Thirteen sprinters remain in contention for Saturday’s Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens following the early scratching of both Secret Agenda and Pariah, who will instead step out in Friday night’s William Reid Stakes in Melbourne. In Her Time has been a revelation for Newcastle-based trainer Ben Smith throughout the last twelve months and the talented mare currently leads The Galaxy betting at a still-generous $4.75 quote. The Time Thief mare has posted an impressive career record of seven wins and four minors through only seventeen starts and won each of her first three starts upon resuming in 2017, including both the Group 2 Breeders’ Classic (1200m) and Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m). Unlucky not to break through for a maiden win at the highest level when she placed in both the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) and Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) in winter, In Her Time resumed in spring for consecutive wins in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) and Listed Sydney Stakes (1200m), before ending her stellar year a short-head second to Hey Doc in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m). The five-year-old won a Newcastle trial by more than four lengths last week and will be ridden by Hong Kong-based hoop Zac Purton for the first time in The Galaxy, but will need luck from the outside gate. Snitty Kitty has returned to racing in smart form this time and has so-far attracted the most attention in our market for The Galaxy; firming $6.50 into $5. Snitty Kitty was another mare who enjoyed a successful step up in class in 2017 and ended her year with a well-earned win in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m), in which she beat a classy field by close to three lengths. Resuming this time for a credible second after leading into the Listed WJ Adams Stakes (1000m), the daughter of Snitzel was again settled on-pace by Beau Mertens in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) last time out and was just pipped late by Russian Revolution. Jockey Kevin Forrester will look to take up the running on Jungle Edge and the heavier the Rosehill Gardens track is, the harder Jungle Edge ($5) will be to run down. The Dubawi gelding has been a strong performer throughout his entire 48-start career, but he went to another level in 2017 and was unlucky not to post a Group 1 win. Running in the minors in The Galaxy, the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) through autumn and winter, Jungle Edge was stuck on hard tracks through much of his spring preparation, but saluted upon returning to soft in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m). Jungle Edge produced arguably his best ever performance on ‘good’ going when second in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) as an $81 shot on Saturday and he is a live hope of saluting in this open edition of The Galaxy. Godolphin colt Viridine ($6) is primed for a big performance second-up, but one runner who looks to be over the odds to win The Galaxy is topweight Le Romain ($26). Le Romain is a three-time Group 1 winner and relishes racing on surfaces of all conditions and varying lengths. The son of Hard Spun absolutely flies fresh and won the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) upon resuming last autumn. With the added bonus of Hugh Bowman in the saddle, it would not surprise to see Le Romain in the winner’s stall at any old price.
In Her Time currently leads The Galaxy betting. Photo: Steve Hart