3 minute read
There is action at the top level on both Friday night and Saturday this weekend in Melbourne.
We get to see the sprinters once again in the G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. There are a lot of the younger in form types entered with the likes of Benedetta ($15), Passive Aggressive ($9) and Jigsaw ($9) taking on the established class Masked Crusader ($15) and Bella Nipotina ($11).
The kiwis are in force too with Imperatriz ($2.50), Roch 'N' Horse ($15) and Babylon Berlin ($15) down to run.
Nominations for the G2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) were extended but the filly Revolutionary Miss ($6) looks tough to beat taking on the older horses like Sirileo Miss ($3.50) and Barb Raider ($4.50).
Fillies heading towards Oaks races are in the G3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m). Zennzella ($5.50), Papillon Club ($3) and As Time Goes By ($15) will be coming to the fore.
Onto Saturday we have the big guns running in the G1 Australian Cup (2000m). A huge 32 are nominated so we may see a capacity field at WFA. 3yos like Virtuous Circle ($15) and Bank Maur ($15) are entered but will face plenty of opposition.
That can come from the likes of the Grahame Begg pair Nonconformist ($6) and Lunar Flare ($51), Cup runner up Emissary ($15) and even last week's All-Star Mile second Cascadian ($5) might head back to Flemington.
The G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) will pit some newcomers against winning raced horses such as Amazonian Lass ($4.50) down from Sydney for Tulloch Lodge.
We also see the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) which is now a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup and so will have plenty riding on it. Horses like Soulcombe ($8) and Alegron ($26) could chase that prized entry and Goldman ($5) has been supported first thing this week.
A very rich Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m) is a big carrot to chase and Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have as many as nine nominated. Recommendation ($11) has to be the pick of those. If Benedetta ($2.30) doesn't run Friday night you'd think she goes here and also faces What You Need ($3.50).