Buenos Noches was excellent behind Imperatriz in the Spring, every bit as good as her to the line when beaten half a length, and meets her 4.5kg better this time around. He couldn’t do much more from a hopeless spot first up and looks a genuine chance here.
The others that have ratings, at least at the weights, that give them chances are Bella Nipotina, Magic Time and Sghirripa.
Bella was good in the Lightning- but we didn’t really learn anything from that race given they just sprinted home late off a walking tempo early. She was good in the Champions Sprint in the Spring, coming from well back, but was still behind Buenos Noches who also meets her better at the weights.
Magic Time is a very good mare. She’s narrowly improved her rating at her past three starts, culminating in a strong win despite sitting wide throughout in the Rupert Clarke. She should get a good run just off the speed and out wide and looks a danger.
Sghirripa has a leap to make but did run a big rating to win here in the Standish Handicap before having no hope when missing the start in the Oakleigh Plate. He was comfortably the fastest splits of the day there and gets in better, relatively, at the weights here. He drops 3kg down to the minimum and looks the horse to take out of that.
Imperatriz will have to run at her best. Buenos Noches, Bella Nipotina, Magic Time and Sghirripa all look the top contenders to challenge her in what's sure to be an exciting edition of the Yulong Newmarket Handicap.
