CARRARA CAN DELIVER IN AUSTRALIA POST

By Graham Potter | Friday, June 19, 2009

Jockey Nash Rawiller makes the trip to Eagle Farm for just one ride on Saturday. Rawiller will be aboard the Tony Vasil trained Carrara in the Australia Post Stakes, a Listed race over 1400m for two-year-olds.

The Elvstroem colt appears to have the race at his mercy. Last time over this track and distance Carrara was one of those gunned down late by the blistering finishing burst of Shoot Out in the Group 2 Sires Produce. He was right there though, just 1.50 lengths back in third spot. That was on slow ground over 1400m - tomorrow’s race distance.

Before that Carrara ploughed through the heavy underfoot conditions, responding to an aggressive ride from Rawiller, to land the Doomen Slipper (Listed) in a race run in a torrential downpour. In his only two starts prior to that, Cararra had won on debut and then finished third, but well beaten, by Black Caviar in the Blue Sapphire (Listed). No disgrace there ... the Peter Moody trained Black Caviar is unbeaten in two starts, having won by her two races by a combined total of eleven lengths.

If Carrara’s form is not made to look more flattering by the superior way he handled the soft underfoot conditions compared to his rivals - and he can reproduce that level of performance on better going - the Tony Vasil trained runner should take a power of beating.

The Gerry Moon trained Taffy is an interesting runner. The gelding won a Maiden at Ipswich with apprentice Jana Piper on board three runs back. He then came out and started at odds of $101 when stepping up into Listed company in the Doomben Slipper where he finished third, just 2.50 lengths behind Carrara at level weights. Larry Cassidy had the ride on that occasion.

Undaunted at the lack of respect shown in the betting, Moon again pushed the envelope and asked Taffy (with Damian Browne up) to tackle the Group 2 Sires Produce over 1400m. This time he started at $41.00. The Sires Produce was won by Shoot Out, Carrara finished third 1.50 lengths back. Taffy held his form finishing 2.60 lengths behind Carrara - almost exactly the same distance he had been beaten by Carrara in their previous clash.

So it is fair to concede that Taffy is currently around 2.50 lengths inferior to Carrara, but that is close enough for him to be a factor, particularly if luck in the running favours one runner and not the other. This time he could be right down to single figure odds. These two rivals again meet at level weights.

An interesting point here is that apprentice Jana Piper has regained the ride on Taffy. That translates into a particular show of confidence in the rider by Gerry Moon as the Australian Post Bicentennial Stakes is a non-claiming race. Piper’s season has had its ups and downs with a series of weight and disciplinary issues plaguing her progress, but this ride does represent a real opportunity.

Much has been made of apprentice Brent Evans winning non-claiming races on Chadvetadze and Mitanni during the carnival. It would be a huge result for Piper and her profile if she got a good result on Taffy. The young rider, who currently leads the Sunshine Coast Jockeys Premiership, only had her first ride in town a couple of weeks ago.

Four other runners to consider are:
Shellscrape: Cruised home in his only start in Queensland trouncing the useful Temple Of Boom by 4.30 lengths. That was over 1200m. Hit the line like he would be comfortable over more ground but the extra 200m still represents something of an unknown factor.

Dual Chamber: Chased the smart Kiss Me Katy home over 1200m last time in her second start this prep to give a hint of better things to come. She has done her best work at this track and the extra ground should suit.

Man Of Oar: Narrow Maiden win on the Cushion Track last time does not make him the most credentialed runner in the race, but his trainer’s ability to place his horses well suggests that he could be more competitive here than he would appear to be at first glance.

African Lion: Seems sure to build on strong debut win. Looks to be oozing potential but his inexperience could be a worry.

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