The Galaxy Tips, Betting Preview and Odds

Gary Emmerson:

The sprinters clash in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, March 21 and Bettingpro.com.au provides you with a comprehensive guide to the race.

The Galaxy Final Field and Barrier Draw

The final field and barrier draw for the The Galaxy:

1. PIERATA Gregory Hickman – Tommy Berry (11) 59kg
2. IN HER TIME Kris Lees – Brenton Avdulla (4) 55kg
3. KEMENTARI James Cummings – James McDonald (9) 55kg
4. SAVATIANO James Cummings – Damien Oliver (6) 54kg
5. DEPRIVE James Cummings – Kerrin McEvoy (8) 53.5kg
6. JUNGLE EDGE Mick Bell – Ms Jade Darose (7) 53.5kg
7. MISS LEONIDAS Shaun Dwyer – Billy Egan (1) 51.5kg (52.5kg)
8. FASIKA Joseph Pride – Glen Boss (late alt) (16) 51kg
9. I AM EXCITED David Pfieffer – Tim Clark (2) 51kg (52kg)
10. MADAM ROUGE Chris Waller – Ms Kathy O’Hara (3) 51kg
11. SOOTHING James Cummings – Craig Williams (12) 51kg
12. TOFANE (NZ) Michael Moroney – Michael Dee (5) 51kg
13. PRETTY IN PINK John O’Shea – Ms Rachel King (17) 51kg
14. ANAHEED Peter & Paul Snowden – Robbie Dolan (a) (15) 50kg
15e. COSMIC FORCE Peter & Paul Snowden – Glen Boss (13) 50kg (50.5kg)
16e. GOD OF THUNDER Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes – Jay Ford (14) 51kg

17e. SPLINTEX Mark Newnham – Robbie Dolan (a) (10) 50kg

The Galaxy Odds

Pierata is the favourite with Ladbrokes.

Pierata $4.60
Cosmic Force $6.00
Savatiano $6.50
Fasika $6.50
Deprive $7.50
Anaheed $10
Kementari $11
In Her Time $13
Madam Rouge $17
Soothing $17
Jungle Edge $20
Tofane $26
God Of Thunder $26
I Am Excited $31
Miss Leonidas $41
Pretty In Pink $51
Splintex $51

The Galaxy Tips

The Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) typically favours those down in the weights with Temple Of Boom (57kg) being the only horse to carry more than 55kg to victory in the past 20 years.

It takes an exceptional sprinter to give weight to some speedy rivals and still come away victorious, but I think Pierata is an exceptional animal, and he has the profile to get it done.

Pierata carried 56kg in this race last year and came from a long way back to just miss in a photo finish with Nature Strip who carried 55kg and has subsequently won two more Group 1 races.

The next four past the post carried between 50kg and 51kg, but Pierata gobbled them up in the straight proving class can overcome weight.

First-up last campaign, Pierata carried 60kg when again flashing home to be narrowly defeated by Redzel who made it three consecutive wins in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) – with two more strides, Pierata wins.

Trainer Gregory Hickman has given the son of Pierro two soft barrier trials in preparation for his first-up assault, and he went to the line under a stranglehold in his most recent effort.

There is a theory that Pierata resents being inside of horses, so I really like the fact he’s drawn wide in barrier 11 for Tommy Berry who knows him best.

In Her time won this race two years ago, but she now resumes as a seven-year-old and it’s unlikely she’ll get back to that sort of rating.

There is plenty of early speed here with Miss Leonidas, Anaheed, Savatiano, Jungle Edge and Splitex vying for a forward position, and that should ensure a good tempo which will suit Pierata who will be looking to finish over the top of them.