Black-type racing returns to Headquarters on Saturday with $500,000 on the line in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
Past winners of the 2800m staying test include back-to-back champions Pantani and Unchain My Heart, Sin To Win, and last year’s winner, Lunar Flare.
Ten races make up the program at Flemington where the track is rated a Soft 5 with the rail out four metres across the circuit.
Our thoughts on the entire meeting can be found below.
Happy to stick with the Hayes-trained Sneaky Sunrise third-up and drawn well under Daniel Stackhouse.
The pair had genuine excuses two weeks ago in the ANZAC Day Stakes, beaten just over four lengths after being held up badly in the straight off a slightly wide cart into the race.
This promising daughter of The Autumn Sun was game to the line in a small on debut at Ballarat three weeks prior, finishing within half a length of Snack Bar – who has since gone on to win again at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
Drawn low, in well at the weights and capable of handling a slightly wet track, she shouldn’t be a maiden for much longer.
Cadmus has gone up a nice price in the BM84 contest between the stayers.
The Freedman-trained son of Irish Group 1 winner Gleneagles hasn’t done much wrong since arriving on Australian shores late last year, resuming earlier in the autumn off a fruitful spring campaign that saw him win a nice race at The Valley.
Still only lightly-raced for a five-year-old, his latest win at Caulfield over a touch shorter was full of merit, powering through the line where he looked to have plenty more to give.
Billy Egan gets back in the saddle carrying just 58kg and there’s no reason why the pair can’t go on with it.
Wakanjeja is a promising four-year-old that appears to be putting it all together now for Phillip Stokes and his team.
By Impending, this lightly-raced mare held her own at Stakes level late last year and was solid on debut at Caulfield two weeks ago against her own sex when finishing within a length of Mrs Chrissie over slightly shorter.
Her late turn of foot really caught the eye in the run home, and if she settles a little closer in running this time, she should prove just as hard to hold out.
Riproar can mix his form but his best is certainly good enough to threaten in an open race like this.
Andrew Forsman’s gelding presents fitter fourth-up from a spell, last seen overcoming a slow start to run third at Caulfield over the same trip where he was forced to overcome some late traffic in the run home.
Wet conditions won’t bother him if there is rain about, and he should get a nice tuck run just off the speed with Harry Coffey sticking.
Rich Lover made it look easy off a three-month break at Cranbourne a couple of weeks ago when bursting clear by close to two lengths over a touch further.
The Rich Snuff gelding has found the money in eight of his 12 career starts so far and has typically raced well in town, notably running third here at Flemington back in December.
There’s still big improvement to come from this four-year-old and his second-up win last time in work suggests he can run a tidy race at a good each-way price.
Heed The Omens should find 2000m right up his alley if his latest effort over the mile was any indication.
Chris Waller’s three-year-old was caught deep after improving from the tail of the field to miss out by a narrow margin in a BM70, a solid effort after losing the rider the start prior on the Heath track at Caulfield.
The son of Hallowed Crown hasn’t turned in a poor effort to date and should be afforded a much kinder ride with cover now that he’s drawn a suitable gate.
Happy to take the price available for Steparty on return.
Paul Preusker’s progressive colt has found the winner’s circle in five of his seven starts to date, and now resumes off a spell after running a place in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes on Australia Day at Caulfield.
The son of Artie Schiller probably deserved to finish closer that day but was also entitled to weaken late off a wide run in transit.
Drawn the inside gate now and in with just 55kg, he’ll be seen doing his best work late again.
The Map continues to tick all the boxes as she progresses through the grades.
Her win off a freshen-up two weeks ago down south was impressive to say the least, pulling into the clear over the final furlong where she put paid to her rivals by 3.7 lengths in the end.
Dan Clarken and company typically have her set to peak second-up and although this is a bigger field, she does have the advantage of the inside gate at her disposal again.
Capable of changing through the gears quickly and proven over the trip, she’s the one to beat at the short price.
Red Sun Sensation is an improver at good odds.
It’s gone just over a year since Peter Moody’s four-year-old last won a ace, but he did warm to the task nicely in the closing stages at Caulfield three weeks ago where he was beaten five lengths over 1400m.
The son of Awesome Rock is no doubt looking for further, but he typically finds form second-up and has a nice low gate at his disposal.
Looks likely to get back in the run and could give a sight.
Unconquerable was ridden a peach by Damian Lane on debut at Caulfield late last year and it’s notable that he’s opted for the ride on this girl on return.
By I Am Invincible, this lightly-raced filly delighted the punters as the odds-on favourite and has since jumped out well ahead of her return.
Also down to race at Bendigo next week, if she lines up here she could be in the mix if she finds even luck from a midfield spot.