The $1.5 million Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) headlines the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival as a small field of sprinters hope to cap off their Spring on a winning note at Flemington.
There is absolutely nothing between Bivouac and last year’s winner Nature Strip in the market, while there’s also tremendous value to be found on last start Manikato Stakes winner Hey Doc, and five-time Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane.
We’ve analysed each and every runner ahead of Saturday’s race and our 2020 Darley Classic Sprint Preview can be found below!
Santa Ana Lane
Santa Ana Lane hasn’t found the winner’s circle since he won the T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick last April but has to be respected having won this race before.
The 2018 Darley Classic winner has struggled to find the same form that saw him win five Group 1’s before venturing to Hong Kong, but he should feel right at home on Saturday with Ben Melham booked to ride.
Melham won The Goodwood and The Stradbroke aboard Santa Ana Lane two years ago and has drawn perfectly to get a lovely run out wide from barrier 7.
The Freedman-trained gelding made up a stack of ground late to run sixth in The Everest, and after bypassing last week’s Yes Yes Yes Stakes on the heavy track at Rosehill, he should prove tough to hold out in the late stages.
Nature Strip
Nature Strip has been one of the bigger disappointments this Spring after winning the T.J. Smith Stakes quite convincingly during the Autumn.
The defending Darley Classic winner was beaten comfortably by Gytrash first-up in the Concorde, ran fourth to Libertini in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick and failed to show his usual turn of foot when seventh in The Everest.
That said, the Chris Waller-trained six-year-old tends to save his best racing for the Flemington straight – as we saw last year in his three length victory ahead of Loving Gaby.
He’s drawn an identical gate with James McDonald booked to ride and rates as one of the top chances, if not the one to beat, heading into his grand final.
Bivouac
There is no denying Bivouac is up to winning a race of this quality based on what we’ve seen from him so far during the Spring.
The son of Exceed and Excel has found the placings in both starts behind Classique Legend, which includes a huge bursting run from well back in last month’s Everest at Randwick.
This is one of the few races Glen Boss hasn’t won during his storied career and he will have plenty to work with from barrier six.
James Cummings’ grandfather Bart also won this race on six occasions, and with Bivouac fit and ready to peak, Godolphin rate as the ones to beat.
Hey Doc
Hey Doc is hoping to become just the third horse to claim the Manikato Stakes – Sprint Classic double after rewinding the clock a fortnight ago at Moonee Valley.
He was simply exceptional over the final 600m beating home Trekking by almost a length and is certainly a much better chance than his current market price suggests.
The old boy is a three-time winner at Flemington, but perhaps the only knock is the fact he hasn’t raced at Headquarters in over two years.
Graff
Graff was set to run in the Mumm Century Stakes on Oaks Day but will instead head to Flemington on Saturday for a crack at a Group 1.
The Australian Bloodstock gelding snapped his two year winless streak with a convincing first-up win in the Group 2 Caulfield Stakes where he ran on from out wide to beat Fabergino.
The son of Star Witness has won previously second-up, but it would take his best effort to win a race like this.
Zoutori
Zoutori is shooting for a hat-trick and looks to be the value runner in the field after winning both the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis and the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington over the track and distance.
The son of Zoustar was among three to hit the line last start where he just beat home Dollar For Dollar by the barest of margins.
He’s been as consistent as they come this time in and is worth including in your numbers under the in-form Jamie Kah.
Standout
Standout will make his Melbourne debut on Saturday coming off a last start second behind Trumbull in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes.
The son of Exceed and Excel won the Group 2 Expressway Stakes over this same trip back in February, but does look out of his depth here against some of the world’s top sprinters.
Tofane
Tofane has done some of her best racing at Flemington and there is no doubt she can beat home some of the boys on her home track.
Michael Maroney’s five-year-old found the money first-up over the track and distance in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Stakes before finding things a little trickier last start when ninth in The Everest.
She’ll definitely be better for that run, and with three wins to her name over this distance, can figure from the inside draw.
Libertini
Libertini won well fresh in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick before finding excuses last start in The Everest.
The daughter of I Am Invincible struggled to make up ground from the wide draw under Regan Bayliss but has since had a trial between runs to get her right ahead of her grand final.
As mentioned earlier, the Cummings name is synonymous with this race and Damien Oliver will have plenty of options at his disposal from the soft draw.
Fabergino
Fabergino was a good thing beaten last start in the Caulfield Sprint behind a very brave Graff.
Tiarnna Robertson’s mare won a Listed race at Flemington during the Autumn, but she won’t find this any easier racing at Group 1 level for the first time.
Darley Sprint Classic Tip
Bivouac at $3.80