By Michael Guerin
Horses who could easily have been going around at the Jewels on Sunday could provide the key interest at Alexandra Park tonight.
Jewels weekend often swallows everything in its path and it can feel like everything else is just an entree but the reality is there is still good money to be won by both horses and punters at Alexandra Park tonight.
Two horses who could still make it to Cambridge should one of their rivals be scratched are Santa Maria (R8, No.9) and Yorokobi (R8, No.10), both first emergencies for the Jewels and good chances tonight.
Yorokobi was good enough when second to Krug in the Flying Stakes at Addington six starts ago and then second to Ragazzo Mach in the Southern Supremacy Final four starts ago he can handle what is admittedly a handy R53-59 field tonight.
But a lot might depend on what sort of run he gets through from the second line though in a field containing some classy and not yet exposed types in Zarias, Melanion and Blitzembye as well as the Ray Green-trained stablemates Louie The Punter and Captain Nemo.
So as a Jewels weekend entree it is pretty darn tasty.
The trot immediately before contains I See Fire (R7, No.2) who really should be there.
He only missed qualifying for the three-year-old Ruby by $400 and that was because he has galloped in the home straight in his recent starts.
He was certain to earn at least that much last start before breaking at the 100m mark last start after trainer-driver Tony Herlihy pulled the earplugs and if he trots all the way tonight he looks the bet of the night.
The feature trot could see Southland reinsman Nathan Williamson with a rare chance at an Alexandra Park win when he partners Credit Master in race five.
Williamson drove Credit Master for the first time when he was fourth behind Bolt For Brilliance last Friday, securing the drive because he is staying with trainers Andrew and Lyn Neal for the Jewels.
After two runs back Credit Master should be nearing peak fitness and and with tonight’s race being 2700m rather than last Friday’s 2200m he comes right into play.
After her brilliant win in the Breeders Stakes last Friday, Folklore deserves favouritism for the main pace but she has yet to win in two attempts from a standing start so will need to be on her best behaviour for stand-in driver Matty White.
