Not even a bad draw has dampened punter’s enthusiasm for Our Boy Malachi who dominates betting for the sprint feature at Rosehill this Saturday, the Starlight Stakes. The lightly raced 6yo is $2.50 favourite to make it win number fifteen – at start number seventeen – and after his first Sydney win it’s a hard assessment to argue with. Dothraki from the inform Gerald Ryan stable is the closest rival in betting at $5.50 with Lilliburlero, who’ll be out to give trainer David Payne his second victory in the race after Winter King claimed the 2010 edition, the only other runner under double figure odds at $8.00.

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Starlight Stakes 2014 Field

1. AERONAUTICAL – J Bowman (3) 59kgs

Been almost a year now since this 6yo last won, which just so happened to be the last time Bowman partnered the Lionel Cohen trained galloper. Settled back and couldn’t make an impression on the leader, budding superstar Deep Field, when resuming in the Listed City Tatts (1100m) first up from a spell over a month ago, finishing sixth (6.5 lengths). Won a trial in smart fashion a fortnight ago and is a gifted galloper on his day but does need it all to pan out perfectly for him in his races.

2. DOTHRAKI – B Shinn (9) 59kgs

This year’s Gold Coast Guineas winner looked to have his first up run in the bag heading inside the final furlong. A nice run throughout saw him hit the front full of running but fitness and a flying You’ll Never grabbed him by half a length late in the BM 95 (1200m). The additional fitness was all he needed to go one better at his next and most recent start, another BM95, where under 60kgs, he defeated Goldstone. Going very well this time in and has been given every change in the run at his last two by Shinn who sticks with him here.

3. LILLIBURLERO – G Schofield (5) 56kgs

Made up a lot of ground and ran a great third first up down the Flemington straight when finishing 3.6 lengths behind impressive winner Vain Queen in the G. H. Mumm Stakes (1100m). Fitter, drops in weight and will not have to get as far back as she did last start here from a good draw. Take into consideration her love of the Rosehill circuit where her record reads 4:2-1-0 and she sure to be well in contention here.

4. STRAIGHT GOLD – T Berry (10) 55kgs

The Stratum gelding was in the middle of a bunched field turning at Moonee Valley two starts ago and never out of trouble in the straight, finishing second to last to Eight Bills, but only four lengths from the winner of the Open 1000m race. Made a mends to a degree with a third (2.5 lengths) behind impressive Atmospherical in the Listed Earl Grey Stakes (1000m). The former Hong Kong galloper has produced enough at each of his three starts in Australia to not be out of place here and will get his chance with a solid speed up front and 55kgs – carried 58kgs last time out.

5. TESTARHYTHM – P King (1) 55kgs

The 7yo gelding resumes from a spell here with two good trial performances under his belt, just as he did when claiming the Listed Ortensia Sprint fresh last campaign – his third win from six first up runs. Secured a lovely run in the Ortensia from an inside gate before finishing too strongly for Unanimously (Aeronautical 4^th). Will get the same kind of run here from gate one and with a touch of luck at the right time, we could see his fresh record improve to some degree again.

6. OUR BOY MALACHI – D Dunn (12)

Former Queensland made his first start for new trainers Hawkes Racing a winning one with a 1.3 length over Zaratone four weeks back. The lightly raced 6yo, who has won fourteen of his sixteen starts, got a lovely cart behind Zaratone and was too strong late. Will have to do a lot more work from a poor draw but overall record and his fresh win, means he can’t be ruled out on that factor alone.

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7. CRADLE ME – S Clipperton (7) 54kgs

Produced her typically honest effort when second (1.8 lengths) behind The Messina Nymph in the Listed Alinghi Stakes, her first run in eleven weeks, before finishing fifth (4.6 lengths) in the G2 Mumm Stakes behind Vain Queen. Lost a plate last start and her finishing effort was as strong as it normally is, but a return to Rosehill, where she’s finished in the first two seven of her nine starts, will see the David Pfeiffer mare in the action at some point over the final 100m.

8. HIGH ESTEEM – K McEvoy (11) 54kgs

Promised a lot early in his career but was given a good spell – and the chop – after two poor runs earlier this year which saw him finish with the tail-enders in the G3 Tab Rewards (1400m) and Newcastle Newmarket Handicap. Given two Warwick Farm trials by trainer Peter Moody in preparation for his return, the latest a smart looking win. Might have his mind on the job now but happy to see what he can produce first up in a competitive race.

