I'm keen to follow up on these two from the Port Adelaide Guineas. Starting with Bold Soul, the son of Embellish was the clear eye-catcher in the race when rattling home from last to nab third. While it was visually impressive, the Patrick Payne-trained filly backed it up on the ratings, returning from his 64-day freshen with an equal peak of 98 on the Racing and Sports Scale – the same figure he ran to win the Tasmanian Derby in February. As for Saban, the Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman was only a lip away from Bold Soul, running the same rating (98). What impressed me most about the run was that the son of Shamus Award was able to do this at just his third start. So, with further improvement anticipated for both, a Chairman's Stakes (2000m) into SA Derby (2500m) is a very realistic pathway for the pair. Adding further confidence to the connections of both camps, last year's winner Dunkel (stablemate to Bold Soul) was rated 102 after seven starts, before his Group 1 success.
Race 8: Climbing Star
This mare has returned as good as ever this preparation and is right on track for a bold showing in next fortnight's Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m). The Phillip Stokes-trained four-year-old returned with a career peak when running to 108 on the R&S scale, to score by an impressive 2.7L margin in the Listed Matrice Stakes. Sent out a clear second pick Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes, the mare had plenty to do turning for home and picked up strongly to rattle off the fastest final 400m, only just missing to Benedetta by a long neck (0.4L). Improving to 111 on the R&S scale, Climbing Star doesn't have to raise the bar too much higher to be fighting out the finish in two weeks' time. The same can be said for the winner, who came with a similar but more favourable run home.