NEALE DONNELLEY previews the two Group 1 races at Flemington tomorrow:
Group 1 $1,000,000 VRC SPRINT CLASSIC. (1200m):
DEFENDING champ REDZEL heads a stunning renewal of the Group 1 $1 million VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington tomorrow.
The Everest in Sydney last month may have carried $13 million in prize-money, but that field is arguably not as strong as this Sprint Classic.
Fourteen absolute high quality sprinters, including an unprecedented five international runners, has guaranteed this will be one of the best races of Cup Week.
TABCORP has installed REDZEL the early favourite at $5.00 with the exciting PIERATA next best at $5.50.
The world’s leading trainer, Irish-based legend Aiden O’Brien, has an incredible four runners in the Sprint Classic, including the highly-rated US Navy Flag.
He will also put the saddle on last start second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, Spirit Of Valor ($10), as well as Intelligence Cross ($151) and Fleet Review ($51).
The other international runner is JUNGLE CAT ($10), Charlie Appleby’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner from earlier in the Spring.
Appleby made history on Tuesday when he became the first Englishman to train a Melbourne Cup winner with Cross Counter.
Appleby can genuinely be described as the hottest young trainer in the world.
This year he has already trained nine Group 1 winners and he has two genuine chances at Flemington tomorrow with JUNGLE CAT and Blair House in the Mackinnon Stakes.
There are many different form-lines heading into this Group 1, adding to the variables facing punters.
Firstly there is REDZEL with the best form through The Everest win and he’s trialled brilliantly since heading into this race. He deserves to be favourite.
Darren Weir’s BRAVE SMASH ($13) is a last start winner of the Group 1 $1 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Eve.
Obviously that is good form and he has raced well at this level in the past down the straight.
SANTA ANA LANE ($10) is one of the best sprinters in the land, given his wins in the Group 1 Goodwood and Group 1 Stradbroke before this current preparation.
He then came out and brilliantly won the Group 2 Premiere Stakes in Sydney before a solid sixth behind Redzel in The Everest.
He comes into this race fresh and always runs well down the straight.
Perhaps the most intriguing runner in the race is Team Hayes’ REDKIRK WARRIOR ($10) who is first-up after his failed UK trip earlier this year.
Again REDKIRK WARRIOR failed when racing away from his home track at Flemington where his record is stunning.
His wins there include the Newmarket Handicap and the Group 1 Lightning Stakes, the latter beating REDZEL.
JUNGLE CAT was very strong winning the Rupert Clarke before knocking up over a mile in the Toorak Handicap, while the untapped PIERATA will be fresh after his last start Sydney Stakes win.
Godolphin’s KEMENTARI was brave and unlucky when third in the Manikato Stakes and the straight course will suit him, while SPIRIT OF VALOR was huge when second in the same race.
Brilliant mare IN HER TIME ($11) was very good when third in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes before running well when seventh in The Everest.
What a race – good luck to you all with whatever you back.
I have a sneaking suspicion REDKIRK WARRIOR can bounce back to his brilliant best down the straight track fresh, which is when he performs at his top.
Group 1 $2,000,000 MACKINNON STAKES. (2000m).
UK trainer Charlie Appleby looks set to ‘do it again’ in tomorrow’s Group 1 $2 million Mackinnon Stakes with quality international raider BLAIR HOUSE.
Appleby made his own piece of racing history on Tuesday when his outstanding stayer Cross Counter became the first English-trained galloper to win the Melbourne Cup.
For Appleby winning Group I races around the world is nothing new.
This amazing young Newmarket-based mentor has trained an extraordinary nine Group 1 winners around the globe this year for Godolphin.
And BLAIR HOUSE has the perfect form heading into this 2000-metre clash to make that 10 for the year.
He was desperately unlucky at his first run in Australia when fourth to Homesman in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), before pushing Benbatl to a nose when second in the Group 1 $1 million Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
Benbatl then went on to run a huge second to the incomparable Winx in the Cox Plate – form doesn’t get any better than that!
TABCORP has not surprisingly installed BLAIR HOUSE a $2.20 favourite for the Mackinnon, and that might be hard to get come race-time tomorrow.
His danger ironically is likely to come from a fellow international raider in Joseph O’Brien’s LATROBE, a brilliant son of emerging young sire Camelot.
LATROBE ($4.80) will be making his Australian debut for big-time owners Lloyd and Nick Williams and there is certainly a big push for the four-year-old.
Since TABCORP opened its market on this race LATROBE has been $6.50 into $4.80, a significant move in a race of this stature.
LATROBE has only raced seven times and he hasn’t been seen since running second to the classy Flag Of Honour in the Group 1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh in mid-September.
He is most definitely an intriguing runner for punters to sort out.
Last Saturday’s Victoria Derby winner EXTRA BRUT ($7.50) is backing-up after his dominant win in the Blue Riband.
Trainer Darren Weir would not be starting the horse if he had not recovered perfectly from his run in the Derby.
Under the weight-for-age conditions of this race he gets a huge advantage at the weights and that is significant for a quality three-year-old.
Chis Waller has decided to also back-up last Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose winner SHILLELAGH ($7.00) with James McDonald again taking the ride.
Good race again, but for mine BLAIR HOUSE, from the perfect barrier will get the perfect run and prove too good.
