THE Robert Smerdon-trained Ungrateful Ellen hasn’t been a punter’s best friend this season, but Smerdon believes he has it primed for the Listed Ballarat Cup on Saturday.
Ungrateful Ellen finished fifth behind Delicacy (current favourite for the Group 1 Railway Stakes) in the Australasian Oaks just two starts before running second in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at the same distance as the Ballarat Cup.
It has yet to win or place in four outings this spring, but Smerdon is confident it has worked up to peak fitness after running fourth in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington.
“The 2200 [metres] is at the end of a solid preparation but I reckon she’s as good as she’s been since the Queensland Oaks,” Smerdon said.
Smerdon was happy to see the Grey Swallow mare bounce back with a good performance last start and it has since worked well.
“We did the raceday gallop on Saturday so she had a fairly solid maintenance gallop at Sandown,” Smerdon said.
“I don’t think fitness is going to be a problem.”
Ungratefull Ellen is currently the $5.50 favourite for the Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup.
2015 Ballarat Cup field and market
1. Junoob – $17
2. Index Linked – $11
3. Prince Cheri – $15
4. Digitalism – $17
5. Akzar – $9
6. Crafty Cruiser – $31
7. Tanby – $101
8. Tooleybuc Kid – $10
9. Maygrove – $15
10. Pondarosa Miss – $17
11. Sonntag – $21
12. Sysmo – $9
13. Don Doremo – $17
14. Lord Durante – $51
15. Mujadale – $9
16. Ungratefull Ellen – $5.50
17. Zayam – $15
18. Wales – $61
There’s plenty of class in the Ballarat Cup this year, but there are only four runners in single figure odds.
Ungratefull Ellen is the loose $5.50 favourite having not won or placed in its last four starts, but it looks to have prepared well for this feature race on Saturday.
Quality runners Junoob and Akzar have been supported at longer odds and New Zealand runners Maygrove and Pondarosa Miss have been backed at each way quotes.
Don Doremo was no match for the likes of Who Shot Thebarman at Sandown, but this looks more winnable and the price of $17 at CrownBet.com.au looks like good value.
