The Metropolitan next Saturday, October 1, could be on the cards for the John O’Shea-trained Colin Stephen Quality 2016 winner Allergic if there’s give in the ground according to jockey James McDonald.
A seven day back-up into the 2016 The Metropolitan could be on the cards for Colin Stephen Quality winner Allergic. Photo: Steve Hart.
McDonald was pleased with the efforts of the Godolphin-raced gelding at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Pendant Day, but said the favourite didn’t love the firm going in the $125,000 Group 3 2016 Queen’s Cup (2400m) – registered as the Colin Stephen Quality.
“I wouldn’t want to see him on a track like that again,” he said post-race.
“The track was a bit firm for him and I’ve felt him let down better than that.”
On the back of a last start third to McCreery in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) a fortnight back, Street Cry five-year-old Allergic jumped favourite in the Colin Stephen.
He settled second last in the pack of just five runners with stablemate Alegria at the tail end of the field as the Jim Scobie-trained roughie from Gundagai Zero To Ten led them round on a Good (3) course.
Chaquinta travelled second chasing a fourth straight win before eventually fading to finish last, as the evergreen Chris Waller-trained veteran Junoob chased well in third appreciating the firm going.
The field strung out around eight lengths as they came around the back, before jockey Tim Clark made an early move on Alegria at the 800m.
He swooped around the outside of the field on the Medaglia D’Oro mare to hit the front, which also got fellow hoop Brenton Avdulla going on Waller’s consistent nine-year-old Junoob.
Alegria led them around the turn with Avdulla winding up on Junoob who was fighting hard between the two Godolphin gallopers, keeping himself firmly in contention.
With 100m to go Allergic ($2.05) drew away hitting the front in a gripping finish to narrowly deny Junoob ($3.20), while Alegria ($5.50) finished off the trifecta in third.
“He relaxed really good and I thought that was key to winning the race,” McDonald said.
“He’s got a good turn of foot and he showed that today.”
The Colin Stephen Quality winner Allergic is now exempt from ballot for the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick next weekend, a genuine option if there’s give in the ground according to McDonald.
“If there’s give in the ground he’d go that way [The Metropolitan],” McDonald said.
The last The Metropolitan winner to come directly off a run in the Colin Stephen was Herculian Prince (5th in 2010) six years ago.
To back Allergic next race and check the updated 2016 The Metropolitan betting odds and offers head to Ladbrokes.com.au now!
2016 Colin Stephen Quality Results & Finishing Order
Rosehill Race 2 – 24/09/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | ALLERGIC | John O’Shea | James McDonald | – | 4 | 58kg | $2.05F |
| 2 | 1 | JUNOOB (GB) | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 0.3L | 2 | 59kg | $3.10 |
| 3 | 3 | ALEGRIA | John O’Shea | Tim Clark | 0.8L | 5 | 54kg | $5 |
| 4 | 5 | ZERO TO TEN | Jim Scobie | Jason Collett | 6.6L | 1 | 54kg | $41 |
| 5 | 4 | CHAQUINTA (NZ) | Joe Cleary | Christian Reith | 7.8L | 3 | 54kg | $13 |
