The creation of a Summer Sprint Series has enticed the Leon and Troy Corstens stable to start capable sprinter Morrissy in the opening leg at Flemington.
The Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) on Saturday kicks off the series of four races which carry a total of $1 million in prize money.
Following Saturday’s opening leg, the series moves to the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day, the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 15 and the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley two weeks later.
As a sweetener, the winner of the Christmas Stakes will earn a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February while the winners of the Standish and Australia Stakes gain a start in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March.
Troy Corstens said the Kensington Stakes was a nice starting point for Morrissy.
“He just wasn’t quite ready for the spring, so we thought we’d get him ready for the Summer Series,” Corstens said.
“It looks like a good series for him, so we’ll give that a crack at those races.
“All going well, we’ll go from this into the Christmas Stakes into the Standish and while the 1000 metres on Saturday might be a touch short, the 1100 metres will suit at Caulfield.”
Morrissy hasn’t raced since finishing eighth to Dice Roll over 1420m at Flemington in June which followed a first-up unplaced effort in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool in May.
The sprinter finished fourth in the Standish Handicap, which was run on New Year’s Day this year.
While Morrissy has not raced since June, Corstens said the sprinter was moving well.
“He’s had two trials and he’s ready to go,” Corstens said.
“Little fish are sweet, so we’ll keep to this at the moment and see where we get to after that.”
Corstens said while Yes Baby Yes had been entered for Saturday’s race, she was unlikely to run.
