Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
There have been only three multiple winners in the 55-year history of the Empress Stakes — and now the powerful pacer Aardiebytheseaside is poised to become the fourth mare to win the $75,000 event more than once by proving too strong for her rivals in the 2536m group 2 feature at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Aardiebytheseaside, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Deni Roberts, has the speed and strength to overcome her awkward draw at barrier six at her third outing after a spell.
She won the Empress Stakes as a four-year-old on April 19, 2024, when, from the No. 1 barrier at her Australian debut, she was beaten for early speed by Steno and then trailed that brilliant mare before forging to the front 120m from the post and winning easily from Steno, rating 1.54.6 to set a race record and course record for a mare over the 2536m journey.
Aardiebytheseaside went on to win at her following six starts, and she is unbeaten at her three starts over 2536m after her two runs over 2600m at Addington produced a win and a second placing.
Multiple winners of the Empress Stakes are Bellagena (1971 and 1972), Golden Goddess (1997-98-99) and Sensational Gabby (2014 and 2015).
Aardiebytheseaside should be close to peak fitness this week after third placings at her first two runs after a spell. She raced in the one-out, one-back position when third behind Nullarbor Navajo in the Golden Girls Mile at Pinjarra and she set the pace before wilting to third behind Wonderful To Fly in a 2130m Free-For-All at Gloucester Park last Friday week.
Penny Black, trained by Michael Young and to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr, looms large as a serious threat to Aardiebytheseaside, despite drawing the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Penny Black was a most unlucky second when beaten by a head by Nullarbor Navajo over 2130m last Friday night. She broke into a gallop moments after the start and dropped back to a distant last in a field of six before she put up an outstanding performance to fight on grimly, with the final 400m sections being covered in 27.5sec. and 27.6sec.
A week earlier Penny Black began from the 30m mark in the Race For Roses and broke and lost about two lengths soon after the start before sustaining a powerful run from last to take the lead 250m from home and win by more than a length from Chilli Punter.
“Penny Black was awesome last week,” said Hall. “They probably will run along on Friday night which will suit her.” Hall has won the Empress Stakes with Aussie Made Lombo (2013), The Parade (2017) and Bettor Get It On (2022).
Little Darling, trained by Barry Howlett and driven by Chris Lewis, is racing with wonderful enthusiasm and cannot be disregarded despite drawing out wide at barrier eight.
Lewis is the most successful driver in the history of the Empress Stakes, having won the race eight times, scoring with Candy Nacray (1988), Armbro Lucy (1992), Maggie Dear (2001), Classical Mover (2002), Shes Royalty (2007), Ima Spicey Lombo (2011) and Sensational Gabby (2014 and 2015).
Sweet Vivienne has drawn the prized No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s race, with trainer-reinsman Chris Voak saying: “I will come out hard and then assess things after that. I don’t want to be any worse than the leader’s back. This is a big rise in class, but we have the barrier, and I imagine she will run in the top five.”
Trainer Mike Reed said that he was disappointed with Water Lou’s wilting third behind Nullarbor Navajo and Penny Black after setting the pace last Friday night. “I have increased her work on the track, but it looks hard again.”
Aiden De Campo has a busy night as usual, and he says that his best winning chances are The Big Kaboosh (barrier two) in race seven and Patched in the final event, a stand for trotters.
“The Big Kaboosh was unlucky last start (when second to Riggers River at Bunbury) when he got out late and ran home strongly,” he said. “He won very well at Bridgetown at his previous start, and if he finds the front he will be hard to beat.”