Libertybelle Midfrew
The stage is set for another enthralling tussle between Sensational Gabby and Libertybelle Midfrew when they clash in the $100,000 Del Basso Smallgoods Mares Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with rival reinsmen Chris Lewis and Mark Reed poised for an intriguing cat-and-mouse duel.
Lewis won the battle of tactics last Friday night when he guided Sensational Gabby to a superb victory over Libertybelle Midfrew in the 1730m Norm’s Daughter Classic.
Sensational Gabby, from barrier two on the back line, settled down in seventh position, two lengths in front of Libertybelle Midfrew, who was eased back to the rear after starting from the outside of the front line.
Approaching the bell, with polemarker Deluxe Edition setting a fast pace, Lewis had Sensational Gabby coiled up and ready to strike in ninth place in the one-wide line. He bided his time and eventually Reed sent Libertybelle Midfrew forward, three wide, at the 950m mark. Lewis kept Sensational Gabby in the one-wide line until he switched her three wide to follow the run of Libertybelle Midfrew.
Libertybelle Midfrew sustained her powerful burst to hit the front 220m from home, but she had to lower her colours to Sensational Gabby, who swept to the lead 90m from the post to win by two metres, rating a slick 1.54.4 and improving her winning percentage to 55 per cent, with 31 victories from 56 starts.
Trainer Ross Olivieri had Sensational Gabby racing far more tractably than she was when she contested the group 1 Mares Classic 12 months ago. She was a 12/1 chance and Lewis eased her back to last from the No. 6 barrier on the front line. She ran home powerfully, out wide, to finish a creditable third behind the pacemaker Leda McNally and Famous Alchemist.
This week Sensational Gabby is awkwardly drawn at barrier five on the front line, with Libertybelle Midfrew at No. 6. Polemarker Bettor Dreams possesses good gate speed, but appears likely to opt to take a sit behind either of Dontdoubtme or Majorly Foxy Styx.
There is a strong chance that Dontdoubtme will get to an early lead before handing up to the speedy Majorly Foxy Styx. This surely will leave Lewis and Reed weighing up their options, whether to press forward or to restrain to the rear.
It is difficult to pre-empt the tactics of Lewis and Reed. But most form aficionados will expect Lewis to opt out of an early speed battle, while Reed could do the same or decide to go forward in a bid to move to the breeze in the hope of outstaying the leader.
Adding further interest will be Victorian mare Bellas Delight, who is unfavourably drawn at No. 4 on the back line. Greg Sugars could well wait until the final 1200m before sending Bellas Delight forward with a three-wide burst. And this could provide Sensational Gabby with a perfect trail. Much of this is pure conjecture in an event in which tactics are sure to play a significant part in the outcome.
Bellas Delight, a dual group 1 winner and $394,505 in prizemoney, impressed at her West Australian debut in the Norm’s Daughter Classic last Friday night when she trailed the pacemaker before being held up for a clear run until the final stages p--- when she surged home powerfully to finish fourth.
The Chris King-trained Leda McNally, winner of this event last year, will start from barrier four on the front line and Chris Voak will be anxious to obtain an ideal passage in the one-wide line, close to the leaders before asking the six-year-old to unleash a devastating late sprint. However, she is not racing as keenly as she was a year ago.
Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond were successful in the inaugural $100,000 Mares Classic two years ago when Luke McCarthy drove 6/4 on favourite Baby Bling to an easy victory over Aussie Made Lombo and Leda McNally (who finished fourth before being promoted to third after a successful protest).
This year the Bonds will be represented by Am Opulent, who started from the outside of the back line and enjoyed a perfect trip in the one-wide position in sixth place before finishing solidly to be third behind Sensational Gabby and Libertybelle Midfrew. Am Opulent’s winning prospects diminished when she drew out wide at No. 7.
Olivieri and Lewis combined to win the $35,000 Mares Mile with Ima Spicey Lombo over 1700m in December 2010, two years before the event was upgraded to a $100,000 group 1 feature. This week they should fight out the finish with Sensational Gabby renewing her rivalry with the powerful four-year-old Libertybelle Midfrew.
