Kersley Confident Weight Claim Will Carry Necklet To Victory
8 June, 2018
Thoroughbred
Trainer Fred Kersley has confidence that Necklet can defeat a hot field of three-year-olds in the Lavazza Plate (1400m) at Belmont on Saturday.
The talented Snitzel filly is coming off a strong win over Pearls And Prawns (1400m) on May 12 and will be hard to beat again according to Kersley.
Necklet, who is the $2.90 favourite with the TAB, will carry 54.5kg with the claim of Brodie Kirby. The three-year-old has drawn perfectly in barrier one.
“With the advantage of the claim she is going to be hard to beat,” Kersley said.
“The four weeks between runs is not ideal, but it is what it is.
“We go to the races as a live chance.
“The claim is certainly going to help.”
Brutus Maximus ($4.60), a last-start winner at Northam and Arcadia Prince ($5.00), who charged late to grab Paddy’s Shadow in the last stride, sit behind Necklet in TAB markets.
Brutus Maximus, to be ridden by Paul Harvey, has drawn barrier two. The David Harrison-trained colt carries 56kg.
Arcadia Prince, along with State Prosecutor one of two starters for owner Bob Peters and co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams, lumps 59.5kg.
In a field of 15 the Pierro gelding will commence from barrier 13. William Pike retains the mount.
“He has an awkward gate and has to carry a lot of weight,” said Peters.
“It’s making it fairly difficult with weight and barrier combined.
“It’s a very strong field, but he is a nice horse and anything can happen in a race.”
Simon Miller says Alpha Sky can bounce back, but will need all the favours to go his way.
A winner two starts back, the Patronize gelding raced wide when third to Aconite two weeks ago.
“It’s a hot race and a hot field,” Miller said on Tabradio.
“If we can get cover that will be brilliant, but there are no free kicks in this race.
“He has to be on his best behaviour because it’s a good field.”
Miller has more faith and confidence in Market Ruler who looks poised to continue her winning ways in the opening race on the Belmont card.
With a host of top two-year-old’s spelling after their Karrakatta Plate campaigns, Miller has extended Market Ruler’s preparation into the winter.
After a ninth placing to stable mate Valour Road in last April’s Karrakatta Plate (1200m), Market Ruler has run two cracking races over 1000m.
She defeated Pablo’s Poem by three lengths at Ascot and produced a similar margin when leading all the way at Belmont at her previous outing.
Market Ruler, ideally drawn in barrier one for jockey William Pike, is the raging $1.40 favourite to make it a winning hat trick in the Magic Millions Plate (1000m).
“She is a marvel to have as many runs as she has had in one prep,” Miller said.
“She is equal to what she was a fortnight ago and hasn’t trained off.
“I’m really happy with her and her work has been good.
“Since the addition of blinkers she has gone to another level.”
Julio Santarelli