Mare Too Quick For Her Rivals
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday February 3, 2007
THE Gai Waterhouse-trained Strada will get every chance to win his first Group One in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley today.
The four-year-old is drawn to get the gun run behind speedster Virage De Fortune and it will come down to whether he can finish over the top of the flying Queenslander.Virage De Fortune will lead, with Lee Freedman's California Dane on her outside, while Strada should tuck in behind them with Magnus on his outside.Speed maps suggest that favourite Miss Andretti will be trapped back in the field on the fence, as it's her style to get back in the field. She will have to be ridden for luck.Virage De Fortune should kick clear turning for home, which will allow Strada off her back and the question will be can he sprint past her?If the race was over the 1100m the answer would undoubtedly be yes, but her record suggests she will hold on at 1000m. She is unbeaten over the trip but has never been fully tested with margins of victory - six lengths, 21/2 lengths and 23/4 lengths in the 2005 Moir Stakes.The swoopers will be coming with Miss Andretti, Dance The Waves and Rewaaya all likely to use the camber off the home turn. But they should be giving away too big a start to the frontrunners.Reports are that Strada is comfortable the Melbourne way of going and he worked impressively on Tuesday around the Valley. Owner Alan Bell rates him alongside Schillaci, which is the highest of praise for a sprinter.The Danehill four-year-old can reel off a fast final section and with a soft run he can run past Virage De Fortune in the final 50m.
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury