3 minute read
1 Amade (15)
Trainer - Phillip Stokes
Jockey – Zac Spain
Geelong Cup winner from October who has a good record over the two-mile trip and was placed in this race, he should have won, after a luckless run last year. Good run two runs back when 3rd behind Glantaneous in the Bagot over 2800m and then blew the start and caught the eye when beaten 2.2 lengths in the Torney Cup behind Monbaher last time. He's got plenty of weight, but he looks primed for this.
2 Alhambra Lad (16)
Trainer – Patrick Payne
Jockey – Dean Yendall
Talented horse with a good record and was a $2.40 fav when he failed in the Hobart Cup before a good effort when 2nd behind Excelleration in Launceston Cup last time. Weighted to be in the mix.
3 Excelleration (13)
Trainer – Richard Cully
Jockey – Harry Coffey
Lightly raced galloper who ticks a lot of boxes coming off an impressive Launceston Cup win when he was $3.50 into $2.60 and won by 1.25 lengths. Horse with a lot of upside and does looks the horse trending in the right direction to be right there in the finish.
4 The Map (3)
Trainer – Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray
Jockey – Jame Kah
Smart local mare who was impressive first-up from a short break when she got over the top of rivals to win the JRA Plate over 2006m before she got a long way back and made good ground to be beaten 0.8 lengths behind Yellowbrick Road in the Group 3 Lord Reims last time. She was brilliant winning at Flemington over 2800m on Cup Day, has Jamie Kah and she should be fighting out the finish with her light weight.
5 Skelm (1)
Trainer – Terry Kelly
Jockey – Michael Poy
Talented stayer on his fay and has had five runs back now from a 21 months stint on the sides. He won the 2022 Torney Cup at Moonee Valley before running 8th in the 2022 edition of this race behind Daqiansweet Junior when he carried 58kg. Made good ground behind Monbaher last time in the Torney Cup and could be ready to run a massive race here.
6 Grand Pierro (5)
Trainer – Jason Warren
Jockey – Craig Williams
Consistent galloper who was placed in the Bagot behind Glantaneous three runs back and has worked home well when 3rd behind Aurora's Symphony in the Launceston Cup and then again when 3rd behind Excelleration in the Launceston Cup last time. He should be somewhere in the mix late in the race.
7 Yellowbrick Road (11)
Trainer – Patrick Kearney
Jockey – Jye McNeil
Started his career in Australia with the Freedman stable but has proven a revelation since joining Patrick Kearney winning three of his last seven starts including a gutsy Group 3 Lord Reims win here last time when he defeated The Map. He'll stay all day and must be given a genuine winning chance.
8 Port Guillaume (4)
Trainer – Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Jockey – Jason Holder
Is a winner over 3250m and worked home OK in the Torney Cup behind Monbaher last time. IN very good hands but needs to lift to be winning.
9 Lincoln King (12)
Trainer – Kathryn Durden
Jockey – Dom Tourneur
Out of the hurdles at the end of last preparation. His latest in the Torney Cup was OK beaten 4/15 lengths behind Monbaher and is a winner over 3200m but would need to improve dramatically to threaten here.
10 Team Captain (5)
Trainer – Matt Cumani
Jockey – Jaylah Kennedy (a)
Is a winner over 2800m and was OK running 8th behind Rebel Racer in this race last year. His recent form is only fair, but he did finish off OK beaten 2.95 lengths behind Wertheimer last time.
11 One Last Kiss (10)
Trainer – Dan O'Sullivan
Jockey – Luke Currie
Locally bred mare trainer by Dan O'Sullivan who won this race with Lacey Underall. Was a Flemington winner over 2520m two runs back beating Oceanic Flash and then was well found $11 into $7 when beaten 6.3 lengths in the Torney Cup behind Monbaher last time. Can be in the mix.
12 Sandastan (12)
Trainer – Garrett Lynch
Jockey – Sairyn Fawke
Local who is low flying in weaker company having won four of his past five with his only defeat coing when he was beaten 4.2 lengths in 5th place in the Lord Reims. He just keeps grinding away in his races. He'll go around big odds but will certainly run the two miles.
13 Oceanic Flash (7)
Trainer – Andrew J Payne
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy
Runner-up at Flemington two starts back behind One Last Kiss before he was sent out a $4.40 fav when 4th behind Wertheimer last time at Caulfield. Another who has to go to another level but does one of the best jockeys in the world on board.
14 Rapinoe (8)
Trainer – Peter Chow
Jockey – Alana Kelly
Good Moonee Valley win two runs back when she came from off the speed and produced a strong turn of foot to narrowly beat Roaring Engine. Followed up with a good effort running 4th in the Lord Reims behind Yellow Brick Road. Is a winner at 2750m and is one who will be strong at the end and capable of running a big race.
15 Roaring Engine (14)
Trainer – Danny O'Brien
Jockey – Kayla Crowther
Narrowly beaten by Rapinoe at Moonee Valley two runs back and franked that form but winner narrowly at Sandown since. Lightly raced, the stable have won this twice before and he's another who will be strong late.
16 Eight On The Dot (17)
Trainer – Scott Whittle
Jockey – Ben Price
Local stayer who won at Oakbank before he was OK up in class when 7th beaten 7.4 lengths behind Yellowbrick Road in the Lord Reims. He was beaten in BM56 grade at Balaklava Wednesday, has only won the one race and is going to find this tough.
17 Tullaghan (2)
Trainer – Trevor Day
Jockey – Jeffrey Maund
Local stayer who was good beaten 3.9 lengths in the JRA Plate and then again far from disgraced in the Lord Reims last time. Has won just the three races and hard to see him winning a race like this even from a good barrier.
