There’s no Group 1 racing at The Valley on Saturday, but boy is there a lot on the line.
The former Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes, now called the ‘Feehan Stakes’ boasts Group 2 status, but it also offers its winner ballot-free exemption into the Cox Plate – something that is actually extremely valuable now that there isn’t a sure thing going around in it every year.
The market has opened at close to $5 the field and that always makes for a more considered effort on the form, but if we find the right one it’s going to be a truly outstanding day.
Check out the 2019 Feehan Stakes tips below.
Suggested Bets
- 1 Unit E/W #6 Fifty Stars
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
There’s plenty of legitimate stayers in this field, but Fifty Stars is a dead-set miler and I think that he’s up to doing this. The former Weir, now Lindsay Park runner was outstanding during his autumn prep and won the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at HQ on good, as well at the Group 2 Ajax in Sydney on heavy. He’s as versatile as they come, and I don’t think that there’s any doubt at all that he’ll enjoy good improvement from his first-up run for sixth behind Mystic Journey.
Best Of Days is another horse that’s going to enjoy sharp improvement from his first-up hit-out as well as a return to a mile in the Feehan Stakes. The Azamour gelding capped a smart spring prep with a maiden win at the highest level in the Cantala and looked to be in for a good autumn prep when fifth in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes first-up, but he refused to jump in the Futurity. Craig Williams jumps into the saddle here and with even luck, the horse can fight out the finish.
Sikandarabad is a horse of terrific ability and importantly, he has excellent form at The Valley. The seven-year-old has been a strong and consistent performer since arriving in Australia and resumed this time for a close-up fourth in the Lawrence Stakes. He’ll clearly enjoy a rise in trip can navigate to a decent position in transit from his central draw. He certainly has the ability to go close.
Homesman was another outstanding performer for Macedon Lodge through last year’s Spring Carnival and he could win this race on class, but I’d just like to see how he’s come back off the long layoff, and probably see him out a little further in trip before he gets some of my hard-earned straight out. He did run second in this first-up last year, but had an autumn prep prior to that, and it’s obviously hard to argue with Group 1 winning ability. I’m sure he’ll be thereabouts.