Contributer took out the 2015 Apollo Stakes, but did the race tell us about the rest of the field?
Boban (2) $13 – Settled midfield outside Diamond Drille, was tightened for room on turning and for the first half of the straight. Got room at the 150-metre mark and was doing his best work over the final 50 metres finishing 2.9 lengths back in seventh.
Foreteller (5) $51 – Settled worst than midfield on the rail, was still near the rear on the turn and into the straight. Boxed on ok up the straight to finish four lengths back in ninth, will improve on that run but still a bit of work to do before being a winning chance.
He’s Your Man (7) $5.50 – Jumped well and pressed forward outside of Malavio, let the outside runners cross and settled fifth, one off the rail. Still in a similar spot turning but lacked the turn of foot of the others and finished 2.8 lengths back in sixth; solid hit out.
Hawkspur (10) $31 – Showed no early speed and dropped back to second last until Lucia Valentina dropped back and he improved his position slightly. Was the widest runner on the turn but offered nothing and finished 6.4 lengths back in 11th spot. Disappointing.
Junoob (11) $67 – Was slowest to begin and settled last, took a rails run into the straight but offered little and finished 6.5 lengths back in 12th.
Weary (13) $5.50 – Jumped well and pressed forward three wide to settle third outside Queenstown at the front. He then tucked in behind the leaders on the rail, started his run on the turn where he improved to second straightening and put a good run in down the straight, finishing 1.8 lengths off the winner in third. May have finished closer with a better barrier as he worked hard at the start.
Ninth Legion (14) $7.50 – Battled for the lead around the bend and pinched two lengths on the field coming into the straight, tired at the 150 metre mark and was run down by a very fast-finishing Contributer and finished 1.5 lengths off him in second. Was a good run after working hard at the start.
Contributer (6) $5.50 – Pulled outside Boban on the turn and started to really get going at the 300 metre mark. Was second at the 150 metre mark and really flying. Took the lead 80 metres out and pulled away for a 1.5 length victory in a huge performance!
Red Excitement – scratched.
Malavio (3) $26 – Settled fourth on the rail, was still close turning and in the early part of the straight but run died at the 150 metre mark and finished 5.2 lengths back in 10th. Should drop back in class.
Disclaimer (4) $81 – Was slow out of the barriers but improved to settle near the rear on the rail inside Foreteller. Passed a couple of runners turning but run died quickly and finished 8.4 lengths back in last position.
Silent Achiever (8) $13 – Settled near the rear outside Foreteller, was second last turning and quite wide, still second last at the 250 metre mark, fourth last at 150 metres, then started to fly home and hit the line really well 2.7 lengths back in fifth. Good run, looks to be in for another big prep.
Lucia Valentina (9) $4.50 – Went to the rear of the field to settle, and was second-last at the 600 metre mark. She kept to the inside hoping for a run, with no room at the 300-metre mark, but got clear around 200 metres out and showed an excellent turn of foot to finish two lengths off the winner in fourth. Big prep ahead.
Diamond Drille (1) $21 – Began ok and settled midfield on the rail, still close enough turning and was fair up the straight but lacked the turn of foot to compete. Finished 3.2 lengths back in eighth.
Queenstown (12) $81 – Began well and pressed forward four wide, crossed to lead then let Ninth Legion cross over from wider to lead, still close turning but dropped away in the straight and finished 6.6 lengths back in 13th position.
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