A quality field full of Group 1 winners is set to line up in the first Group 1 of the 2020 Melbourne Spring Carnival, the $750,000 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Premiership trainer Peter Moody is back looking for Group 1 glory again and will saddle up two runners in the 1400m weight for age feature, former West Australian trained Gatting and the only three year old in the fifteen-horse field, Glenfiddich.
Last start P.B. Lawrence Stakes winner Savatiano will be trying to break through for her Maiden Group 1 victory while her James Cummings trained stablemate Cascadian will also be trying to collect his first Group 1 winning trophy.
We have analysed the entire Group 1 weight for age field and our complete 2020 Memsie Stakes tips can be found below!
Regal Power
West Australian star Regal Power was the winner of the All-Star Mile at Caulfield during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival but was a well beaten nineth first-up in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield.
The Grant and Alana Williams trained Regal Power is better than that and has a better second-up record and expect an improved showing.
Harlem
Dual Australian Cup winner Harlem is resuming and is yet to win first up from nine attempts and hasn’t won at distances below 2000m.
The Lindsay Park trained nine year old failed to run a place from four starts during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and will struggle to make an impression here.
Gatting
Former West Australian trained Gatting will be having his first start for trainer Peter Moody in his 2020 Melbourne Spring Carnival pipe-opener.
Gatting was a surprise winner at $101 in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival but has failed to win a race since.
Gatting has failed to run a place from two outings at Caulfield and the betting will be the best guide under his new trainer.
So Si Bon
So Si Bon is yet to win at Group 1 level and will find this tough going following his first up fourth in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap over 1200m down the Flemington Straight.
So Si Bon has failed to win second up from eight attempts.
Streets Of Avalon
Streets Of Avalon was beaten over four lengths when seventh to Savatiano in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
Streets Of Avalon was a winner over the same course and distance as the Memsie Stakes when he led all of the way to win the Group 1 Futurity Stakes during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and a better showing would not surprise. Is likely to go forward again from the outside gate.
Mr Quickie
Mr Quickie hasn’t won a race since taking out the 2019 Group 1 Queensland Derby over 2400m at Eagle Farm and will be better suited as the distances get longer later in his preparation.
Mr Quickie is resuming and his best effort during the 2020 Autumn Carnival was a last start second in the VOBIS Gold Heath over 2000m at Caulfield on April 18.
Behemoth
Behemoth was quick to find the winner’s stall this campaign with a first up win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville a fortnight ago.
The South Australian trained five year old is stepping up to Group 1 weight for age company and will find this task much tougher.
Iconoclasm
Iconoclasm has been unplaced at five outings at Group 1 level and it is hard to see the six year old troubling these.
The Danny O’Brien trained Iconoclasm is resuming with his best effort during the 2020 Autumn was a win in a 1400m Flemington Open Handicap.
Cascadian
Cascadian made up plenty of ground along the fence in the straight when fourth in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield a fortnight ago at his first run this preparation.
The James Cummings trained European import has been placed twice at Group 1 level but is yet to win second up from four attempts and is facing a pretty slick field here.
Begood Toya Mother
Begood Toya Mother proved himself at Group 1 level with a win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival over the same course and distance as the Memsie Stakes.
Begood Toya Mother will strip fitter for one run back from a spell for a fourth in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago and has a two from four second-up winning record and could be the improver.
Mystic Journey
Mystic Journey failed to run up to expectation when first-up in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and never threatened to finish eighth behind Savatiano, but has a very good second up record and look for a better showing.
Mystic Journey was at her best during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival over 1600m at Flemington with wins in the Group 1 Australian Guineas and in the All-Star Mile and was Group 1 placed during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Will get a nice run from gate four.
Arcadia Queen
Arcadia Queen will strip fitter for her first run since November last year when fifth in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago and look for a better showing.
The West Australian star has proven herself at Group 1 level with a win in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth during the 2018 Perth Summer Carnival and she has won second up in the past but will need plenty of luck from a wide draw.
Update: Arcadia Queen has been scratched from the Memsie Stakes.
Savatiano
Savatiano is yet to win at Group 1 level but showed that she is not far away from the Group 1 winner’s stall with a first up victory in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over the same course and distance as the Memsie Stakes.
The James Cummings trained mare has been placed twice at Group 1 level, her latest a second in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Savatiano will strip as one of the main chances again but will also need luck from a wide barrier.
Princess Jenni
Princess Jenni was the winner of the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville during the 2019 Adelaide Autumn Carnival but has been unplaced at three more runs at Group 1 level.
Princess Jenni looks tested here at her first run back since finishing sixth in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo in March and will be netter suited over more ground later in her preparation.
Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich is the only three year old in the Memsie Stakes field and showed plenty of ability during his two year old year when runner up in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over 1600m at Randwick during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Could find himself in front with the light weight and might be the surprise packet.
Memsie Stakes Tip
7 Behemoth at $3.80