The Weight for Age championship of Australasia is Race 8 on Saturday’s card and due to jump at 5.15pm (AEST). A fantastic field of fourteen runners, ten of which are Group 1 winners, line up to face the starter with three very exciting 3yo’s adding a whole new dimension to this year’s race.
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1. SHOOT OUT – J Bowman (4)
He ran fourth in his only attempt at this race in 2010 behind So You Think. He has had two runs back this preparation for his trainer Chris Waller, winning when first-up over a mile in the George Main Stakes and at his latest start, three weeks ago, ran seventh in the G1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). Interestingly, has only the one win to his record from nine starts beyond 2000m – that was as a 3yo when he won the AJC Derby.
Odds: $21.00
2. SINCERO – M Rodd (12)
He was a very good winner of the G2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) when first up on the 1st of September. He’s had his chance in each of his subsequent runs when finishing fifth (beaten 3.3) in the G1 Underwood Stakes and third (beaten a length) in the Caulfield Stakes behind Ocean Park and Alcopop. From his four starts at this trip, the above run was clearly his best but will find it hard drawn out wide.
Odds: $31.00
3. GLASS HARMONIUM – J McDonald (2)
Mike Moroney trained galloper who ran tenth in this race last year after missing the start. He returned to racing two starts back off of a twenty-nine week break and did well finishing fourth behind Moment Of Change in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke (1400m) before being caught wide in the G1 Toorak Handicap and fading to run ninth (beaten 11 lengths). Out-bobbed by December Draw when third up last prep in the G1 Turnball Stakes (2000m) and from his inside draw, expect him to much closer and capable of a cheeky run at a big pirce.
Odds: $51.00
4. GREEN MOON – C Williams (5)
Each of his three runs this preparation have been first class. He resumed with an eye-catching effort in the Memsie Stakes over 1400m and was then nosed out of winning the G2 Dato Tan (1600m) by Happy Trails before making a mends for that loss at his most recent start, claiming the G1 Turnball Stakes at Flemington on the 6th Oct. All of the above runs indicate that he’s a leading chance here, has the ideal draw and Caulfield Cup winning jockey, Craig Williams.
Odds: $5.00
5. REKINDLED INTEREST – D Dunn (1)
He started as one of the leading chances in this race last year and finished third behind Pinker Pinker. He had better form in the lead-up to last year’s race hence, he has been assessed a $21 chance in early markets. There was more expected of him first up when tenth in the Memsie Stakes and he did deliver a better effort at his next start when third to in the Dato Tan behind Happy Trails and Green Moon here at his preferred track however, his most recent start was an average in the Turnball Stakes. Coming back to Moonee Valley helps but from his inside draw, will need luck.
Odds: $26.00
6. LINTON – S Arnold (14)
He won the G3 R A Lee Stakes (1600m) for his new trainer John Sadler in Adelaide back in May before another spell of eighteen weeks. He returned with another pleasing effort first up when fourth (beaten 2.6) in the G2 Dato Tan and then camped on the speed before fading to finish eleventh of sixteen in the Turnball Stakes. He’ll have a job to do after drawing the widest gate.
Odds: $81.00
7. HAPPY TRIALS – K McEvoy (8)
A 5yo by Good Journey who has won two of his four starts this preparation including the G2 Dato Tan two starts back where he beat Green Moon. Had three weeks between that run and his latest, where Green Moon turned the tables on him and he finished fifth (beaten 2 ¼ ) in the Turnball Stakes. That was only his second crack at this distance, the other was as a 3yo in the Frank Packer Plate and whilst he’s as honest they come, running a strong 2000m will be his greatest task.
Odds: $41.00
8. ETHIOPIA – R McLeod (6)
The winner of the AJC Derby at only his fourth start, the son of VRC Derby winner – Helenus, has had two starts since. The first of which he finished mid-field in the Dato Tan and then, three weeks back, he finished sixth (beaten 3.3) in the Turnball Stakes. Showed good improvement last start but probably ready for a longer trip now.
