Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
G1 Memsie S. - Melbourne's Group 1 season opener
Melbourne racegoers are hungry for some Group 1 action and this pipe-opener to the spring is a ripper with eight of the 14 contestants already successful at the elite-level, with the octet having chalked up 17 Group 1 races.
Ever since its first running in 1899 - elevated to its current status in 2013 – the G1 Memsie S. has been contested by high-quality performers and it will be exciting to see who adds this weight-for-age sprint to his or her record this year.
Testament to the quality of this year's running is that half of the runners have opened up at single figure odds.
Already a Group 1 winner at the track, I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) boasts a good first-up record as does Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who was last seen swamping his rivals in the G1 All Aged S. at Randwick in April.
Alligator Blood, is the current favourite for the G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The controversial Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) was back to his brilliant best in the G1 Stradbroke H. and he returns to the scene of his first stakes victory - the 2019 G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Fellow visitor Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is one of Perth's best while Snapdancer (Choisir) was so good taking the step to the top-level in the G1 Robert Sangster S. last time in.
A game third in this race last year, Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) again takes her place, while there is certainly excitement surrounding the lightly raced unbeaten 4-year-old Illation’s (So You Think {NZ}) participation in the Group 1.
Or could one of those at big-odds pull out their best? Others who we will all be watching with great interest include the high-class New Zealander Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) and the wonderful staying mare Duais (Shamus Award), who will be on the hunt for a fourth victory at the highest level.
G3 HDF McNeil S. - talented 3-year-olds clash
Nine horses resuming, nine last-start winners, makes this year's running of the G3 McNeil S. an interesting one.
Ten of the runners are well-related colts and this is a handy race to have on a stallion's resume having been won by the likes of Danzero, Sequalo, Bel Esprit and Starspangledbanner - all of whom have done a great job consistently passing on their speed and talent.
Aft Cabin (Astern) created such a big impression when racing away to an easy maiden win at Sandown, he has opened up favourite at just his third start. Hailing from the second crop of his sire, he seeks to become the third stakes winner for his dual city-winning dam Shelters (Lonhro).
Being a grandson of Scandinavia (Snippets), Maximillius (Written Tycoon) also has plenty to live up to family-wise and so does Crosswinds – who is also by Written Tycoon and out of the dual Listed winner Gybe (Fastnet Rock). He's Heaven's (Zoustar) dam, Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), was also a beauty - winning the G1 Australasian Oaks, while Tijuana (American Pharoah {USA}) is out of the Singapore star filly Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Jacquinot by the in-form Swettenham Stud-based sire Rubick is one of three members of his family contesting stakes race at Caulfield on Saturday, with his dam’s half-brothers Illation and Dragon Leap (Pierro) the other two.
Man In The Mirror (Not A Single Doubt) is another out of a lovely race mare in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner One More Honey (Onemorenomore) whilst Zamborghini’s (Zoustar) dam Lady Jivago (Beneteau) was a Listed winner at two.
These well-related horses will be taking on this year's G1 Blue Diamond hero Daumier (Epaulette) who has not run a bad race in his five starts.
G3 The McCafe S. - the return of In The Boat
In The Boat (Nostradamus) has created a big impression winning seven of his 11 starts for the Lindsey Smith stable and the gelding was in last preparation - progressing from a first-up BM70 victory at Caulfield on Boxing Day to a success at stakes level in the Listed Abell S. in March.
The best runner so far for his now South Australian-based sire Nostradamus, In The Boat goes well fresh and has won both of his 1100-metre assignments at Caulfield.
Defeating the smart Corner Pocket (Toronado {Ire}) in a recent jump-out, In The Boat looks set for a bold first-up showing though he won't have it all his own way with a number of talented sprinters set to also take their place in the Group 3.
In The Boat, the current favourite for the G3 McCafe S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
In The Boat’s rivals include, dual Group 3 winner Generation (Snitzel), whose record of four wins from nine starts is hard to fault, while the classy Western Australian raider Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man), who won the G3 Sir John Monash S. at this track last year, also takes his chance.
Meanwhile, the promising Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner), who was second to last weekend’s Listed Norman Carlyon S. winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) in a recent Cranbourne trial.
Meanwhile, Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) is capable of second-up improvement while Kallos (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), Shooting For Gold (Shooting To Win) and Bless Her (Street Boss {USA}) all ran very nicely fresh.
