Emerging stayers in Significant Prelude on Monday
07 Jun 2012 | Racing NSW A group of future staying stars will be on parade at Royal Randwick on Monday in the $40,000 Australian Turf Club Significant Prelude for two-year-olds over the 1800-metre journey.
The race is part of Racing NSW’s initiative to provide more options for emerging 2yo and 3yo stayers, leading in to the BOBS Significant Stakes (1900m) run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 30 June. This event boasts a $40,000 BOBS bonus to the winner (double the usual bonus) as well as the $42,000 first prizemoney cheque.
Rosehill-based trainer David Payne will provide much of the talent in Monday’s Significant Prelude with a three-pronged attack on the event. Payne will be represented by De La Dilo (Glyn Schofield), Chez Harmony (Nathan Berry) and Daruna (Chad Schofield).
“Our stable strongly supports this stayers’ concept,” David Payne said this morning. “In fact I cannot understand why more trainers are not entering their horses for these longer races. You see similar races all around the world that are well-patronised, yet many here don’t want to participate in the longer events.”
Payne prefers to sit on the fence when talking up the chances of his three combatants this weekend: “They all have excellent prospects and I could make a case for each of them.
“De La Dilo won nicely at his only start and has improved since. Chez Harmony is an up-and-comer who will be suited by the 1800-metres. Nathan (Berry) was aboard De La Dilo at Gosford but he was given the choice and opted for the filly (Chez Harmony).
“And Daruna has raced okay in his only two runs but I have a very good opinion of him and he’s just going to get better as the distances are increased – his breeding also suggests that. In summary, each of them is fit and well and ready to run a big race next Monday.”
Further races serve as lead-ups to the BOBS Significant Stakes including 2yo races at Rosehill Gardens (1500m) on 16 June, and a 1600m maiden event at Newcastle on 23 June. Lead-ups for 3yo’s include a Benchmark 80 handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on 16 June and a Benchmark 75 handicap over 1850m at Newcastle on 20 June.
“The trainers told us they’d like to see middle-distance races at the higher end towards the close of the season for young horses that show staying potential,” said Racing NSW Chief Executive, Peter V’landys. “We agreed that there is a need for a race like the BOBS Significant Stakes so by doubling the usual BOBS bonus, we’re making it even more attractive.”