Defending champion Vega Magic has opened the clear and justifiable $2.80 favourite in 2018 Memsie Stakes betting this afternoon.
The multiple Group 1 winner has been set for an appearance in the The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 13th and will likely use his run in the Memsie Stakes as a final tune-up, given he has already a confirmed starter in the $10 million event.
Having tailed off in form after his close-up second behind Redzel in the inaugural running of The Everest, Vega Magic made a hit-and-run appearance in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) during this year’s Adelaide Autumn Carnival but faded in the straight to finish eighth.
He returned this time for a dominant win in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in late July and will only improve second-up in the Memsie Stakes and over the 1400m.
Champion hoop Damien Oliver should be able to navigate to a good position in transit from barrier 6 and Vega Magic will be extremely difficult to run down.
Interestingly only two other runners are currently available at Memsie Stakes odds of less-than $10 and there is understandably a case to be made for both Kementari ($4.40) and Happy Clapper ($5.50).
Kementari has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far, but returned to the track a far-more furnished horse in autumn and he won each of his first three starts with ease, including the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
The Lonhro colt was sent off a short-priced favourite in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) first-up this time and he produced a massive turn of foot in the Randwick straight to finish a close second behind Pierata.
He worked home fairly to finish fourth behind Winx in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago and obviously this race is a step back in class, while he is also ready to peak in form third-up.
Cult hero Happy Clapper added two more Group 1 titles to his mantle in autumn and he could prove to be the value in the field at his current 2018 Memsie Stakes odds.
The Teofilo gelding flew home to win the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up before finishing second to Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and ultimately winning the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), a race in which he had finished runner-up in the two previous seasons.
He ended his campaign third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and has trialled fairly in the lead-up to his Spring Carnival campaign.
All eleven horses in this field are up to winning a race of this calibre but one that could prove well and truly over the Memsie Stakes odds is Kings Will Dream ($10), who will be looking to finish over the top of his rivals.
The import was outstanding through his debut Australian campaign and won all five of his starts with complete ease, including the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).
He stormed home to finish a close fourth in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track and distance a fortnight ago and with natural improvement, there’s no reason why he can’t be fighting out the finish again.