| Distance | 1100m |
| Grade | Group 1 |
| Track Rating | Heavy 9 |
| Prizemoney | $686,000 |
| Class | 3YO & Up - Open Handicap |
| 2018 winner | In Her Time |
This year’s edition of the Group One Galaxy Stakes looks a wide-open affair.
Star sprinter Redzel has gone up as early favourite after failing to run down Ball of Muscle at his last start.
There's no doubt he'll take further improvement from that run and he'll need to in order to take this out.
The Joseph Pride trained Ball Of Muscle has a clear weight edge on The Everest champ this time around, meeting him 3.5kg better off at the weights.
The step up to 1100m is sure to favour Redzel, however the swing in the weights could prove the difference this time around.
Injecting plenty of pace into the race is the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip, who'll be looking to bounce back from his failure in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
Graff and Viridine both look to be live threats and are the best of the light-weight hopes.
The Rosehill track is currently rated a Heavy 9, with the rail out 3m the entire circuit.
Expect jockeys to search for better ground off the rail as the meeting progresses.
With this set-up, punters can expect a slight bias towards on-pace runners.
Redzel has been on the drift since opening at $4 and is now out to $4.50.
Pierata has also softened in early markets, out to $9 from $7.50.
Viridine has been met with strong early support, firming from $8 into $6.50. Nature Strip has also been favoured, into $6 after opening at $7.
The rest of the field remains steady in the market.
Has won two Everest titles and proven himself on a rain affected track, hence he deserves all of the allocated 59.5kg.
He's shown the ability to bounce back from a loss time and time again and there's no reason to doubt he can do it again here.
The step-up to 1100m is a huge plus, as is the predicted early speed. This will allow him to sit a couple of lengths off a hot speed, ready to pounce.
He's clearly the best horse in the race, but the significant change in the weights could tell the tail.
Caught everyone napping last preparation when he won three of his four starts.
He then backed up that good form by edging out Redzel in the Challenge Stakes first-up. That was a very impressive run and he now meets the champ 3kg better off.
The heavy surface is a concern. If the track can dry out into the Soft 6 range, then the $14 quote is well over the odds.
Clearly the value runner of the race and he'll once again go around as the most underrated galloper in the field.
Ball Of Muscle causes a huge upset and holds off Redzel in the Challenge Stakes. What an incredible finish! pic.twitter.com/i3LVYh8xMm
— 7HorseRacing ?? (@7horseracing) March 9, 2019
Did little to boost the confidence of his supporters last start and he now drops from 1300 to 1100m.
Once again, connections look to have made a meal of this preparation, like they did last time he was in work.
A very talented race horse who is better suited at 1200m and beyond. Not here!
Jumping from barrier ten is positive as it will allow James McDonald to come across at his own pace.
He seems to struggle to do it at both ends of the race and with a ton of pressure expected here, it could be curitans for him on turning for home.
The early market move is a surprise, but needs to be respected. Happy to oppose this time.
Loves a wet track but lacks the class of his rivals here.
With minimal rain forecast, the track is likely to race in the Soft range which all but rules this guy out.
Looks well under the odds!
Has run well in Group One company both starts this preparation and steps out to the Rosehill 1100m, where he is two from two.
Barrier two is the big concern come race 8. At this stage of the day, there is little doubt that the inside will be chopped out and riders will be avoiding the rail.
Brenton Avdulla will have to ride with plenty of patience back in the field and if the breaks come, he'll be fighting out the finish.
Drops 6.5kg from his impressive first-up run, where he finished 0.3 lengths off Ball of Muscle and Redzel.
He gets a notable edge on those two this time around, meeting Redzel (7.5kg) and Ball of Muscle (4kg) better off at the weights.
He's proven to jump out of the ground second-up and has a win at the track and distance.
The son of Poet's Voice ran a nice third in this race last year and he looks to be a much improved horse off the back of a gelding operation.
Off a hot-pace, he'll be flying over the top of them late.
1st Viridine
2nd Redzel
3rd Graff
4th Ball of Muscle
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