Odds: $21.00
9. OCEAN PARK – G Boss (9)
Four year old son of Thorn Park from New Zealand who has won each of his three starts this time in – all at the elite level. He won the Underwood Stakes two starts back and then, a fortnight back at Caulfield, did what he had to do in the small field of the Caulfield Stakes to claim the win from Alcopop (second last week in the Caulfield Cup) by ¾. Impossible to knock his form and he should really appreciated the solid tempo of a Cox Plate and be finishing hard.
Odds: $7.00
10. MORE JOYOUS – N Rawiller (11)
Champion mare who ran fifth in her only attempt at a Cox Plate in 2010. She has won six of her last seven starts (including three Group 1’s) this year with her only “failure”, being at her most recent start in the G1 Toorak Handicap where she was allocated 60kgs and had to do a bit of work early. She was a dominate winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over this trip (beating Manighar) back in the Autumn. Trainer’s choice of barrier was an interesting one!
Odds: $9.00
11. SOUTHERN SPEED – L Nolen (13)
Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner who kicked off this campaign with win in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes at Morphetville and then the G2 Makybe Diva (1600m), was good again third up in the Underwood Stakes but her last start seventh, three weeks ago in the Turnball Stakes, is of concern. Her jockey that day, Glenn Boss, wasn’t kind in his post race appraisal of her effort and she hasn’t started since. She is hard to include off the back of that effort.
Odds: $34.00
12. PIERRO – C Brown (7)
The son of Lonhro tasted defeat for the first time in his nine start career last start in the G1 Caulfield Guineas when a half length second to All Too Hard. He had to do a fair bit of work early in that race to sit outside the leader and then went for home after the turn and was left vulnerable late. Courtesy of the featherweight (49.5kgs) the 3yo’s are afforded in this race, expect him to push forward and be, if not leading, camped on the speed. He’s the current favourite at $3.70 and appears to have all the attributes and form required to be competitive here but, to take that price in a race of this quality, you have to be very confident.
Odds: $3.80
13. ALL TOO HARD – C Munce (3)
He made it three wins from as many Victorian Starts when claiming the G1 Caulfield Guineas last start, beating Pierro. Enjoyed the solid tempo on that occasion to finish tenaciously and gave the impression then, that the tempo and distance of this race would suit. Drawn well in three and shouldn’t have to be too far back. His Jockey won this race on another three year old Savabeel (2004) and has a live chance to repeat that effort here. When comparing his price ($10.00) to that of Pierro’s given there last clash, there seems to be a bit of a discrepancy for mine.
Odds: $9.00
14. PROISIR – C Newitt (10)
The third of Gai Waterhouse’s representatives is a 3yo son of Choisir. He was undefeated in his first four starts including an impressive performance in the G3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle, which he won by close to six lengths. He followed that up at his most recent start with a close second to the promising and undefeated It’s A Dundeel in the G1 Spring Champion (2000m). He has more than his share of ability and, had he drawn better than ten, may have been a few dollars shorter than his current quote of $9.00
Odds: $8.50
OVERVIEW
As is the case each year, a fantastic field has been assembled and that will result in a great race. Expect the Waterhouse 3yo’s Proisir and Pierro to push forward with Shoot Out and Glass Harmonium keeping them honest. Green Moon should be afforded every opportunity in the run from his gate, he has the form on the board and a very much in-form jockey, Craig Williams, who is looking to win successive Cox Plates after piloting Pinker Pinker to victory last year. At the current quote of $5.00, he’ll give his followers a big showing. Ocean Park competed in a small field and strangely run race last start when he won the Caulfield Stakes and whilst the margin may not have been impressive, he got the job done and will appreciate the tempo of this race a great deal more. Like Green Moon, think he is great value at $6.00. For inclusion in the multiples, throw in Shoot Out (should get a lovely run from his gate) and All Too Hard who represents good value when compared to the other 3yo’s in the race.
