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Forensics evidence points to last hurrah

14th Jun 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - John Schell - Mondau, 15 June 2009

GOLDEN SLIPPER winner Forensics will run her final race in Saturday's group 1 Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm, but only if the rain stays away from Brisbane this week.

"If it's a wet track then she won't run," Forensics's trainer, Peter Snowden, said yesterday. "But the weather is something that is out of my hands. I can't predict what will happen a week from now. It is just a day-to-day thing."

Forensics did not accept for the Stradbroke Handicap, which was run on a badly rain-affected track. The four-year-old, which is about to be retired to stud, has not raced since finishing down the track in the All Aged Stakes on a slow track back on Anzac Day.

"I'm not worried about her having had the time away from racing as she has been kept up to the mark," Snowden said. "The rain is the only thing I'm worried about with her."

Stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy will travel to Brisbane to ride Forensics, which Snowden said would be his only runner at Eagle Farm.

The Danny O'Brien-trained Melbourne mare Absolut Glam will be attempting to make it successive Winter Stakes victories when lining up with Damien Oliver to ride.

Oliver takes over from Michael Rodd, who was aboard when Absolut Glam finished fifth in the Stradbroke Handicap.

"It was a very good run in the Stradbroke," Oliver said yesterday. "She really hit the line well on that heavy track and a drier surface this weekend would be in her favour.

"She did finish fourth in the Stradbroke last year before winning the Winter Stakes so the form-lines seem similar. I'm hoping she can repeat the result of 12 months ago."

Stradbroke third placegetter Ortensia is expected to back up in the Winter Stakes for trainer Tony Noonan with Craig Williams to ride.

Queenslander Chinchilla Rose could start in the race after being scratched from the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday because of a wide barrier.

The Rex Lipp-trained Express Air is looming as the best of the local hopes after its last-start impressive victory in the Queensland Guineas. Lipp has booked Sydney hoop Tye Angland, who won the Stradbroke on Black Piranha, for the ride on Express Air.

Meanwhile, Oliver will also link with the newly wed O'Brien when steering Ballack in the Tattersalls Cup and Keano in another event.

The jockey attended O'Brien's wedding to long-time partner Nina on Saturday and said a treble at Eagle Farm would be the best present he could provide.

"Ballack is racing really well," Oliver said. "He won the Chairman's Handicap at Doomben then ran great when fourth in the Brisbane Cup behind Scenic Shot.

"He also won the Tattersalls Cup, albeit on protest, on the same day as Absolut Glam won the Winter Stakes last year."