Gai Waterhouse will be aiming for her third straight success in the Bill Stutt Stakes after he champion colt Pierro won in 2012 and last year, Devine Calling narrowly defeated subsequent Cox Plate winner Shamus Award with Cluster third. Each of Waterhouse’s previous winners has started favourite as currently is Almalad, albeit just. Almalad is $3.30 with Chivalry ($3.40) and Zebulon ($4.00). Almalad looks well placed after two runs back from a spell and now getting to a mile, a distance at which he recorded a Group 1 victory over in the JJ Atkins Stakes.

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Bill Stutt Stakes 2014 Field:

1. ALMALAD – T Berry (6)

Sat handy to the lead when resuming in the G3 Run To The Roses but on a heavy track and a big weight (60kgs) wasn’t punished in the run to the line when he didn’t stretch out, finishing ninth (3.8 lengths) behind Hollowed Crown. Again took up a prominent position from a good draw in the G1 Golden Rose before having to duck back to fence upon straightening, not the ideal part of the track on the day, to make his run. He fought on well to finish fourth (1.6 lengths) to Hallowed Crown again. Third up getting to a mile is ideal and he had a good look at the Valley circuit earlier in the week.

2. ZULULAND – D Oliver (3)

Got back from an inside draw when second up from a spell in the G3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) before angling out into the centre of the track and finishing fairly for a seventh (4 lengths) behind Chivalry. He was then ridden more aggressively in the Listed Living Legends, settling on the pace and hitting the lead at the 400m. The Fastnet Rock colt couldn’t maintain the effort though and he batted away over the final furlong to run seventh (three lengths) behind Merion. Has to find a bit on the three runs he has produced this time in to be winning this race.

3. CHIVALRY – G Boss (1)

Drew wide when resuming off a six month spell and settled at the tail of the field in the McNeil Stakes (1200m). The Mark Kavanagh trained galloper peeled out turning and finished strongly to nose out Nordic Empire and Awesome Rock. Off that impressive win he start the15/8 favourite for the Listed Living Legends Stakes (1400m) and again was hitting the line well, this time being ousted on the line by Merion. Both runs have been very strong and they read very well for this race however, he may need a little luck from the inside draw.

4. KUMAON – K McEvoy (8)

Still only the one win from seven starts, that victory coming on debut at Rosehill, but the Godolphin galloper has registered placings behind Time For War (Pago Pago Stakes), Go Indy Go (G1 Champagne Stakes) and more recently, when resuming from a spell, Hallowed Crown in the Run To The Roses beaten ¾ of a length. He finished well through the centre of the field in the Run To The Roses before finishing tenth to the same horse again in the G1 Golden Rose. Draw the inside gate last start and from there, was committed to the inside fence which wasn’t the ideal place to be. Not out of place in this race and the Moonee Valley surface should suit given his softer track record. Represents the best value in the race.

5. MOONOVERMANHATTEN – C Newitt (5)

Resumed from a spell in the McNeil Stakes but from the inside draw, had little luck finding clear running in the straight, hitting a dead-end at the 200m mark, dashing any hopes the Mick Price trained galloper had. He draw inside again at his following and most recent start, the Listed Living Legends Stakes (1400m), and found a good spot behind the leaders before getting the run when required and finishing third (1.2 lengths) to Merion and Chivalry. Had his chance last start but from another good draw here around the valley circuit, couldn’t be ruled out of filling a place again.

6. ZEBULON – S Baster (2)

Really caught the eye when resuming in the Listed Living Legends (1400m) off a brief let-up. The All American colt settled last after drawing the second to widest gate in the field of twelve before working his way to clear space in the centre of the track and hitting the line strongly over the last furlong, running third (1.1 lengths) to Merion and Chivalry. Hard to imagine he hasn’t been improved by that run and the mile, a distance he ran third in Listed Taj Rossi over earlier in the year, looks ideal.

