This race features eight colts and three fillies, all who have had jump-outs or trials. Seven of the runners went through a yearling sale, with most expensive being Cannonball (Capitalist), who cost $975,000.
No.1 - Black Tahitian
Deep Field x Pearl Congenial (Gio Ponti {USA})
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Jordan Childs
Barrier: 2
Purchased: $280,000 through the 2021 Inglis Classic Sale by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Newgate Farm
Black Tahitian as a yearling
This colt looked the part winning a recent Flemington jump-out, leading all the way and comfortably holding his rivals over the 800 metres. His stable won this race with Unite And Conquer (Hinchinbrook) three years ago.
He is out of a mare who was stakes-placed at two and hails from the same branch of the prolific Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}) family as the G1 Caulfield Guineas hero Super Seth. He carries four Mr Prospector (USA) strains and six of Northern Dancer (Can).
No.2 - Cannonball
Capitalist x Golconda (Snitzel)
Trainers: Anthony and Sam Freedman
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 6
Purchased: $975,000 by James Harron Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Newgate Farm
Cannonball as a yearling
Cannonball wasn't overly taxed in his trial at Cranbourne, where he finished third, beaten 5.3l by a horse he meets again here, The Wizard King (Flying Artie). He missed the start there and was just taken around for experience. He then came out and won a jump-out here last week.
His G1 VRC Oaks-placed dam was a stakes winner at two and his grandam is the dual Group winner Eureka Jewel (Semipalatinsk {USA}). Line-bred (4x4) to Danehill (USA) - as are three of his sire's first four stakes winners, he also carries a 7x7 cross of the great mare Best In Show (USA) via her grandson Try My Best (USA) and descendant Redoute's Choice.
No.3 - Doc O'Connor
Lonhro x Dancing Heather (Danzero)
Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Jockey: Linda Meech
Barrier: 1
Purchased: $400,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Newhaven Park
Doc O'Connor as a yearling
This colt's recent Caulfield jump-out was a bit inconclusive. He jumped well but was then eased back through the field, finishing towards the rear under little riding.
By Champion sire Lonhro, he is a brother to the Group 2 winner Heatherly and is out of a half-sister to the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}) from a reliably classy New Zealand family.
No.4 - Edwin
Impending x Bernicia (Elusive Quality {USA})
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Fred Kersley
Barrier: 11
Purchased: Homebred for Godolphin
Edwin had a quiet jump-out here last week down the Flemington straight behind rival Cannonball which should bring him on. The stable won this race last year with Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}).
He is a member of the debut crop of Lonhro's son Impending out of a dual Listed winner and hails from the prolific Group 1 family of Danelagh (Danehill {USA}) (his Blue Diamond S.-winning grandam) as well as Group 1 winners Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}), Pinot (Pierro) and Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Three strains of the terrific broodmare Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}) via Whiskey Road (USA), Graustark (USA) and His Majesty (USA) are a feature of this fellow's pedigree.
No.5 - Lascars
Sepoy x Alizes (NZ) (Rory's Jester)
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Barrier: 9
Purchased: Homebred for Godolphin
Lascars jumped out here last Friday and performed quite well, leading up and just being collared late by one of his rivals here, Robusto (Churchill {Ire}). He has had two jump-outs and looks well educated ahead of his debut.
This colt is three-quarter brother to Alizee (Sepoy), being a half-brother to her dam Essaouria (Exceed And Excel), who is also the sire of Group 1 winner and promising young sire Astern.
Bred on a 4x4 cross of Marscay, this descendant of the influential Pearl Maiden (GB) (Phaleron {GB}) has stakes winners as his first three dams; Alizes (NZ), La Baraka (Euclase) and Triscay (Marscay); the latter two between them winning six Group 1 races.
No.6 - Rampant Lion
Frankel (GB) x Furnival (USA) (Street Cry {Ire})
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Luke Nolen
Barrier: 5
Purchased: Passed in at $500,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, offered by Rosemont Stud
Rampant Lion as a yearling
This colt was impressive when winning a trial at Cranbourne. He performed very much within himself and appears to have a lot of improvement to take into this on his debut.
One of those bred to Southern Hemisphere time by the mighty Frankel (GB), he is a member of the prolific Denise's Joy (Seventh Hussar {Fr}) family. The great mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) are all duplicated within seven generations.
No.7 - Robusto
Churchill (Ire) x She's Clean (Redoute's Choice)
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Brett Prebble
Barrier: 7
Purchased: Homebred for the Ingham Family
He looked very good winning a jump-out down the straight here last week, powering over his rivals late in the manner of a promising horse.
The first Australian runner for his sire Churchill (Ire), this son of a Group 3-winning mare is seeking to improve upon the already good record of runners bred on the Galileo (Ire)/Danehill (USA) combination which has produced 327 stakes winners.
No.8 - The Wizard King
Flying Artie x Wizard Princess (Rory's Jester)
Trainer: Shawn Mathrick
Jockey: Jason Maskiell
Barrier: 4
Purchased: $30,000 from Inglis Melbourne Gold Sale by Shawn Mathrick from the draft of Diamond Park and Breeding
The Wizard King as a yearling
This colt showed a bit of dash in his recent Cranbourne trial, holding out highly rated colt Brereton (I Am Invincible), with Cannonball, one of his rivals here, 5l in arrears. He clearly doesn't want for pace, which is always useful in these 2-year-old races.
A descendant of the great filly Meld (GB) (Alycidon {GB}), this half-brother to stakes winner Jackofall (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is out of a mare bred on a Northern Dancer/Rego (Ire) cross, the opposite to Flying Artie.
No.9 - Cavallo Rampante
Menari x Misplaced (Fastnet Rock), filly
Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Jockey: John Allen
Barrier: 3
Purchased: $140,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale from the Widden Stud draft
Cavallo Rampante as a yearling
This filly jumped out quite well at Sandown recently, tracking along near the rail and finishing third, giving an indication that she may have some ability.
She is attempting to become her sire Menari's second winner on the back of a Toowoomba success last weekend for Menari Magic. She is bred on a 4x4 Danehill (USA) cross with three Nijinsky II (USA) strains and one of his three-quarter brother The Minstrel (USA). She also carries two His Majesty (USA) strains and one of his half-sister Bowl Of Flowers (USA).
No.10 - Get In The Spirit
Spirit Of Boom x Sopraffina (Exceed And Excel), filly
Trainers: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr
Jockey: Damian Lane
Barrier: 10
Purchased: $110,000 by Pendant Equine at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Kitchwin Hills
Get In The Spirit as a yearling
This filly had plenty of speed in her Sandown jump-out, jumping to the front and never really giving her rivals a chance of catching her. It was the type of professional performance that you want to see from an unraced 2-year-old ahead of their debut.
Five of her sire's first 13 stakes winners are line-bred to Danehill, as is this filly (from the family of the very fast With Me (Covetous)) who also boasts a 5x4 cross of Bletchingly to whom three of Spirit Of Boom's stakes winners are line-bred.
No. 11 - Street Delight
Street Boss (USA) x Whitten's Delight (Barely A Moment), filly
Trainers: Leon and Troy Corstens
Jockey: Damien Thornton
Barrier: 8
Purchased: $100,000 by Bennett Racing at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from the draft of Edinburgh Park
Street Delight as a yearling
Street Delight got home very well in her one public trial ahead of her debut at Flemington on September 14, having taken a little while to find her feet.
She is a daughter of a multiple city winner who descends from the influential Queen Mary (GB) (Gladiator {GB}), she is bred on a 4x5 cross of the US champ Damascus (USA) who is duplicated in the pedigrees of five of Street Boss' (USA) stakes winners.
