Silver Shadow Stakes - Two Tough Fillies

Published: 22 Aug 2014

The Silver Shadow is now without the Autumn superstar Earthquake after Godolphin trainer John O'Shea decided that the track was just too wet for her to show her best. It leaves a big dent in one of the main races at Royal Randwick, the Silver Shadow, but the betting on the race may be even more interesting with the "little battler" Bring Me The Maid taking the mantle as favourite. A position not usually held by a horse of her type.

The biggest challengers now loom as the Gary Nickson trained Alpha Miss and Godolphin's other runner Memorial. Out of those two the Horse Expert favours the former given her toughness and ability to fight on around the Royal Randwick circuit. But does she have a chance of toppling the favourite? 

Eight of the key factors are analysed in a head-to-head.

Alpha Miss vs Bring Me The Maid

1. Best Performance

Bring Me The Maid gets the points after her brave 3rd in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Another 50m and she would of caught Earthquake.

Alpha Miss 0 - 1 Bring Me The Maid 

2. Type

Neither filly is the most powerful, however Alpha Miss has a beautifully proportioned frame and enough strength to push into a race early. That could give her an edge.

Alpha Miss 1 - 1 Bring Me The Maid 

3. Style

Bring Me The Maid can be slow to jump, but her racing style of flying home late is well suited on a wet Royal Randwick track, even more so than at Rosehill Gardens.

Alpha Miss 1 - 2 Bring Me The Maid 

4. Track

Alpha Miss has score two wins from her two starts at 'headquarters' and her resilience will ensure she fights hard up the famous 'Royal Randwick' rise.

Alpha Miss 2 - 2 Bring Me The Maid 

5. Distance

They both look well suited racing at 1200m first-up, so equal points here.

Alpha Miss 2 - 2 Bring Me The Maid 

6. Conditions

The better heavy track form definitely comes from the favourite after strong performances to win the Magic Night, and then 3rd in the Golden Slipper.

Alpha Miss 2 - 3 Bring Me The Maid

7. Speed Map

Alpha Miss takes the points as she looks ideally suited getting a trail off the speedy Waterhouse horse Nayeli.

Alpha Miss 3 - 3 Bring Me The Maid

8. Handicap

The two kilograms of weight relief for Alpha Miss could make a bigger difference than usual on the sodden Randwick turf.

Alpha Miss 4 - 3 Bring Me The Maid

The Verdict

Alpha Miss by the barest of margins in a tough tussle to the line.

Alpha Miss in the mounting yard