Ole centre of attention
Rosehill, G2 Iron Jack Expressway S., $200,000, 1200m
Dual Group 1-winning colt Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) creates the most interest in this race in his first race since he won the G1 Caulfield Guineas in impressive fashion in October.
He had an easy trial ahead of this return and you'd expect him to be hitting the line well. His only previous 1200 metre run resulted in a second in the G2 Run To The Rose back in the spring.
Ole Kirk
Multiple stakes winner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) has an excellent fresh record for James Cummings, winning five of her eight first-up starts. She should get conditions to her liking here and having come through a recent trial could prove hard to run down.
Every runner in this race comes into it off a spell, with Standout (Exceed And Excel) also boasting a strong first-up record of two wins from three tries, while Chris Waller's Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has only missed a place once in six first-up attempts and his 1200 metre form cannot be discounted.
Group 1 winners Flit (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) are also capable of an upset in what is a very open race.
Mallory makes sense
Rosehill, G3 Widden S., $160,000, 1100m
Mallory (Not A Single Doubt), prepared by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, returns to the track having had one previous run in the G3 Gimcrack S. when second to boom filly Enthaar (Written Tycoon). She has a softish looking trial ahead of her resumption, but if she can reproduce that debut performance should be hard to beat here.
Total Babe (I Am Invincible) was third in the Gimcrack, 0.5l behind Mallory that day, and also resumes off a good trial win at Randwick earlier in the month. The daughter of Group 1 winner In Style (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous) looks to have taken improvement in her break.
Godolphin filly Vionello (Teofilo {Ire}) backed up her debut win at Newcastle with a strong third at Randwick on Boxing Day, she is five weeks between runs, but has had a trial in between.
The best two prospects of the unraced brigade appear to be the Annabel Neasham-trained Northuldra (Choisir), whose recent Randwick trial showed a great deal of promise.
Debut runner favoured
Rosehill, G3 Canonbury S., $160,000, 1100m
A great deal is expected of the Coolmore-owned Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) on debut her for Chris Waller and James McDonald. He was a comfortable winner of a trial at this track at his only public appearance and the market expectation is that he is the one to beat here on debut.
He was a $875,000 purchase by Tom Magnier at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the second foal from Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), the half-sister to the Group 1 winner and stallion Russian Revolution.
Another high-priced I Am Invincible colt, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Construct, who was purchased for $650,000, looks his major rival. Construct has experience on his side, having finished second at his only start in the G3 Breeders' Plate in the spring and has had a couple of easy trials to build him up to his return here.
Readily Availabull (Bull Point) was destined for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic before being scratched on race morning, but the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic winner from Ballarat is over his setback there, only to draw barrier 10 in this race.
The unraced Chris Waller colt Giannis (Flying Artie) and the James Cummings-trained Zethus (Exceed And Excel), who was second to the highly-rated Remarque (Snitzel) at Rosehill two weeks ago, are also afforded chances.
Enthaar all rage
Caulfield, G3 Lamaro’s Hotel Sth Melbourne Chairman’s S., $160,000, 1000m
G3 Gimcrack winner Enthaar (Written Tycoon) returns for her first run of the autumn and is the clear standout in the six-horse field. She trialled-up superbly at Werribee and should get a comfortable run in front from barrier one.
Ingratiating
Godolphin’s Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}), winner of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. before finishing second to Finance Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in the G3 Maribynong Plate, has had one jump-out at Flemington and finished a solid second without being asked to do much.
Frostin’ (Frosted {USA}), Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet) and Twilight (Teofilo {Ire}) will all make their debut in this race, however, none of them have been seen in an official trial.
Aysar hard to roll
Caulfield, G3 Superior Food Services Manfred S., $160,000, 1200m
Aysar (Deep Field) returns for the autumn after being bitterly unlucky not to win a stakes race in the spring. He finished second in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, second in the G3 Carbine Club S. and was a late scratching ahead of lining up in the G2 Sandown Guineas in which he was the short-priced favourite. He hasn’t been seen in an official trial, however, he won first-up last preparation and has drawn ideally for him with barrier four.
G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) resumes after a spring campaign where he went winless. Given he is a Group 1 winner, he will have to carry the topweight of 59.5kgs and he has drawn the widest barrier in a field of six.
Portland Sky (Deep Field) was an impressive winner of the G3 Red Anchor S., and also finished 1.5l behind September Run (Exceed And Excel) in the Listed Poseidon S. in the spring. At his first start this campaign he finished last in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate, so it remains to be seen whether he has come back as well as he was last time around.
Dickin Medal (Snitzel) looks a progressive galloper who is undefeated from two starts and won here on January 2. This is his first time at stakes level, but in a small field of six, he should get every chance to show his full potential.
Behemoth looms large
Morphettville, Listed Durbridge S., $102,250, 1200m
The conditions of the race suit Behemoth (All Too Hard) ideally and the multiple Group 1 winner is an effective first-up performer so he has to rate highly.
Kemalpasa (Magnus) was in outstanding touch in Victoria during the spring and from an inside gate (two) will surely give a great sight.
His stablemate Regalo Di Gaetano (Supreme Class) is back from a break and is another who has strong fresh form while Mystyko (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret {GB}) has recent racing on his side and as a last-start winner is a serious place prospect.
