| Race 5 – 3:10PM Slickpix Bletchingly Stakes (1200 METRES) |
|---|
| Of $150,000.1st $90,000, 2nd $27,000, 3rd $13,500, 4th $6,750, 5th $3,750, 6th $3,000, 7th $3,000, 8th $3,000 GROUP 3 Standard Weight for Age, Maidens at time of entry are ineligible, Apprentices cannot claim.Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM |
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66x3x4557x | READY TO RIP | Peter G Moody | Brad Rawiller | 8 | 58.5kg | 102 | |
| 2 | 07×2532422 | LE BONSIR | Mick Price | Daniel Moor | 1 | 58.5kg | 100 | |
| 3 | x323631421 | NEAREST TO PIN | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Nicholas Hall | 2 | 58.5kg | 96 | |
| 4 | 0409×15267 | GRAND EMPEROR | Saab Hasan | Steven Arnold | 7 | 58.5kg | 78 | |
| 5 | 41x110x211 | LORD OF THE SKY | Robbie Laing | Dwayne Dunn | 5 | 58kg | 103 | |
| 6 | x622633083 | GIG | Shawn Mathrick | Vlad Duric | 6 | 56.5kg | 92 | |
| 7 | 1662231889 | RAIN FAST | Stephen Lenehan | Jye McNeil (a) | 4 | 56.5kg | 62 | |
| 8 | x54135x511 | THIAMANDI | Lloyd Kennewell | Michael Rodd | 3 | 56kg | 80 |
In the news:
Adelaide sprinter Nearest To Pin caused a minor upset at Flemington last start and will be out to do it again in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.
Nearest To Pin claimed his biggest win when he took out the Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final on July 12.
Many expected that race to be won by the John Sadler-trained Vain Queen, but the mare failed to figure in the placings as an odds-on favourite.
With a breakthrough stakes win under his belt, the consistent Nearest To Pin heads back to Melbourne for his first attempt at weight-for-age racing on Saturday where another likely short-priced favourite awaits.
The Robbie Laing-trained Lord Of The Sky was a 4-1/2 length winner of the Group Three Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield this month and headlines 11 nominations.
But Andrew Gluyas, who trains in partnership with Leon Macdonald in Adelaide, said Nearest To Pin had deserved his chance after racing well throughout winter.
“He looks to be in good order so at this stage we are full steam ahead to having a go at weight-for-age,” Gluyas said.
“The nominations look a bit lean again, although once again there’s a standout fancy.
“The way he is racing, with his consistent manner, I think he deserves to have a crack on Saturday.”
Gluyas said the jump to weight-for-age conditions was the biggest query for Nearest To Pin.
Nick Hall rode Nearest To Pin to his Flemington win and retains the ride.
Lord Of The Sky has had six of his eight career starts at Caulfield and won five times.
The sprinter will have his first test at 1200m on Saturday ahead of a possible shot at the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) next month.