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With no metropolitan racing on Saturday, Moonee Valley showcases the Group Two Stutt Stakes on AFL Grand Final eve.
For three-year-olds run over a mile, the race jumps at 9:45pm AEST tonight. Join us in the lead up to the start for full coverage and live blog.
Tonight would usually play host to the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m), however this year it has been moved to October to headline the first installment of the two-day Cox Plate carnival.
The Stutt Stakes is named in honour of Moonee Valley Racing Club’s former chairman Bill Stutt. It is a traditional lead up event for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas which is also run over a mile.
Multiple Group 1 winner Whobegotyou won the event in 2008. A number of former winners including Zabeel (1989), Canny Lad (1990), Encosta De Lago (1996) and Red Dazzler (2005) have gone on to successful stud careers.
Another boom colt hoping to emulate the stud success of these great champions is the Gai Waterhouse trained and undefeated Pierro.
Already a three-time Group One winner among juveniles, Pierro ($1.15f) is using the race as a lead in to the Caulfield Guineas en route to the Cox Plate.
Pierro takes the number one saddle cloth in the 8 horse field.
The other entries are:
The promising Tony McEvoy trained colt Jimando who has returned with two consecutive wins this spring. McEvoy says the horse’s performance will determine whether they front up against Pierro again in the Caulfield Guineas or go the VRC Derby (2500m) instead;
Underestimation who was impressive when winning the 1200 metre Listed St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley back in March;
Road Trippin who broke through for his maiden win at Bendigo on 9 September;
Philippi trained by Michael Kent who boasts a last start win at Moonee Valley over 1500m on 15 September. Kent has a big opinion of the undefeated (2:2-0-0) colt, saying he will be a better horse in the autumn;
Carringbush Jack who ran second to Philippi last start at Moonee Valley;
Adjuster who is yet to break his maiden status running sixth behind Jimando at Flemington on September 8 and fourth behind Philippi at Moonee Valley;
Hey Big Bender who is also yet to break his maiden status.
Unless something diabolical happens the undefeated Pierro (7:7-0-0) should comfortably notch up win number eight.
But Moonee Valley can be a tricky proposition the first time for horses trained in the right-handed direction and Pierro jumps sharply from 1200 to 1600m second-up off a 27 day break.
However Waterhouse said he worked brilliantly the left-handed way at Randwick last Saturday and he is a whopping 28 points superior to his nearest rival Jimando on the handicapping scale at set weights.
Jimando looks like the obvious quinella horse and for a bit of value I’ll throw in Underestimation with the Blinkers off ahead of Philippi for third and fourth.
Tips:
1. Pierro
2. Jimando
3. Underestimation
4. Philippi
Replacing the Group One Manikato Stakes on the program is the Group Two Moir Stakes (Race 6 at 9:15pm AEST) run over 1200m at weight-for-age.
The race boasts a crack field worthy of Group One status including Buffering, Atomic Force, Tiger Tees, Green Birdie and ThankGodYou’reHere.
With the rail out 3m from the true position, Tiger Tees (13:9-3-0) should relish his first time at the tight, often leaderish track. He is undefeated second up (4:4-0-0) and will be very strong at the 1200m.
The main danger is Buffering who has not missed a place his last seven starts (including six at Group One level) and he has a Group Three win at Moonee Valley win over 1000m against Crystal Lilly and Atomic Force.
Also flying is Platelet from the inform Weir stable who ran second over 1000m at Moonee Valley to rising star Bel Sprinter last start and the step up to 1200m looks ideal.
The former Queenslander Ready To Rip has flourished since transferring to the Moody stables for the spring and the softer StrathAyr track should be to his liking.
He is drawn slightly awkwardly in barrier one but if Nolen can get clear running inside the turn he could find himself in the finish.
Tips:
1. Tiger Tees
2. Buffering
3. Platelet
4. Ready To Rip
(- with insight and analysis from Roarer Sh00ter)
The first race on the card will be run at 6:45pm AEST. Join us on The Roar for full coverage and live blog as we build up to the feature racing later in the night.
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