7. CAVEKA – L Nolen (9)

Luckless behind Rich Enuff in the Listed McKenzie Stakes two starts back, a race that has proved a strong form reference, before finding the right spot from the jump and making amends in a 3yo Open handicap at his following start, recording a comfortable 1.3 length win over War Point. That was his second win from only three starts and he’ll be better for the last start win which saw him jump from 1200m to 1500m. The Written Tycoon gelding has the right connections behind him and form on the board to run a bold race here.

8. SILENT WHISPER – M Zahra (4)

Under 60kgs, just couldn’t reel Berlutti in when second (1 length) in the BM 64 (1200m) at Lakeside two starts back. The I Am Invincible gelding then finished well within limited room from the second half of the field to claim fifth (2.7 lengths) behind Merion and Chivalry in the Listed Living Legends Stakes (1400m). Still yet to prove himself at Stakes level but last start’s effort warrants a closer look at him here.

9. MIHANY – M Walker (7)

Started the 13/8 favourite on debut and led all the way to win the Geelong Maiden (1300m) by 1 ¼ lengths. The Hayes/Dabernig runner than had every chance in the run from the rails draw when second (1 length) to Maastriact in a BM 64 (1400m). From a very much in-from yard but may be aiming too high here at this stage of his career.

Bill Stutt Stakes 2014 Odds/Results:

RACE OVERVIEW

Pace here should be genuine with Mihany crossing from his wide draw and pushing forward from inside draws, Zululand, Silent Whisper with even Zebulon capable of taken closer order than he did last start. Almalad got caught in the wrong part of the track in the Golden Rose and was only bettered by three very promising gallopers swopping down the outside. Zebulon is developing nicely and can only be better for his last start, his first for seven weeks. Expecting him to keep the leaders in sight this time out and as he has in each of starts thus far, be finishing well late. Fancy Chivalry will drop out from the inside gate and come around them. Around the Valley, giving a couple of good horses a start when turning for home, he’ll have to be at his best but hasn’t run a bad race yet and wouldn’t think he’d start here.

1. ALMALAD
2. ZEBULON
3. CHIVALRY
4. KUMAON

News:

The Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes is the preferred weekend option for talented three-year-old Zebulon.

Zebulon is entered for Friday night’s 1600m race as well as the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Sunday but co-trainer Craig Widdison says connections are leaning towards running the horse under lights.

“At this stage it will be Moonee Valley on Friday night,” Widdison said.

Widdison felt the longer distance of the Stutt Stakes and the small nine-horse field would suit Zebulon, who was a fast-finishing third behind Merion and Chivalry over 1400m at Flemington last start.

He meets Chivalry again on Friday night in a race which also features the Melbourne debut of Group One winner Almalad.

Almalad, a last-start fourth in the Golden Rose in Sydney, has displaced Chivalry as favourite after firming from $3.80 to $2.90 with TAB fixed odds.

Chivalry is at $3.20 after opening at $3.40 while Zebulon is on the third line of betting at $4.20.

At his most recent start, Zebulon was a clear last early after it was decided to ride the colt quietly to encourage him to settle.

Widdison admitted they probably overdid it as Zebulon relaxed too well after a slow start.

“He’ll always be a horse that comes from the back but we won’t be that far back in future,” he said.

Zebulon worked well at Moonee Valley on Monday and Widdison said he was convinced the horse had the talent to match it with the likes of Chivalry and Almalad on Friday night as he headed towards the Caulfield Guineas on October 11.

“They’ve all shown promise but we’ve got a good opinion of our bloke and think he’ll be very competitive with them at least,” Widdison said.

Stablemate Eloping is favourite for the Group Three Champagne Stakes (1200m).

Eloping finished third behind Angelic Light and Lankan Rupee in the weight-for-age McEwen Stakes first-up.

“Back against three-year-old fillies, we think that’s her right grade and think she’ll be hard to beat,” Widdison said.