Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Six-year-old Steno, a brilliant beginner and noted frontrunner, has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier for Ravenswood trainer-driver Jocelyn Young in the $50,000 Sibelia Stakes for mares over 1609m at Menangle on Saturday night.
Steno, a winner of 24 races from 50 starts and $576,150 in stakes, is capable bursting straight to the front and setting a merry pace at her first outing since she raced three back on the pegs and finished a close second to the fast-finishing Nullarbor Navajo in the 1684m Golden Girls Mile at Pinjarra on March 17. The winner rated 1.50.6.
Looming as one of her toughest opponents is seven-year-old Tay Tay, who will start from the No. 3 barrier for trainer Jason Grimson and ace reinsman Cam Hart, who are confident of winning with the brilliant Swayzee in the $1.25 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Tay Tay, who boasts a record of 78 starts for 22 wins, 17 seconds and seven thirds for stakes of $350,341, She warmed up for Saturday night’s event in fine style with a time of 1.50.5 over 1609m at Menangle three Saturdays ago when she began out wide at barrier nine and won by a length from stablemate Bella Danza.
She mustered excellent early pace and dashed forward out wide to take up the running after 250m. A scorching opening quarter of 25.9sec. was followed by 400m sections of 28.1sec., 28.7sec. and 27.7sec.
Another major player in Saturday night’s event is sure to be Victorian six-year-old Rakero Rebel, who will be driven by Greg Sugars for trainer Jess Tubbs.
Rakero Rebel has won at each of her three appearances, two at Melton and one at Geelong, after resuming from a spell to take her record to 50 starts for 15 wins, 20 placings and $385,610. Her latest outing was over 2240m at Melton last Saturday week when she rated 1.52.4 after sitting behind the pacemaker using the sprint lane to beat Yambukian by ahead.