9. HAUSSMANN – (4) 54kgs

The 5yo was given a month of and float trip back to Sydney after failing in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes first up late September, running third to last. He then lined up in last fortnight’s BM 95 (1100m) won by Dothraki where from second last on the turn, he couldn’t initially pick up under his weight of 57kg but was closing on the line, finishing sixth (4.8 lengths). Drops nicely in weight, and will be fitter for that run, his first for close to two months. Ran a cheeky second to Mighty Lucky in the Listed Luskin Star at Scone at his only other attempt at Listed grade, which was off a similar preparation.

10. SHAMALIA – (13) 54kgs

Was clearly the best run outside of smart winner Deep Field in the Listed City Tatts Stakes (1100m) two starts ago and took that form to Melbourne, winning a BM 84 under 60kgs by a head. Gets down in the weights here and the daughter of Shamardal is ticking over nicely for Bart and James Cummings at present. Will get back and has some smart ones to run down, but has never been far away in these races in the past.

11. SENTA DE NOCHE – B Avdulla (8) 54kgs

Backing up from last week which saw the Kris Lees trained galloper take out the last event on the day, a BM 80 (1150m) by a comfortable 2.3 lengths. Had the track to suit last week when leading throughout but will be kept far most honest on the speed here in a much tougher race.

12. FARE WELL – J Collett (6) 54kgs

Started the 5/4 favourite against only five competitors at her most recent start, a BM 80 (1150m) but unfortunately for punters and connections alike, the well-bred daughter of Exceed And Excel finished a narrow second to Valcot. That was her fourth second placing from her last six runs and to be winning here; she needed to convert those “good runs”, into “smart wins”.

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13. HOLDER SUNSET – T Bell (2) 54kgs

Lightly raced mare from the Anthony Cummings yard who although a 5yo, will be lining up for only her thirteenth start on Saturday, her first since July. The daughter of Shamardal’s only win last prep from five starts was on a heavy track in a BM 70, and whilst she’s shown she is ready for return with two good barrier trials effort, there’s easier races than this she could be competing in.

Starlight Stakes 2014 Odds/Results

RACE OVERVIEW

Obviously there’ll be no mucking around here with the pace on from the jump. Our Boy Malachi was good last start but meets a stronger field here and from gate 12, can baulk at the $2.50 but he’s the one that it keeps coming back to. He’s a winner, was strong at the end of last start and the Hawkes/Dunn combination is a winning one. See Testarhythm getting a similar to his first up win last prep from gate one and at big odds, a place chance, whilst Cradle Me doesn’t know how to run bad race best of time, let only on the Rosehill track. She’ll appreciate the solid tempo up front and finish strongly.

1. OUR BOY MALACHI

2. LILLIBURLERO

3. TESTARHTHYM

4. CRADLE ME

News:

A start in the summer’s richest race is on the line for Miss Idyllic at Moonee Valley.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel is the most experienced of the 11 runners contesting Saturday’s Adapt Australia Handicap over 1000m and victory would secure a start in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.

The two-year-old, trained by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, made her debut at Caulfield on October 11 chasing home the smart Of The Brave in the Debutant Stakes before finishing fourth to Antelucan at Flemington over 1000m on Melbourne Cup day.

First prize at Moonee Valley on Saturday is $48,000 and coupled with the $28,350 already earned, Miss Idyllic should have enough to gain a start on the Gold Coast.

“She’s got good consistent form for a race like this,” Hayes said.

“Hopefully she’ll qualify for the Magic Millions if she wins but if she runs second she probably won’t have earned enough prize money.”

Bantam, fifth on debut behind Prompt Return in the Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on November 8 and Miss Gidget, a narrow second to Thurlow at Sandown on November 15, are the only other two horses to have faced the starter.

Hayes is also hoping Extra Zero can break through for a long overdue win in the final event, the Sportingbet Powered By William Hill Handicap (2040m).

Extra Zero has been racing in consistent fashion lately but has been finding it hard to break back into the winner’s list.

His last victory came in the Albury Cup over 2000m in March 2012.

In total Extra Zero has raced on 65 occasions, registering just the four wins and 19 minor placings with five of those coming in his five starts this campaign.

He was a last-start third to Zabisco in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes over 1800m at Sandown on November 15 and is dropping in grade on Saturday.

“He’s run an amazing number of placings,” Hayes said.

“He’s in form and racing well and it looks a winnable race for him, so I would think he should run well again.