The long wait for a genuine start to spring racing in Melbourne is over with a full and classy list assembling for Saturday’s Group Two Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
A mixture of race-fit “fringe” runners, potential Cups hopes and specialists at the distance are among the confirmed nominations for the 1400m feature.
Among them are Caulfield Cup favourite Green Moon, Cox Plate placegetter Rekindled Interest and 2011 Stradbroke winner Sincero.
Others whose entries have been confirmed are the Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort and former New Zealander Wall Street.
But no trainer has been anticipating the race more than Jim Conlan who was forced to reschedule a return to racing for Rekindled Interest thanks to Melbourne’s wet tracks.
The minor placegetter in last year’s Cox Plate has been primed for a return for almost a month and had been due to resume in the Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday week.
“He’d been aimed at that race and we thought he was ready to run, but the rain came and I decided at wasn’t worth it first-up on a heavy track,” Conlan said.
Rekindled Interest looked very forward when he galloped at Moonee Valley last month and Conlan took advantage of another chance to work on the course proper before racing on Saturday.
“He did very well, I thought he was the best he’s been this time in,” Conlan said.
Sincero is also a possible starter with Wyong trainer Steve Farley preferring to take him to Melbourne than stay in Sydney for the Tramway Handicap at Rosehill, so long as the Caulfield track is no worse than dead.
Should he run in the Memsie, Michael Rodd will be in the saddle.
Another early booking is Craig Williams for Green Moon who also galloped at Moonee Valley on Saturday morning.
The most notable omission from the Memsie is glamour mare Mosheen who had her first strong gallop at Caulfield on Saturday morning since undergoing throat surgery .
Mosheen remains on track for a comeback run in the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 8 where she will run into Victoria’s most promising older horse, Shanghai Warrior who is on his way to a Toorak Handicap start.
