Right To Party
RACE: Atlantic Jewel Stakes (Listed, 1200m)
TRAINER: Anthony and Sam Freedman
A black–type win for Right To Party (Zoustar) in today’s Atlantic Jewel Stakes (Listed, 1200m) will hand her owner-breeder Jonathan Munz much cause to celebrate, after the filly narrowly missed out on bolstering her CV on her previous start.
A filly already possessing a deep pedigree, Munz under his Pinecliff Racing banner elected to retain the striking brown-grey filly, who is a half-sister to the enigmatic Group 1 placegetter in Hong Kong, Big Party (Exceed And Excel), and is the tenth foal out of his unraced veteran mare De Groove (Dehere).
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Right To Party is set for her fifth career start at Moonee Valley today, having already chalked off one desirable achievement with a two-year-old win at Doomben in June, when deemed good enough to be campaigned in Brisbane during the winter carnival.
She followed this with a runner-up finish in the Tattersall’s Life Members Stakes (Listed, 1200m) to Zoukerette (Snitzel), a filly Big Party will meet again today, as she seeks to reverse the long-neck defeat to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained runner.
Right To Party returned for her three-year-old season at Cranbourne last month, finishing third, beaten three and a half lengths when soaring home from the rear of the 11-runner field, and Sam Freedman believes she can be in the mix at the post.
“She was a good closer at her last start in one of the fastest last furlongs of the day,” Freedman said.
“She may well be looking for the 1400 metres, but with a fairer track and a better gate, she should be right there at the finish. She can settle a bit closer, hopefully, too.”
Right To Party’s half-brother Big Party, a $420,000 yearling, arguably never realised his true potential in Hong Kong, with his Group 3 success in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m) being his fifth win from just nine career starts, but ultimately it would also be his last.
De Groove, who has an unnamed two-year-old brother to Big Party who was purchased for $260,000 by Hong Kong’s Upper Bloodstock, is also the dam of the stakes placed duo General Groove (General Nediym) and Top Me Up (Exceed And Excel). De Groove missed to King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) on her last cover.
Right To Party, who is a $10 chance behind market favourite Charm Stone (I Am Invincible), will jump from barrier five with Mark Zahra in the saddle.