for TRAPEZE ARTIST.
ALIZEE is a quality mare having won six of 15 starts including the Group 1 $1.1 million Queen Of The Turf at Randwick last April.
She has a remarkable record on firm ground winning five of her 10 starts, including the G2 Tea Rose, G2 Light Fingers and the G1 Queen Of The Turf.
Blake Shinn will ride the mare for the first time in tomorrow’s Expressway, while Tim Clark will take the ride on TRAPEZE ARTIST.
Godolphin’s ‘old-timer’ HARTNELL is back for another campaign and remarkably he tackles 1200-metres for the first time in his career.
He hasn’t raced since the Spring Carnival in Melbourne last year where he finished his campaign with a brave second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap before being unplaced in the Group 1 Cantala.
He has a good first-up record having either won or finished second in six of his 10 first-up starts.
Trainer James Cummings has given him just one short 900-metre trial so the eight-year-old will go into this race very fresh and dangerous late.
The other winning chance is Kris Lees’ remarkable six-year-old LE ROMAIN ($4.20) who flies fresh and will be very dangerous in this race.
LE ROMAIN hasn’t started since a fabulous second in the Group 1 $1 million Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during Melbourne Cup eek last year.
Hot jockey James McDonald has the ride and you can be sure he will be primed for this race.
This Expressway is a terrific clash between some outstanding gallopers, but for mine TRAPEZE ARTIST and LE ROMAIN both represent better value than the brilliant ALIZEE.