Auraria Stakes – 2022

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 12 three-year-old fillies lining up for the $127,250 Auraria Stakes, including six last-start winners and many Victorian raiders looking for black-type. Two runners last started in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley on 25 March and two in the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes over 1600m at Morphettville Parks on 26 March while the others all came through different races. Two runners are maidens and no trainer has multiple runners.

The early favourite is Mac ‘N’ Cheese who was a three length winner of the Clare Lindop Stakes last outing and has now won three of her seven starts. Second favourite is Bon’s A Pearla who ran 0.5 length 2nd in the Alexandra Stakes after 1.2 lengths 3rd in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at the start before. Third in the market is My Whisper who has won all three of her starts this campaign.

Stray has one win from her nine starts but has been racing at Group level at her last three starts. Gonnadancealot won by 4.5 lengths over 1850m at Terang last outing. Darzela was a 0.5 length winner at Terang last start, while Always On My Mind finished 3.8 lengths 8th in the Alexandra Stakes. All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

1. Bon’s A Pearla

This Bon Hoffa filly trained by Kevin Corstens has two wins and three places from nine starts. She ran 0.5 length 2nd in the Alexandra Stakes after 1.2 lengths 3rd in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at the start before. Should finish in the quinella.

2. Mac ‘N’ Cheese

She was an impressive three length winner of the Clare Lindop Stakes last outing and has now won three of her seven starts. Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy and ridden by Barend Vorster – the trainer & jockey combination that won this race with Silent Sovereign in 2020 – she looks a great chance to win here.

3. My Whisper

This Frankel filly has won all three of her starts this campaign. The latest was a 0.2 length win in a fillies & mares BM 70 over 1600m at Sandown Hillside on 30 March. Has drawn the outside barrier but has the speed to overcome that and could place.

4. Stray

An interesting runner trained by Anthony Cummings, she has one win from her nine starts but has been racing at Group level at her last three starts. She was outclassed when only beating one runner home in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, but this race is nowhere near as tough. Ideally drawn in barrier 1 she could surprise.

5. Gonnadancealot

She won by 4.5 lengths over 1850m at Terang last outing on a soft track. Her record is two wins and a place from 11 starts and those two wins and place were all on soft going. Looking elsewhere.

6. Darzela

This Snitzel filly trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace was a 0.5 length winner at Terang last start. She has a two wins and a place from three starts and although this looks much tougher than her last race I suspect they have not travelled her over for nothing. Watch the market.

7. The Map

She has two wins and two places from four starts. She was a narrow winner over 1600m at Morphettville on 2 February, then finished 3rd in the Clare Lindop Stakes coming from near last. Looks as if the extra distance will suit and is the best of the roughies.

8. Always On My Mind

Finished 3.8 lengths 8th in the Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley, but her two previous runs were both good. Forward showing no surprise.

9. Morrissette

Broke her maiden over 1400m at Warrnambool last start.

10. Savonia

Had a run of four 2nd placings before a 3.75 length win in a Kyneton maiden.

11. Nefertiti’s Secret

Sired by American triple-crown winner American Pharoah she is still a maiden but has placed at all three runs. Trained by Mark & Levi Kavanagh, Mark won this race with Devil Moon in 2007.

12. Tiempe Passate

Another maiden. Has four places from five starts.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
2 Mac ‘N’ Cheese
1 Bons A Pearla
3 My Whisper
6 Darleza