After a dominant display first up in the opening Group One race of the season a fortnight ago, the Memsie Stakes, it’s no surprise to see Dissident head the market for the second Group 1 of the season – the Makybe Diva Stakes. In a competitive betting race, Dissident is the $3.20 favourite but no less than another five runners in the relatively small field of eleven, are quoted at single figure odds. Among them are Boban ($4.20) and Puissance De Lune ($6.00), second and third in the market respectively, who both look primed for the mile race after two runs back from a spell. Trainer of Boban Chris Waller, won this race last year with Foreteller, who defeated Puissance De Lune by a nose on the line. Lloyd Williams’ pair of Green Moon ($26.00) and Fawkner ($9.00) commence their spring campaigns and both have been met with some early specking, tightening in from $31 and $10 respectively.
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1. GREEN MOON – C Schofield (7)
The 2012 Melbourne Cup winner hasn’t notched up a win nine starts since that victory but has gone close – on a few occasions, especially here at Flemington where he has finished in the top two five times from nine starts. He’ll tackle this race first up off a twenty-one week spell and his previous fresh runs have been good enough to stop and pay attention to him here. He finished hard to run fifth in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) last year fresh and went within a length of winner Fiorente when first up in the G2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) earlier this year.
2. FAWKNER – N Hall (3)
Winner of last year’s Caulfield Cup, he was spelled after finishing sixth in the Melbourne Cup and has only had the one run since, a seventh of ten in the G1 William Reid Stakes back in March. Not unusual for this stable to give their horses only one or two hit-out during the autumn and whilst he’ll probably be better again for this run, he’s sure to be ready to run a good run fresh and cannot be taken lightly.
3. BOBAN – G Schofield (4)
Started 13/4 favourite for last fortnight’s G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) after an eye-catching return in the G2 Missile Stakes at Randwick but from a wide gate, was posted three deep during the run. Like many, he was only holding his ground when he crossed the line in fifth spot (3.7 lengths) with the winner of the race Dissident, dominating from an on-pace position. Won the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) third up last prep, defeating It’s A Dundeel and should be primed now for this.
4. SUPER COOL – G Boss (5)
The former Australia Cup Winner returned from a ten month spell and went as well as trainer Mark Kavanagh and connections could have hoped for despite running second to last in the G1 Memsie Stakes a fortnight ago. It was always going to be too slick for him and he’ll still be readying himself for racings later in the spring – and longer than this.
5. SERTORIUS – R Maloney (11)
Resumed from a spell to run sixth (4.2 lengths) in the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. The 7yo gelding settled back in the run from the widest gate in the field of eleven and in a race dominated by those on or close to the speed, his effort wasn’t bad. Also got back when second up last prep, finishing third of eight to Lidari in the G2 Blamey Stakes – another race dominated from the front. Finished not too far from Boban in the Memsie and the mile, on a bigger track with a more genuine speed up front, should play into his favour.
6. PUISSANCE DE LUNE – B Rawiller (2)
Went within an eyelash of winner this race last year, out-bobbed on the line by Foreteller. The Darren Weir trained runner has had two runs back from a spell of ten months and after getting a little lost in the run during P B Lawrence first up, finishing sixth (2.5 lengths) behind Star Rolling, the 7yo stallion was better again in the G1 Memsie Stakes a fortnight ago. He found a nice spot in the run and finished third (2.5 lengths) behind the impressive Dissident. Fitter for the two runs back and has two wins and two close seconds from four starts at Flemington. Can win this.
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7. MESSENE – D Dunn (9)
After a successful autumn campaign that saw the lightly raced 6yo claim the G2 Ajax Stakes (1500m), Messene returned from a spell and took on the challenge of WFA races in both the Missile Stakes and G1 Memsie. He was good in the Missile, running a close second to honest mare Sweet Idea but was under pressure a long way out in the Memsie and struggled in the run home, finishing ninth of eleven and over five lengths from the winner Dissident. Not unusual for horses having their first look at Caulfield to get a little lost and the bigger track of Flemington should see a more genuine performance.
8. SPILLWAY – D Oliver (8)
The former import rounded out his first local campaign with an impressive 2.5 length win in the G3 JRA Plate (2000m) and judging by his nose second to Star Rolling first up in the G2 P B Lawrence, certainly hasn’t gone backwards over the break. He got a lovely run midfield in the P B Lawrence and just missed picking up the winner. Can only be fitter for that run and on that effort, deserves a shot at the elite level here.
9. DISSIDENT – B Melham (6)
Quality three year from last season who shocked most with the authority of his return win in the G1 Memsie Stakes a fortnight ago. After settling behind the speed, the son of Sebring showed a good turn of foot at the top of the straight to record a comfortable 2.3 length win over Sweet Idea – who had won the Missile Stakes at her previous run. Form over a mile is very strong and includes an unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Guineas and victory in the G1 Randwick Guineas. Has to rate highly.
10. LATE CHARGE – V Duric (10)
The Wendy Kelly trained galloper was competitive in some of the leading three year old races last season and recorded a close up fifth in the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m), behind Divine Calling, Shamus Award and Cluster, along with a third in the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m). He resumed as a 4yo on a winning note, leading and despite looking in trouble at the top of the straight, finding enough to deny all challengers in the BM 78 (1200m), winning by a head. Rises sharply in both class and distance here and along with tackling WFA conditions for the first time, faces a tough ask.
11. DON DOREMO – D Gauci (1)
Robbie Laing has pulled off some big training feats in his time but if this 4yo gelding by Don Eduardo, who is lining up for only his fifth start and coming off a Cranbourne BM 64 (1400m) win a fortnight, wins here, it’ll outrank them all!
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RACE OVERVIEW
Late Charge, Dissident and Messene all push forward and from inside gates, Boban and Puissance De Lune will not be far off them. Both come into this race third up and enjoy racing on the big Flemington track – neither should be left with any excuses here. Dissident was super impressive in the his Memsie return and could’ve only taken further improvement from that run. Fawkner has finished within two length of the winner in his past two fresh runs, the G3 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and G1 William Reid (1200m) and the mile suits here. He’ll be finishing hard along with Sertorius.
- DISSIDENT
- BOBAN
- PUISSANCE DE LUNE
- FAWKNER