Nathan Doyle‘s undefeated colt Private Harry is favourite to win his Group race debut when taking on a field of older sprinters at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday in The Galaxy 2025.
One of five elite level Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival features on the Golden Slipper Day card, this year’s Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) features a typically crack line-up of short-distance specialists.
Favourite in the latest The Galaxy betting markets at $3.30 through Ladbrokes.com.au is Harry Angel three-year-old Private Harry who is not only yet to race in Group 1 grade but who is as yet untested in Group company.
He has won his opening four career starts and was last seen dominating the lucrative $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m) at the Sunshine Coast in early January.
That was an impressive effort when beating home last year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot by over two lengths, the form of which has been subsequently franked with the second placed filly running placings behind Lady Shenandoah in the Group 2 Light Fingers (2nd), Group 1 Surround Stakes (2nd), and last weekend’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic (3rd).
The bookies are now tipping the Sunlight Plate form to continue to hold up in tougher grade races this weekend with Private Harry well-weighted and coming off two subsequent winning trials to keep him fit and firing.
The main danger in The Galaxy odds online is the early market mover Commemorative backed in from $8 to $6 to win his second on the trot.
In form hoop Zac Lloyd is drawn to get a lovely run from barrier two on the James Cummings trained I Am Invincible mare with the four-year-old impressing with her 1.72 length Group 3 Wenona Girl Handicap success at Randwick a fortnight ago.
She rises in grade here but comes back from 54kg to just 51kg and will be flying on the light weight over her ideal distance (4:2-1-0) in The Galaxy.
The Team Hawkes trained four-year-old Briasa, a winner of six of his seven starts to date, returns to the races in the Group 1 and is the other shortest priced in The Galaxy odds paying $7.
The Smart Missile gelding, racing for the first time since his Group 2 The Hunter victory at Newcastle in the spring, is drawn the far outside barrier but plenty of The Galaxy winners from the past 20 years have won from wide out.
The last of the single figure hopes is Growing Empire ($8) for Ciaron Maher.
Champion hoop James McDonald partners the smart Zoustar colt who, along with the favourite, is out to be the first three-year-old The Galaxy winner since Russian Revolution in 2017.
Growing Empire was huge against the best sprinters in the country over the spring recording placings in the Group 1 Manikato (2nd), the $20 million The Everest (3rd) and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (3rd).
This prep he has had two unplaced runs when seventh fresh at Flemington in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) before an improved effort for fourth behind Joliestar in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), and he could be the improver in the field getting into his stride now.
Maher saddles up three hopes in the event chasing his maiden The Galaxy trophy with Growing Empire joined by the rails drawn I Am Me ($13) who ran third in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes last start and Estriella ($23) who was disappointing fresh when well back in Caulfield’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
Challenge Stakes winning five-year-old Jedibeel ($16) and $3 million earner Front Page ($15) first-up looking to add to his imposing record when resuming present as the potential value The Galaxy runners this season.
The 2025 Kia Ora Galaxy is set to run as Rosehill Race 9 at 5:15pm (AEDT) as the penultimate event on the card.
The Galaxy 2025 Odds
Kia Ora Galaxy (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Mazu (11)
J: Hugh Bowman 58kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up 6th of 10 at Flemington in the G1 Lightning on February 15 over 1000m, slow going 4.5 len behind Skybird with 58.5kg at $11. Second run from a spell 5th of 10 at Randwick in the G2 Challenge on March 8 over 1000m, 1.75 len behind Jedibeel with 58.5kg at $9.50. Happy to overlook. | ||
|
2. Uncommon James (8)
J: Damian Lane 58kg
T: Matthew Hoysted |
||
| Second-up. First-up after 10 months sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 10 at Randwick in the G2 Challenge on March 8 over 1000m, 1.5 len behind Jedibeel carrying 58.5kg at $7. Previously second-up second last of 9 at Eagle Farm in the G2 Victory Stakes on May 4 over 1200m, on a slow track; 14 len behind Antino with 58.5kg at $3.80. Hard to recommend with any confidence. | ||
|
3. I Am Me (1)
J: Nash Rawiller 57.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 13th of 16 at Caulfield in the G1 Oakleigh Plt on February 22 over 1100m, 8 len behind Jimmysstar carrying 57kg at $8.50. Second-up ran on from midfield; 3rd of 10 at Randwick in the G2 Challenge on March 8 over 1000m, 1.3 len behind Jedibeel with 56.5kg at $2.60. Best form is good enough to win this. | ||
