Angst Stakes – 2022

Track: Heavy   Weather: Heavy Showers

Sixteen runners have accepted for the $200,000 Group 3 Angst Stakes and there have been no early scratchings.

The Chris Waller stable has five horses in the event which gives him over a 30% chance of getting a winner home. All five are in the top seven of betting with Polly Grey favourite at $4.20 followed by Atishu ($8.00), Finepoint ($9.00), Grace and Harmony ($10.00) , and Roots ($13.00).

Polly Grey is coming off 133 days off but she is a known mudlark who relishes the heavy conditions. Her fresh record is hit and miss but it’s hard to ignore the five wins that she has had over the heavy tracks. Atishu is another who goes okay in the wet, probably not as good as her stablemate. She hasn’t had any luck in her runs this preparation and will be looking for a change of luck here.

Honeycreeper is the lone horse in the top 5 that isn’t a Chris Waller trained horse. She was good on resumption in a much weaker grade and over a distance that isn’t her best. She will appreciate the step up to the mile.

1. Polly Grey (6)

First up after 133 days. Her first-up stats are hit and miss but she will love the conditions at hand. She performed well last preparation in similar circumstances and ran a brilliant second. Has to go close.

2. Hope In Your Heart (12)

She is going for three wins in a row after her latest success in the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle. Up to the mile suits, the jockey change is pretty much a straight switch and she handles all conditions. I expect them to be handy from a nice draw.

3. Honeycreeper (3)

Nice resumption over a distance that is short of her best. She finished 1.7 lengths off the winner in fifth in what was an honest return. The mile will suit her better and she has the chance to be a bit more prominent from the draw. I expect her to be in the finish.

4. More Prophets (14)

Hit the line well at Wyong before running 2.2 lengths back in fourth in the Tibbie Stakes. She is ready for the mile now by she is unproven in heavy conditions as she is yet to run in it, though her record in soft is poor.

5. Meg (1)

Was in good form before failing in the Golden Pendant. Drops back in grade and has drawn nicely, just a matter of where she gets to in the run as to whether she has chance. If she can replicate her ratings over the past two, she will be very competitive.

6. Grace and Harmony (13)

She got a bit too far off them last start when she finished 1.7 lengths back in second to Kiss The Bride. She is no stranger to these harder mares races and she will make herself known from the inside gate. She just needs to handle the heavy going.

7. Wonderful Riri (16)

Been poor recently and I can’t have her.

8. Finepoint (2)

Ran a peak rating on resumption at Rosehill in a benchmark 88. She will appreciate the mile and she has run on a bog track previously, winning it by 4.5 lengths, albeit in weaker grade. She has the chance to sit better than midfield and be a force late.

9. Gin Martini (4)

Expect to see her hitting the line looking for further.

10. Ita (9)

Went back from the draw last start which is probably what they will do here. If they had drawn closer, I could make a case for her.

11. Narrated (5)

Can’t have her here.

12. Stray (7)

Can’t have her here.

13. Pippali (15)

Making up the numbers

14. Cap De Joie (11)

Making up the numbers

15. Dream Maiden (8)

Making up the numbers

16. Clear Blonde(10)

Making up the numbers

The following are the top 4 selections for this year’s race.

Josh’s Tips	Jo’s Tips
2 Hope In Your Heart	1 Polly Grey
8 Finepoint	8 Finepoint
1 Polly Grey	3 Honeycreeper
6 Grace And Harmony	2 Hope In Your Heart

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	2 Hope In Your Heart
2nd	3 Honeycreeper	0.2 length
3rd	8 Finepoint	1.41 lengths
4th	1 Polly Grey	1.56 lengths

The track was rated as Soft 6.

Scratchings: 13. Pippali, 14. Cap De Joie.