Gilgai Stakes – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

A field of ten sprinters are set to battle it out down the Flemington straight in this years Gilgai Stakes, the race is worth $300,000.  Tofane has opened a clear favourite on the back of his third placing in the Bobbie Lewis at Flemington three weeks ago.  He is a horse that needs the run first up and looks well set up for this second up assignment.  The rising eight year old Santa Ana Lane for the Freedman’s resumes, he was a good second in this race last year.

The winner of the Bobbie Lewis Zoutori has a weight increase to deal with but is well drawn in barrier six for Jamie Kah.  The Tasmanian horse, The Inevitable was good first up and has a liking for the Flemington straight.  Dollar for Dollar drops back to 1200m after a brave second in the Group one Sir Rupert Clark Stakes.  Kementari is a tricky horse to catch but on his day he can match it with these.  All of the other runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Fifty Stars

Fifty Stars resumes off a win in the Group 1 Australian Cup.  He is a very good horse but might find these a bit slick first up.  Look for him over further.

2. Zoutori

Resumed in the Bobbie Lewis Quality and arrived late to claim that race courtesy of a well timed Mark Zahra ride.  Mark Zahra will ride Santa Ana Lane in this race but Zoutori gets a good replacement in Jamie Kah.  He climbs in the weights here but can run well again.

3. Kemalpasa

Has been starting double figures in weaker Adelaide races.  This looks a tough ask.

4. Tofane

The winner of the 2020 Group 1 All Aged Stakes ran well first up in the Bobbie Lewis.  He has shown in the past that he improves significantly second up which is a positive leading into this race.  He also has either a fitness edge or a weight advantage on many key rivals.  He is the one they have to beat.

5. The Inevitable

The market wanted to be with him in the Bobbie Lewis and his performance was good in that race.  He clearly has a liking to straight racing and I expect him to run well again here.

6. Santa Anna Lane

Closed very well to narrowly miss in this race last year.  He is now 8 years of age but his most recent jump out was encouraging suggesting he has at least one more good preparation in him.  But there are a few things against him in this race – many of the other runners have a fitness edge and the last time he ran against Tofane, that horse beat him 3.5 lengths.

7. Kementari

No doubting he is a talented horse but its been a while since he has put in a performance that saids he is a betting option against this sort of field.  He can go around with out me at $12.

8. Dollar for Dollar

Fit and racing well.  He ran against many of these in the Bobbie Lewis and then gave backers a great sight at Caulfield in the Sir Rupert Clark over 1400m.  The drop back to 1200m probably works against him here.

9. I am Someone

An honest galloper but surely lacks the class to be beating these.

10. Excess Funds

$21 in early markets and that seems short enough.  He has been racing in inferior company to what he meets here.

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

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
6. Santa Anna Lane	4. Tofane
4. Tofane	5. The Inevitable
2. Zoutori	6. Santa Anna Lane
7. Kementari	2. Zoutori

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	2. Zoutori
2nd	8. Dollar for Dollar	0.1 length
3rd	3. Kemalpasa	0.2 length
4th	7. Kementari	0.9 length

The track was rated as Good 3

Scratching: 10. Excess Funds.