Held over 1100m at Rosehill, on Golden Slipper day, The Galaxy is a Group 1 handicap worth $700k. The sprint feature serves as a major lead-up race to the $2.5m TJ Smith Stakes. First run in 1972, The Galaxy has been won by some terrific sprinters. Last year’s race was taken out by Joe Pride’s iron horse, Eduardo.
14 starters will face the starter in this year’s race, and looking at the market, Dabble has Qld mare Isotope a clear favourite at $3.80. Away Game, Overpass and Brooklyn Hustle are the only other runners under double figures at this stage, with Away Game at $8.00 and the other two both at $9.00.
Although we have a standout in the market, we know anything can happen in racing. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 The Galaxy along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Splintex (16) – Scratched
Jockey – Tom Sherry 58kg
Trainer – Mark Newnham
Just fair first-up in the G2 Challenge Stakes on a bog track. Generally improves second-up, but 58kg and gate 16 are going to make that a tough ask here.
2. Big Parade (9) – $11
Jockey – Joshua Parr 57.5kg
Trainer – Mark Newnham
Honest gelding who is putting together an impressive record. Ran 4th in the $1m Classique Legend Stakes behind Eduardo at the end of last prep. Has trialled well leading into this, and has won 3 from 5 first-up. Look for a forward showing here.
3. Bella Nipotina (3) – $26
Jockey – Jason Collett 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Pass mark first-up in the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Ran 3rd to Nature Strip last prep in the G1 VRC Classic. Draws well here and usually improves second-up. Capable of running a good race at decent odds.
4. In The Congo (2) – $12
Jockey – Tommy Berry 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
G1 Golden Rose winning colt resuming. Has strong form lines around some smart 3YOs, and is a winner on this track. Has had the benefit of two trials leading into this, suggesting he should be ready to go first-up.
5. Overpass (1) – $9.00
Jockey – Tim Clark 56kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Saturday at #RosehillGardens features 5 Group 1 races including the Furphy Galaxy.
The 2019 edition of the race was a thriller with Nature Strip edging our Pierata.
We are set for another stellar race!
Who takes out this year’s race? @FurphyBeer #WhereStoriesAreMade pic.twitter.com/uWshVuFIbz
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 16, 2022
Good win first-up in the G2 Expressway, defeating subsequent G1 winner Forbidden Love. Backed that performance up with a strong 2nd in the Southern Cross Stakes behind Lost and Running, before an easy win at Flemington in the Inglis Sprint with 59.5kg. Has really put it all together this prep, and comes up with gate 1 here. Respect.
6. Away Game (6) – $8.00
Jockey – Linda Meech 55kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Honest mare who was good, finishing 2nd in the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Prior to that she was ridden upside down and did well to finish 3rd to Isotope on the Gold Coast. Has had one go at Rosehill, where she finished 2nd in a Golden Slipper. Draws well, and looks hard to find many negatives with her. Each way chance.
7. Brooklyn Hustle (14) – $9.00
Jockey – James McDonald 55kg
Trainer – Jason Warren & Dean Krongold
Returned from a spell in good style, finishing 2nd to Malkovich in the Listed Bob Hoysted Hcp at Flemington. Interestingly enough, she has never raced in Sydney, but has handled the clock-wise circuit in winning the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm. Draws off the track here, but will snag back and be saved for one crack at them.
8. Isotope (10) – $3.80F
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 55kg
Trainer – Tony Gollan
Star Qld mare, who was brilliant winning the Magic Millions Sprint last time out. Her only run at Rosehill resulted in a good win in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes. Comes here off a short freshen up, and will be looking to keep her good record ticking over. One of the main hopes.
9. Malkovich (5) – $17
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 55kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Speedy customer who was good last start winning the Listed Bob Hoysted Hcp at Flemington. Wasn’t far away prior to that in the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Has plenty of early toe, and will be looking to lead and make it back to back wins.
10. Minhaaj (7) – Scratched
Jockey – William Pike 54kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Completely forgive first-up, where she was knocked over in the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Her form at the back end of last prep was strong, and she draws well here. Capable of bouncing back big time here.
11. Paulele (17) – $10
Jockey – Rachel King 53kg
Trainer – James Cummings
“His fresh form is very good form and I think he’s going to look dangerous at some point in this race.”
