The focus in Victoria shifts to Caulfield on Saturday with the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes headlining the nine-race program.
The $200,000 sprint race has served as an ideal leadup for runners looking ahead to the Bletchingly Stakes, and eventually the Group 1 Memsie Stakes during the early weeks of the Spring Carnival.
Another wet day could be on the cards with rain about in Melbourne – the track currently rated a Soft 7 with the rail in the true position.
For our thoughts across the entire card, scroll on below.
Enna’s Dream has gone up another short price searching for her third win.
Alex Rae’s filly hasn’t done much wrong in her eight career starts, finding the money on six occasions, including her last three since returning from a spell.
The daughter of Winning Rupert swooped home down the outside to just miss out over 1200m here a fortnight ago, finishing within a nose of Bossy Nic on the line.
Her previous effort for third over 1400m was full of merit, making the rise in trip ideal with fitness on her side.
Rogue Rocker could run a nice race here at a good price.
We haven’t seen the six-year-old son of Dissident win in a race in well over three years, but he has improved with racing since resuming over 1200m here at Caulfield last month.
Shane Jackson’s gelding was always too far back at Sandown a couple of weeks ago, flashing home late where he went past a few to finish three lengths off.
Has won twice over this trip in the past and handles soft going, so there’s a bit of a case to be made for him here with the class of Declan Bates engaged.
Turbinado resumes for Godolphin after showing real ability during her maiden campaign.
The Lonhro filly won well against a small field on debut at Newcastle earlier in February, returning three weeks later over 1100m at Warwick Farm where she was slow away and a little green down the straight.
She’s drawn a slightly awkward assignment in gate nine but does have that win on a wet track to her name.
Blake Shinn jumps in the saddle and off her recent jump out efforts, the pair should prove difficult to catch up on the speed.
Confident Rezone won’t be a maiden for much longer based on recent efforts.
The Dundeel three-year-old was super unlucky to be pipped right on the line two back at Geelong, doing all the hard work out wide to find the centre of the straight and really shift into gear over the final 200m.
He was given a similar ride in transit at Flemington out over 2000m three weeks ago, shifting to the outside where he ran on late for third behind a smart horse in Aztec State.
Another wide gate is the only knock but if he handles some sting out of the track, he should be going close.
Concorde looked in need of the run when finishing midfield on debut at Sandown over the mile.
The McEvoy import was having his first run down under, his form overseas featuring a win out past 2000m at Newbury last September.
Four wins in the wet really stands out on his resume and we should see improvement up in trip if Damian Lane can offset the horror gate.
Lauding is an honest customer making his return for Ciaron Maher.
His chances at a hat-trick were denied at Flemington over 2000m back in March when he ran a distant third to the impressive Sea What I See lugging 61kg around under Ben Melham.
Ethan Brown takes over now with the blinkers coming off and we should see the pair settling in the back half of the field from the soft gate.
A truly wet track might test him, but having found the money in his last five starts, there’s nothing to suggest he can’t handle 1700m fresh.
Veecee is having his first run back since February for Ciaron Maher.
We’ve seen this talented three-year-old by Capitalist mix his form during his brief seven-start career, the highlight being an impressive win on debut over 1100m at Flemington as a two-year-old.
His most recent run at Rosehill was a complete forgive from a wide gate, while his recent efforts at the trials on rain-affected tracks suggest he could be in for a much-improved prep.
Gets in well with the claim under Ryan Houston and just needs to find cover to be a chance.
You could argue Mrs Chrissie is slightly over the odds here based on recent form.
The Per Incanto mare hasn’t put a foot wrong since returning froma let-up in May, scoring a nice win two back at Sandown where she quickened smartly at the 200m mark to race away under hands and heels with real authority.
There’s no knock on her most recent effort three weeks ago over the track and distance, simply gunned down over her final few strides by impressive Godolphin mare, Kin.
Losing Celine Gaudray might be the main knock, but likely to land on speed and make full use of the low gate, there’s nothing to suggest she can’t match it with her stablemate.
Good race to end the day, one that could see St Lawrence improve sharply on his last-start second over a touch further here last month.
The five-year-old by Redwood split a pair of runners along the inside and appeared well on his way to another win, simply finding Redwood a touch too good over his final strides.
That said, he was off a four-week break under Ryan Houston for the first time, so there is scope for natural improvement on less of a turnaround.
He typically handles wet tracks well and with more room to operate from out wide, a similar effort would see him right in the finish.