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.
Sh00ter
Roar Pro
Great job Justin. Waterford Hill beat Bianmick 6 starts back, he's much better than his last run!
Sh00ter
Roar Pro
I just rewound to watch a replay. Excluded did a bit of work early, got posted wide at the first bend, pulled a couple of times then found himself in front (upside down). They settled mid race and he looked ok but they absolutely poured the speed on about the 600-500 mark and he was left flat footed. Got a check in the straight and in a better field than he is used to he couldn't sprint with them. Full credit to the winner who absolutely flew from about the 500. Also a good run by Fruehling follow next run.
Justin Cinque
Expert
So that's it from me tonight. Snitzerland, Buffering and Pierro were all outstanding. Snitzem and Tokugawa won when coming back from WFA to hcp racing. And Bianmick has raced into Cup calculations with a comprehensive victory in the last. Pierro was the headline act and he performed up to the title - his four length victory was so impressive. He handled the Valley and will be so, so hard to beat in the Cox Plate. Thanks for your company tonight. It's been fun.
Sh00ter
Roar Pro
I'd go Atlantic from Caviar from Joyous. Girl power! Pierro beat the juvies sprinting but I think the older season sprinters would have his measure.
Justin Cinque
Expert
Well Bianmick just too good. Darren Gauci, fair dinkum, the Gauc took off at the 800 and was far too good. Excluded was very disappointing. He found nothing. Was wide early but didn't give a lot. Freuhling was just okay. Ironstein got home well on the fence for second. Precedence didn't have a lot of luck. Dance with her stuck on well for third. The on-pace horses did well which makes Excluded's run seem pretty poor. Maybe he needs to be ridden more quiet like last prep? Not sure. The winner, from the midweeks, was very good.
nan
Guest
big run ironstein
nan
Guest
i like ironstein in this
Justin Cinque
Expert
Rain getting harder at the Valley. Loading for the last.
Justin Cinque
Expert
Horses on the track before the JRA. If any of these want to win a Cup then they need to do well here. If they can't win tonight, they need to be ready to win next time. For those interested, it has rained all night tonight in Sydney where I am. I'm close to Rosehill, within three or four kms, and it won't be rock hard dry tomorrow. A bit of sprinkle falling on the Valley circuit too.
nan
Guest
gee shooter 3 across the track and it pains me but i think pierro from cav and more
Justin Cinque
Expert
Yeah it would. Good race ;)
nan
Guest
mouth watering thought though
Sh00ter
Roar Pro
haha who would win nan?
Justin Cinque
Expert
Yeah it does I reckon. Manhattan Rain ran second. Look take nothing away from SYT he proved what a champ he was but in hindsight it probably wasn't the strongest CP we've ever seen.
Sh00ter
Roar Pro
I got him at $7 for the Cox only catch is it's in trebles with Lights of Heaven and Dunaden to win the Caulfield Cup into Mount Athos to win the Melbourne Cup. Alive but I need a lot of luck along the way!
nan
Guest
How about More Jouyous, pierro, atlantic jewel , haylist, black caviar over 1400 at Flemington would break all crowd records
Justin Cinque
Expert
nan I don't think it's gonna happen. Let's get through the spring. Cav still has to come back and she almost certainly won't race at 1400 and they won't want to take on Pierro esp if he gets four or five kgs off her. They will be protecting her record - and they have every right.
Justin Cinque
Expert
The last race - the G3 JRA has plenty of Cup aspirants. Precedence and Alcopop have been here before. Ironstein won the Queen Elizabeth at Flemington last Spring. Excluded and Freuhling are the progressive horses. I reckon Excluded is beautifully placed with 54kgs, he beat Exceptionally last time and she was enormous at Caulfield last weekend. Plenty of on-speed horses have won tonight and I'd be surprised if Williams didn't attempt to sit in the top five on Excluded. Dance With Her is probably the best eachway horse - she'll lead and she'll be hard to shake.
Sh00ter
Roar Pro
True. Strangely he went from a handicapper rating of 84 in the Guineas to 92 in the Cox even though he got beaten 5 lengths then jumped up to 115 winning the race into the Emirates. To put that in context it would be like Jimando being beaten 5 lengths in the Guineas again, somehow improving his rating and then winning the Cox Plate! That first SYT Cox must have to rate right down on quality...
nan
Guest
Hes exciting do you look to the autumn and a clash with caviar?