Gilgai Stakes attracts 14 sprinters
The Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) has attracted a competitive field of 14 sprinters set to duke it out down the Flemington straight on Saturday.
Having claimed the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) first-up from a long layoff, the Clinton McDonald-trained Star Patrol will be looking to add further Group success to an already impressive career record.
The five-year-old will once again be partnered by Ben Melham, with the pair combining for two wins and a minor placing in their three runs as a duo.
Online bookmakers have Star Patrol listed as a +150 winning hope.
Despite lining up for her first run since winning the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington on April 22, the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw (+350) holds the second line of betting for the $300,000 sprint.
Boasting an impressive record of nine wins and three minor placings from 21 starts, Jigsaw will be looking to add a Gilgai Stakes alongside his impressive win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) on January 28 earlier this year.
Saturday’s Gilgai Stakes will be just the second time Jigsaw has raced down the Flemington straight and his first time since the 2021 Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) as a three-year-old.
C’est Magique (+550) – the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) runner-up from last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival – will enter Saturday’s Gilgai Stakes second-up from a spell after finishing fourth behind Benedetta in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The Lindsey Smith-trained Triple Missile (+800) is the only other runner at a single-figure quote with the top betting sites.
The Gilgai Stakes is the penultimate race on a stacked 10-race program at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.
Gilgai Stakes 2023 field
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