G3 Cockram S. - Passive Aggressive to remain unbeaten?
The most impressive of the trialers at Cranbourne a couple of weeks ago, the very fast and very exciting Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) will attract plenty of attention as she kicks off just her second campaign.
Going from strength-to-strength during her debut preparation for the highly respected trainer Grahame Begg, the Cressfield Stud-bred, Jonathan Munz-owned sister to the four-time Group 2-winning and multiple Group 1-placed mare Missrock (Fastnet Rock) kicked off her career with a 6l maiden victory at Werribee in early May.
Next it was a Class 1 at Pakenham, then a 3-year-old quality at Flemington, then the Listed Creswick S and in each race she was on pace and way too good.
In what promises to be an exciting clash, Passive Aggressive takes on another unbeaten mare with Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) facing a rise in class having worked her way up from an Inverell maiden in January to a Flemington BM84 contest on August 6.
The horse she beat last time - Fire (Fastnet Rock) had won three of his first four so there are plenty of nice form lines at play here.
Graceful Girl (Nicconi) will be having her first start since a barnstorming win in the G1 Winterbottom S., while Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon), Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Isotope (Deep Field) have also run nice races at the elite level.
G3 Up And Coming S. - which runners will live up to the race's name?
First run in 1979, the G3 Up And Coming S. has provided racing with some great stories - such as in 2004 which saw Fastnet Rock break his maiden or in 2008 when Dreamscape (Choisir) did an amazing job winning the Group 3 on debut.
Fastnet Rock's success came in the middle of a run of three Up And Coming S. editions taken out by high-class Danehill (USA)-line members who would go on to prove themselves three of the best of the breed at stud - Exceed And Excel successful in 2003 and Snitzel in 2005.
A race which also been won by likes of Marscay, General Nediym, Testa Rossa, Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Sir Dapper, the G3 Up And Coming is always an interesting race due to its late winter placement - which of the previous season's juveniles will take that next important step?
Kibou is the current favourite in the G3 Up And Coming S. at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
This year's running sees the return of four promising youngsters who displayed their quality earning black type at two, led by Williamsburg (Snitzel) who created a big impression winning the G3 Baillieu S. and the Listed Fernhill Mile.
Shalatin (Shalaa {Ire}) is still a maiden but what a classy one, running excellent races in the G2 Todman S. and the Golden Gift. Ringmaster (Zoustar) finished off strongly in the Listed Phoenix S. at Eagle Farm in June, while Voldemort (Not A Single Doubt) went close in the G3 Kindergarten S. in early April.
There is also considerable promise amongst horses whose only success to date is a maiden - such as Basquiat (Snitzel), Lethal Thoughts (So You Think {NZ}), Golden Mile (Astern) and Conqueror (Churchill {Ire}). The latter has opened up favourite, challenged by Kibou who is looking to be the next star for Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Jpn).
G3 San Domenico S. - another group of classy 3-year-olds
Another kick-off point for promising 3-year-olds, the G3 San Domenico S., much like the G3 Up And Coming S., has been won by a number of high-class performers - its honour roll inclusive of the likes of Sir Dapper (Vain), Tierce (Victory Prince), Our Maizcay, General Nediym, Testa Rossa, Regimental Gal (General Nediym) and Gold Edition (Lion Hunter).
And in recent years it has proven a real breeding ground for future stallions with 10 of the last 18 winners currently standing at stud including those with it all ahead of them - Pariah, Graff, Exceedance and Anders.
As one can see from that list, this is a race in which the Danehill (USA) sireline has enjoyed good success and on Saturday five of the 12 contestants are its members.
The brave G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel), the G2 Champagne Classic winner Swiss Exile who attempts to emulate the winning deeds of his sire Pariah, the G2 Skyline S. winner Promitto (Divine Prophet), the G3 Pago Pago S. winner Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution) and the Listed The Rosebud winner Zoukerino (Snitzel).
Fourth as favourite in unsuitably soft conditions in this race in 2016, Capitalist has two representatives with both being genuine chances - Sebonack fitter having not enjoyed the best of luck when resuming in the Listed The Rosebud and Cannonball, who was good when resuming in the G3 Vain S.
Reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible, who also contested this race, has the unbeaten colt Nettuno venturing to Sydney from Brisbane.
