Emirates Stakes Day is the final race day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.The day boasts two Group 1 races, the Emirates Stakes (1600m), with $1 million in prize money, and the VRC Sprint Classic (1200m), which was previously won twice by the peerless Black Caviar.
Boban has been making a name for himself wining four in a row, the last two, the G1 Epsom Handicap and the Moonga Stakes, from way back in the field. Boban has taken all before him during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival but will be working hard, carrying 57kg against an imposing field that includes G1 winners Solzhenitsyn, Sacred Falls and Linton. Drawing well in gate four, Boban will be chasing his second G1 win on Saturday.
Spurtonic has come of age with four wins from six starts this preparation including an impressive win in the G3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield. Spurtonic has been a slow maturing horse after not impressing in his early years. While Gai Waterhouse believes he’s up for the challenge, Glen Boss, who rode him home in the David Jones Cup said “I think he’s a bit too dour to win an Emirates. He’s been competitive at group 1 over a mile. He ran courageous in the Epsom and wasn’t beaten far, but he was a bit one-paced in the straight. His future lies in 2000 metres to 2400 metres races.”His comments hasn’t deterred Waterhouse, or punters, with odds continuing to firm.
Sacred Falls started his career with an impressive six wins from six. During the Autumn Racing Carnival he won the G1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) but failed to find the same form this Spring finishing fourth in the G3 Tramway Stakes (1400m), seventh in the G1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and eighth in the G1 Epsom Handicap.Sacred Falls also ran an unlucky third in the Crystal Mile, behind other Stakes contenders Toydini and Speediness, and will have a new jockey for Saturday’s race with Glen Boss tipped to take the hot seat.
Toydini made his Melbourne debut in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile and what a debut it was. Toydini nailed Speediness right on the line coming home strong with other Stakes contender, Sacred Falls, streaking home a short neck away in third. Toydini also boasts a win in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle, and a close up third in the G1 Epsom Handicap where Boban beat the field. Toydini has drawn barrier five in the Stakes and Jockey Blake Shinn said he had every confidence Toydini can measure up in the Stakes.