|
4. Lady Laguna (3)
J: Tommy Berry 57kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
| Resuming. Finished off last preparation sixth of 16 at Ascot in the G1 Winterbottom November 30 over 1200m, 2 len behind Overpass with 56.5kg at $3.80. First up last campaign seventh of 10 at Randwick in the G3 Toy Show August 24 over 1100m, 2.5 len behind Kimochi with 61kg at $8.50. Likely to need this. | ||
|
5. Jedibeel (12)
J: Tom Marquand 56.5kg
T: Brad Widdup |
||
| Second run back. First-up after three months ran on from midfield and won by 1.2 len at Randwick G2 Challenge March 8 over 1000m defeating Kimochi carrying 58.5kg at $10. Previously second-up second last of 9 at this track in the LR Starlight on November 30 over 1100m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Eagle Nest carrying 54kg at $3.50. Hard to tip against him on that sort of form. Returned well and looks great value again. | ||
|
6. Growing Empire (7)
J: James McDonald 56kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up 7th of 10 at Flemington in the G1 Lightning on February 15 over 1000m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Skybird carrying 55.5kg at $3.80. Last start 4th of 15 at Flemington in the G1 Newmarket on March 8 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Joliestar with 55.5kg at $11. Capable on his day and gets his chance with J Mac aboard. | ||
|
7. Dragonstone (13)
J: Alysha Collett 56kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
| Second run back. First-up after four months 6th of 10 at Randwick in the G2 Challenge on March 8 over 1000m, 3.5 len behind Jedibeel carrying 58.5kg at $14. Previously second-up 4th of 11 at Randwick in the G2 The Shorts on September 21 over 1100m, 1.0 len behind I Am Me with 55kg at $26. Hard to have in this contest. | ||
|
8. Front Page (5)
J: Tim Clark 55kg
T: Matthew Dale |
||
| Back from a spell. Finished off last preparation second of 13 at Flemington in the LR Mss Security November 9 over 1200m, a head behind Rey Magnerio with 59.5kg at $4.50. First up last campaign second of 14 at Randwick Kosciuszko October 19 over 1200m, soft track; 2.25 len behind Far Too Easy with 59kg at $2.50. Meets a tougher line-up and prefer others. | ||
|
10. Estriella (10)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 54.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Second run back. First-up after four months 14th of 16 at Caulfield in the G1 Oakleigh Plt on February 22 over 1100m, 8 len behind Jimmysstar carrying 55kg at $6. Previously second-up 7th of 12 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Manikato on September 27 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Southport Tycoon with 56.5kg at $7.50. Fitter again but hard to see her featuring. | ||
|
11. Briasa (14)
J: Tyler Schiller 54.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
||
| First-up. Finished off last campaign won by head Newcastle G2 The Hunter November 16 over 1300m defeating Felix Majestic carrying 53kg at $3. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2 len this track Bm78 August 31 over 1100m defeating Blanc De Blanc carrying 57kg at $2.90. Look for her sprouting wings late. | ||
|
12. Eagle Nest (9)
J: Rachel King 53kg
T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou |
||
| Second-up. First-up after two months won by a neck at this track G3 M Mccarten March 15 over 1100m defeating Time To Boogie with 54.5kg at $6.50. Previously second-up won by 1.3 len at this track LR Starlight November 30 over 1100m on a rain affected track defeating Our Kobison with 54kg at $19. Backs up quickly and can sneak into the minor money. | ||
|
13. Private Harry (6)
J: Ashley Morgan 53kg
T: Nathan Doyle |
||
| Won all to date. He is resuming after a 11 weeks break. Finished off last campaign winning by 2.5 len Sunshine Coast Sunlight 3yo SW January 4 over 1100m slow track defeating Lady Of Camelot carrying 57kg at $5. On debut to post a big 3.5 len win. Newcastle Super Mdn-Sw November 2 over 900m slow track defeating Lady Memphis carrying 57.5kg at $1.50. Exciting sprinter ready to tackle his toughest test to date. | ||
|
14. Commemorative (2)
J: Zac Lloyd 51kg
T: James Cummings |
||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up 3rd of 9 at Randwick in the G3 Triscay on February 15 over 1200m, 0.9 len behind Inhibitions with 57kg at $4.40. Last start favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.75 len at Randwick G3 Wenonagirl March 8 over 1200m defeating Outback Miss carrying 54kg at $4.40. Key runner who can keep the winning momentum going. | ||
|
15. Time To Boogie (4)
J: Reece Jones 51kg
T: Michael Freedman |
||
| Useful gelding. Most recently sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 9 at this track in the G3 M Mccarten on March 15 over 1100m, neck behind Eagle Nest with 53kg at $4.40. Before that won by a head at this track Bm94 February 22 over 1100m defeating Quick Tempo carrying 55kg at $4.60. Racing well but this is much stronger. | ||
| 9. Ostraka (14) | ||
Data retrieved: 21/03/2025 11:41:41 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
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