Angela Langton has an excellent chance of claiming a two-state feature double on Saturday night with in-form siblings Osprey Athena and Osprey Storm, rising stars of the middle distance and staying ranks.
Osprey Athena will be in action at The Meadows, chasing her fourth straight victory in the Restricted Win (1-6 wins) 600m final – race 9 at 9.27pm.
Osprey Storm is heading to Sydney, where he’s looking to complete a hat-trick in heat two of the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate (720m) at Wentworth Park – race 4 at 7.14pm.
The ‘Ospreys’ (September ’20 Barcia Bale x Mepunga Rosie), bred by the legendary Barry Smith, are younger half-relations to G1 winner Mepunga Ruby, trained by Langton’s partner Jeff Britton, which won the 2022 Summer Distance Plate, and multiple G1 finalist Mepunga Warrior.
Both are favourite in Sportsbet markets with Osprey Athena $2 at The Meadows, while Osprey Storm is $3.10, shading NSW’s Stagger Out Lee, barnstorming winner of the G1 Bold Trease on Melbourne Cup night, at $3.20.
“They’re only young and they’re out of a terrific producer in Mepunga Rosie,” Langton said.
“She just keeps producing high quality dogs and they’re strong, that’s the beauty of her pups.
“That gives you more of a range with them. They’ve got a better chance to get to the front in distance races and that’s been the case with both these dogs.”
Osprey Athena has been ultra-impressive in reeling off three straight middle distance victories since stepping up in journey.
In her past two starts, both at The Meadows, she’s defeated G1 Sale Cup placegetter Yachi Bale in 34.25sec, before an 11-length 34.33sec romp at her most recent appearance, both all-the-way Best Of Day performances.
WATCH: Rising middle distance star OSPREY ATHENA (B8) “ran her rivals ragged” when extending her winning streak to three with a runaway 34.33sec BOD victory at The Meadows on January 4.
In improving her record to six from 20, Osprey Athena is delivering on the potential that saw her win a maiden final at Sandown Park in a scorching 29.24sec last April, where she trounced Osprey Storm by eight lengths.
“She had a fall at Sandown and got a chip and then we brought her back and she cracked a fibula, which took a bit of time again, and she’s had some bad boxes,” Angela explained.
“When she won her maiden at Sandown in 29.24sec, her run home was enormous and we always knew she’d get over ground. Hopefully, she’ll run ‘700’ too – that’s the ultimate goal.
“I don’t think box 7 is a great box on the bend starts, but she just needs to get a clear run around the first corner. She’s going really well, she’s strong and getting that confidence up makes a big difference.”
Osprey Storm has earned an interstate trip, accounting for high profile adversaries in winning his past two.
After defeating Stagger Out Lee over 730m at The Meadows, he upstaged an all-star cast, featuring G1 winners Aston Velvet, Jarick Bale and Untapped, in the inaugural Ray Drew Memorial (650m) at Warrnambool last Saturday night.
“It was a terrific win really,” Langton said.
“He didn’t really draw well (box 7) and he had to chase down a very good dog (Aston Velvet) in front, but you know he’s always going to give 100 per cent. That’s the great joy in training these dogs.
“We were rapt to win the race because we’ve had a lot to do with Ray and the Drew family, racing a lot at Warrnambool, particularly in the Classic, so it was a real honour to win it.
“It was very sentimental too because Andrea Gurry handled him for us. Ray was Andrea’s uncle and she’d asked us if we were nominating anything for the race, could she handle for us, so that was lovely for her to handle the winner.
“He’s got a good box on Saturday night in a small field, so hopefully he can get to the front. The danger is the two (Stagger Out Lee); Osprey Storm has beaten her before, but she knows Wentworth Park better than he does.
“I guess ‘Storm’ would be the best chance, only because he’s got a good box, but ‘Athena’ is definitely my favourite!”
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