Spring Racing Contenders: Kisukano on fire at Eagle Farm

Kisukano

Group 1 action returned to Caulfield on Saturday as South Australian galloper Behemoth reigned supreme in the 2020 Memsie Stakes. An Aquis Farm three-year-old Group 3 double saw Golden Rose markets change quite a bit, while in Queensland the Eagle Farm 1200m record was slashed by star filly Kisukano. Let’s take a look at the horses to follow from the meetings around the country on August 29.

Big Behemoth dominates Memsie Stakes at Caulfield

A big 10-race card graced Caulfield on Saturday afternoon as a number of Group 1 winners returned and a few budding superstars stamped their claim on the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival. Behemoth stole the show in the Memsie Stakes, winning the first Victorian Group 1 of the spring by 1.5L over Mr Quickie and Glenfiddich. After being given a peach of a ride by Craig Williams, he got the much-needed split in the straight to race away with a great win.

Mr Quickie made plenty of ground after being well supported ($26 into $14), with light-weight chance Glenfiddich fair back in third. Flashy chestnut Cascadian kept us interested again with another last-to-fourth performance down the outside of the field.

It looks to be a good race to follow into the likes of the Makybe Diva Stakes in a fortnight’s time. Multiple Group 1 winner Harlem (7th) was a bit of a hidden gem in our view, hitting the line very strongly first up at an unsuitable trip. He will appreciate further.

Best Bets
Makybe Diva Stakes (Sep 12) – Mr Quickie @ $15
Turnbull Stakes (Oct 3) – Harlem @ $41
Sportsbet

The H.D.F. McNeil Stakes produced one of the finishes of the afternoon, with Immortal Love just nailing Flying Award and Tagaloa in what race caller Matt Hill described as a triple dead heat on first look. Tagaloa was tough up on the speed, with Immortal Love and Flying Award coming from a mile back to run home into the trifecta.

We may be slightly biased given we had Flying Award on top, but he was just held up for a run at the 300m and 150m. Nonetheless, he finished off with the quickest final 600m of the race and the second-fastest final furlong, just 0.03s slower than Ranting.

With these runners all likely to head on a similar path towards the Caulfield Guineas, we can’t be on them all at their next start, but the first six past the post look to have an edge on the rest of them. Ranting was good from the back, while Crosshaven was chopped out of it and should have finished one or two spots closer.

Best Bets
Caulfield Guineas (Oct 3) – Ranting @ $21
Crosshaven @ $41
Flying Award @ $8
Sportsbet

I Am Superman got on the board in Australia in style with a 1L win in the 1400m BM90 event, defeating Morrissy and Nonconformist. After settling just off the pace, Mark Zahra idled up on the outside and put the field away at the 150m. It was the fifth Australian start for the Irish import, who came over here at the end of last year to contest the Golden Eagle when in the hands of Michael O’Callaghan. Now with the Snowdens, he looks to be in strong touch heading into the spring. He looks a great chance at taking out a race like the Sir Rupert Clarke in three weeks’ time.

Nonconformist made his return to the track for just his second racing campaign. He won three races in his first season, including the Group 2 Alister Clark at Moonee Valley. He looks to be a genuine star with strong aspirations for the spring, with the Caulfield Cup the target race. He will either head to the Makybe Diva Stakes in a fortnight or the 1700m event on the same day, where he will take a power of beating if that’s the way they go.

Rosehill provides firmers in Golden Rose betting

Rosehill Gardens was the host of three Group 3 races on Saturday, including the San Domenico Stakes and Ming Dynasty for three-year-olds. Both events were won in impressive, all-the-way fashion by horses from the Maher & Eustace and owned by Aquis Farm.

Anders stole the show in the San Domenico, beating Peltzer and Mamaragan by over 3L in very slick time. After jumping slowly, James McDonald was able to kick up to hold an uncontested lead on the colt. After the scintillating win, he firmed into $8 in the Golden Rose, $2.80 in the Moir Stakes and $15 in the TAB Everest.

Peltzer and Mamaragan also earned solid pass marks given they were first up and both look to need more than 1100m.

Holyfield won in similar fashion in the Ming Dynasty, beating home Bazooka and Overlord. After jumping well, it was all but over when Tim Clark went straight to the lead and never really looked like getting run down.

Race favourite Overlord worked home in his customary style from the tail of the field to grab third in an encouraging return to the track. He is only going to improve over further, with the Spring Champion over 2000m his possible go-to race.

Mugatoo made it two in a row this time in with an impressive win in the Premier’s Cup. After settling midfield, Kerrin McEvoy presented the heavily backed commodity to the centre of the track to race away with the prize.

Sikandarabad rattled home along the inside, with Herengawe whacking away at any old price. Girl Tuesday was an eye-catching run in fifth, with a horse we black booked a few weeks ago, Rondinella, working home well from the back of the pack.

Mugatoo has big things in store this campaign, with the Metropolitan the likely target en route to the Caulfield Cup. McEvoy suggested that he would be a great chance in the Epsom Handicap as well after getting off the import.

Best Bets
Metropolitan Handicap (Oct 3) – Mugatoo @ $4.80
Epsom Handicap (Oct 3) – Mugatoo @ $17
Sportsbet

The Candy Man and Kisukano star at Eagle Farm

Being the only horse to beat Group 1 winner Rothfire is good enough for any racing CV, but Kisukano now has another highlight to add to the reel after she set a new track record for the 1200m course at Eagle Farm (1:08.69). After settling second in the running, the leader came off the fence on the turn and presented the Bel Esprit filly with plenty of room to hit the front and race away. The winning margin was only 1.25L, but boy she was impressive. She will head south of the border now towards the Golden Rose and Flight Stakes in Sydney.

Crowd favourite The Candy Man returned to the track in impressive fashion, getting the chocolates over Skate To Paris. A few analysts were critical of everyone’s favourite grey heading into the race, with doubts on his dry track credentials and whether he would be good enough with the top weight over 1400m first up, but he soon put them to bed. He is also likely to head south now and join the Snowden camp as he heads on an Epsom path.

Horses to follow from Saturday racing (August 29)

  • Girl Tuesday
  • Harlem
  • I Am Superman
  • Kisukano
  • Mamaragan
  • Mr Quickie
  • Mugatoo
  • Nonconformist
  • Overlord
  • Peltzer
  • The Candy Man
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