James Cummings and his take on Paulele’s task in the Group 1 Furphy Galaxy, plus Anamoe’s quest for Rosehill Guineas revenge. 📸Steve Hart
READ: https://t.co/wphYCDdu7i pic.twitter.com/x75MLUDrCL
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 17, 2022
Talented colt who was good first-up winning the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes. Has had a soft trial since that run to keep him ticking over. Ran 2nd to Home Affairs this track/distance last prep. Barrier throws a spanner in the works, but he’s good enough to overcome that.
12. Rule of Law (12) – $18
Jockey – Brock Ryan 53kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Winner of 5 from 6 since joining the Baker yard. Ran into another in form sprinter, Shelby Sixtysix, last start and wasn’t disgraced. Has good stats this track and trip, and won’t know himself with 53kg on his back. In saying that, this is his toughest test to date.
13. Ballistic Lover (11) – $18
Jockey – Alysha Collett 52kg
Trainer – Joseph Pride
Speedy mare resuming here after an eye-catching trial win. Finished 4th last prep in the G1 Moir Stakes, and 2nd in G3 company behind Minhaaj. Trial last week was nothing short of breathtaking, and if she can bring that to the races here, she will be in it for a long way.
14. Belluci Babe (8) – $41
Jockey – Jay Ford 52kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Fourth of Bjorn Baker’s runners here. Blew her rivals away last start in the G3 Wenona Girl last start at Randwick. Her form prior to that was very strong, and although she hasn’t won at Rosehill, her runs have been full of merit. Drawn to get a cosy run, and can continue her good form here at big odds.
15e. Shelby Sixtysix (4) – $11
Jockey – Robbie Dolan 52.5kg
Trainer – Danny Williams
Goulburn trained gelding who has become somewhat of an enigma the past couple of weeks. Go back 8 weeks, he couldn’t win a class 2 at the Sapphire Coast. Fast forward 4 runs, he’s finished 2nd, beaten a neck, by Eduardo in the G2 Challenge Stakes. A horse by the name of Nature Strip finished behind him on that occasion. He proved that run was no fluke with a super win in last Saturday’s G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes, defeating a quality field. No doubt his recent form has been enhanced by the very wet tracks in Sydney, but it’s hard to knock him off those recent performances. Connections will be hoping for two things, a scratching and a very wet track.
16e. Jamaea (13) – $16
Jockey – Brock Ryan 50kg
Trainer – Robert & Luke Price
Talented 3YO filly, who has made it a bad habit of missing the start this prep. Her run two back in the G2 Light FIngers was good, and a repeat performance would see her competitive here if she gets a run.
17e. Delexio (15) – $126
Jockey – James Innes Jr 51kg
Trainer – Kristen Buchanan
Unlikely to gain a start, and may find a few of these a bit classy if he does.
Final Word
This year’s Galaxy looks a cracking race on paper. Isotope is a dominant favourite, and has the right form to win the race, but I feel the race may be a bit more open than it seems.
Huge Saturday coming right up on the screens of @Channel7.@rosehillgardens:
Golden Slipper
George Ryder Stakes
The Galaxy
Ranvet Stakes
Rosehill Guineas@FlemingtonVRC: @allstarmile @katelynmallyon @JaseRicho @LizzieJelfs @emma_freedman @KateWaterhouse7 @defier1 pic.twitter.com/A2WY6jOqdp— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 16, 2022
Big Parade resumes after a good prep, and can run a big race first-up after a nice trial. The Maher/Eustace trained mares Bella Nipotina and Away Game look primed to run well after their solid efforts in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, and both have drawn well.
Bjorn Baker brings four live chances to the races, including last start winner Overpass, who was terrific down the straight last start. Fellow Darby Racing owner runner Malkovich will be in the race for a long way, and Rule of Law and Belluci Babe are both racing in a purple patch of form.
If the speed is on, which I’d dare say it will be, Melbourne mare Brooklyn Hustle, and local Minhaaj will both be strong late, and if Shelby Sixtysix gains a start, there’s no reason he can’t win again after his last two starts.
With that said, I’m going for a bit of value with the on top selection. If you watched the Oakleigh Plate, you may well have got the BIC-4 out and put a big red line through the run of Minhaaj, as I did. She was checked on several occasions in that race, and never looked comfortable travelling inside of horses around Caulfield. Her trials prior to that run were very good, and from the good gate, maps to get a nice run here with the ‘Wizard of the West’ in the saddle.
Best The Galaxy Tip: 10. Minhaaj – Each Way ($17/$5.00) *Minhaaj was scratched after publication.*
The Galaxy numbers: 10-5-8-6
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our The Galaxy page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
