Outstanding Mares Head Toward Swetteham Stud Stakes
- Thursday, 30 January 2003 00:00
Confirmed nominations for the event include Group 1 winning sprinting mare from New Zealand EGYPTIAN RAINE, winner of the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Auckland on New Year's Day and narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Telegraph Sprint at Wellington New Zealand last Saturday; high quality sprinting mare FAIR EMBRACE, which was also narrowly beaten in both the Railway and Telegraph. FAIR EMBRACE is a former Group 2 winner in Australia; LIBIDINIOUS now trained by Gai Waterhouse will return to Adelaide for the Swettenham Stud Stakes having tasted success in Adelaide in 2002 by winning the Group 3 Honda Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap. LIBIDINIOUS in two starts for the Waterhouse stable has won the Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick and ran second in the Group 2 Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley on Thursday 24 January 2003.
Consistent and under-rated Victorian mare SPECIAL GRANGE trained by Rod Symons at Bendigo is another likely visitor for the Swettenham after an impressive win at Moonee Valley in good mares company last week. SPECIAL GRANGE is the winner of three of her past six outings and has been narrowly beaten in a number of Group and Listed races during the Melbourne Spring.
Dan O'Sullivan's COSMIC STRIKE, a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter from the Melbourne Spring Carnival is expected to return to Adelaide for the Swettenham after racing at Flemington on Saturday 1 February. Greg Eurell's consistent mare PRINCESA is also likely to head to Adelaide for the Swettenham after contesting the same Flemington race.
A number of local Adelaide hopefuls will step out this Saturday in the R N Irwin Stakes including Melbourne Spring Carnival winner EMPRESS WALTZ, David Balfour trained AGALIA and Gary Kennewell's STAR HIT. Mark Minervini's filly RED LABELLE was third in a Listed event at Caulfield on Australia Day holiday and is also a likely Swettenham contender. Leading trainer Leon Macdonald has indicated that the well performed RAJA LANE is a potential Swettenham runner.
Nominations for the Swettenham Stud Stakes officially close on Monday 10 February 2003.
Media Release - TRSA
