The highlight of the day will be the last race on a bumper Caulfield card. The Memsie Stakes sees fourteen runners line up with nine individual Group 1 winners amongst them. Nine also resume from a spell including the early favourite ($2.10) Atlantic Jewel who we haven’t seen race since she claimed the All Aged Stakes back in April of last year. The only other runner under double figures is the ATC Derby winner It’s A Dundeel at $5.00.
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1. GREEM MOON – B Prebble (10)
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner resumes after a short Autumn prep of two starts that saw him run fourth to All Too Hard in the Futurity (over this track/trip) and fourth again in the Australian Cup behind Super Cool. He ran fifth in this race last year behind Sincero, closing very well from the tail of the field. He’ll get back again and be doing his best work late but over the 1400m, will find a few a bit too nippy.
2. KING MUFHASA – SCRATCHED
3. LUCKYGRAY – M Zahra (9)
Still looking for that elusive maiden victory in Melbourne and he’ll need to be at the top of his game if he is to break that status in this race. Started 3/1 in this race last year and had little luck when finishing eleventh of fifteen. He was first up in the Aurie’s Star three weeks ago and he closed well enough over 1200m under 60kgs to finish sixth (beaten 2.2 lengths) behind Broken (won again last week). That run will benefit him as will the step up to 1400m but this year’s edition of the race has good depth.
4. HAPPY TRIALS – C Schofield (7)
Resumed from a fifteen week spell in his home-state of Adelaide and was doing his best work late when 2 ½ lengths fifth behind Just Discreet in the G3 Spring Stakes (1200m). He was second up in this race last year as well when settling handy to the speed, he fought off bar Sincero to run second. Expect they’ll employ similar tactics here but as mentioned above, this year’s race has good depth and he’ll need to be going better than 12 months ago.
5. FIORENTE – N Rawiller (5)
A former European galloper who ran a cracking race in last year’s Melbourne Cup when making his Australian debut for Trainer Gai Waterhouse, finishing second to Green Moon. He was spelled and on his return in the All Aged Stakes this April, caught the eye finishing hard for a 1 ¾ length third behind All Too Hard and Rain Affair. Has looked forward in condition in two trails (both over 1400m) and whilst his main aim this Spring will be to go one better in the Cup, a forward showing here would not surprise.
6. SEVILLE – C Williams (14)
Robert Hickmott trained galloper who despite having been in Australia now for some 18 months, has only had the five starts. The most recent of them was an eye-catching effort in last year’s Turnball Stakes where, from the tail of the field, the son of Galileo stormed home for a long neck second to Green Moon. He’ll be set for the Cups and from that perspective, is one to definitely keep an eye on but here, first up over this trip, he’ll find a few too slick.
7. SECOND EFFORT – B Rawiller (13)
Mossman 7yo who has been in very solid form of late however, he is taking a big step up in class on his recent runs. He ran a good third in the Listed Sir John Monash and backed that up with a win in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes. His most recent run was in the G2 P. B. Lawrence where he finished a respectable third to Puissance De Lune, beaten 1.2 lengths. He’ll need to improve again on that run and it’s hard to see him doing so.
8. MY QUEST FOR PEACE – L Nolen (11)
Imported galloper who made his Australian debut with a very pleasing effort in last year’s Caulfield Cup, finishing 1.6 lengths behind Dunaden before finishing mid-field in the Melbourne Cup. He was immediately spelled and transferred to the stables of Peter Moody. He’s had two starts for Moody since last year’s Cup during Brisbane’s Winter carnival in the G1 Doomben and Stradbroke. Those races, like this one, were well short of his best distance.
9. IT’S A DUNDEEL – J McDonald (1)
The ATC Derby winner resumes off an eighteen week spell. He was doing his best work late in the G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) when first up last prep before going on to claim three G1’s in succession and rounding out his autumn campaign with a good second to Reliable Man in the Queen Elizabeth. Will get back from his inside draw and need a little luck in running around the turn but should it come, capable of finishing well and filling a place. Whatever he does here, he’ll do better at his next start.
10. SUPER COOL – G Boss (12)
One of last season’s leading three year olds, this Mark Kavanagh trained galloper latest effort was a nose victory over Fiveandahalfstar in the G1 Australian Cup (2000m) back in March. Not seen at any official trials and whilst he no doubt has a big spring ahead of him, from a wide gate he’ll be giving plenty of good horses a start as they turn for home.
11. FERLAX – S Baster (3)
Winner of the G1 Australian Guineas last prep, this son of Pentire resumed in the G3 Aurie’s Star three weeks ago down the Flemington straight. It was his first look at a slow track and he only held his position in the run to line, finishing 2.6 lengths behind Broken. Step up in trip, a drier track and good draw are all to his advantage however, he does rise 2.5kgs and is still unproven against in open company.
12. ANJEEB – C Newitt (6)
Al Maher colt who was taken to the provincials by trainer Mick Price to register a win first up and also, give the head-strong colt some experience. He backed that up with a head win over Grane over this track and trip in a 3yo race before, at his next and most recent start, leading from the front and beating all bar Puissance De Lune home in the G2 P. B. Lawrence. Expect that they’ll go forward on him again but he’ll be kept honest with several others also keen for an on-pace position.
13. SILENT ACHIEVER – S Arnold (4)
The O’Reilly mare kept threatening to win a good race last prep but found but just kept finding one or two better than her on the day. The pick of her of her autumn runs was a head second to Fiveandahalfstar in the G1 The BMW (2400m). Wet to win fresh and would think her chance to register a win at this level would come in a race over more ground.
14. ATLANTIC JEWEL – M Rodd (8)
The unbeaten daughter of Fastnet Rock makes her long-awaited return to racing and despite the lengthy lay-off, has opened up a clear favourite. She hasn’t been seen since her 1 ¼ length win over Rain Affair in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) back in April last year. Hasn’t been seen at the trails but there’ll be no doubting that trainer Mark Kavanagh will have her ready to go first up and want her perfect record kept intact. If she’s came back the same as she left, she’ll be right in the finish.
OVERVIEW.
King Mufhasa and Anjeeb lead out from Happy Trails who should be able to sit handy, Ferlax from his inside draw and Rodd on Atlantic Jewel will not want them to get too much of a break on him in the run mindful that the mare is first up. If she’s near her best, over this trip and facing most runners who would generally be looking for longer, she should be hard to beat and outside of her, it’s hard to find the winner. In saying that, at the $2.10 on offer though, you’ve got to be 100% sure. Green Moon was unlucky not to finish closer to Sincero when first up in this race last year. He got a long way back there and at his next fresh run, drew the inside gate and had to be used up to hold a spot. Gate ten here should give Prebble the option to settle and tack on to one as the pressure goes on. Look for him to be finishing hard late and at $13.00 (started 7/1 last year) represents each way value. So too does Happy Trails. Like he did in this race last year, he’ll be able to take a forward position and if the leaders can get a breather mid-race, he’ll be in the perfect position to strike in the straight.
- GREEN MOON
- ATLANTIC JEWEL
- HAPPY TRAILS
- IT’S A DUNDEEL
