Trainer John Sadler has been thrilled with the results posted by classy three-year-old Japhils this campaign but has admitted he may have made a mistake in confirming the filly in the final field for Saturday’s Group 3 RA Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville.
The conditions of the 2015 RA Lee Stakes don’t suit Japhils as well as trainer John Sadler had anticipated. Photo: Jenny Barnes
Japhils has posted two race wins and one minor through her short but impressive seven start career so far and has found exceptional conditions since arriving in South Australia for the Adelaide Autumn Carnival; winning the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) on April 25th before boxing on for a credible fifth amongst open company in the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) despite missing the start.
Admitting he misunderstood the conditions of the 2015 RA Lee Stakes when accepting with the Choisir filly, Sadler told Racing Ahead the filly is in great condition leading into the Group 3 contest and is hopeful she is still capable of a competitive performance.
“Japhils has raced really well, she won really well over there her first start,” Saddler said.
“We backed her up the following week in the Queen Of The South, the Group 2 looking for some black type and I really believe she should have won.
“She just missed the start and she drew 12 of 13 from memory and he just had to do a lot of work on her to go around them. In doing that she’d stirred herself up a bit and pulled pretty hard but I thought it was an exceptional run actually.
“I’ve got to say that I’ve made a bit of a blew here.
“In looking at this race I didn’t read the conditions properly and I thought she’d get in with 51.5kgs.
“It’s not the right race for a three-year-old filly but she’s there, she’s got one more in her and we’re pleased with her.
“She seems to like free-wheeling in front … I’m just hopeful that she could maybe sneak a place or maybe get a really soft lead and even be able to win it.”
Japhils’ chances of success in the 2015 RA Lee Stakes took a huge boost on Wednesday when she was allocated the rails draw for the race, and despite not gathering a 51.5kg handicap as hoped for by Sadler, will still only have to carry a race-low 54kgs.
Confirmed to line up alongside the likes of The Bowler, Gris Caro and classy Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained import Our Ivanhowe, Japhils is currently available at generous odds of $12 for success with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.
