The focus turns back to Caulfield this Saturday with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes headlining another 10-race program.
The $750,000 feature shapes as a memorable one with last year’s winner Mr Brightside taking on Pride Of Jenni fresh from a spell, and it’s no surprise to find the pair jostling for favouritism in the market.
Several key lead up races are also set to be run and won, including the Cockram Stakes and the newly named Group 3 Vale Black Caviar between the sprinters.
To help you find a few winners, we’ve analysed the entire program ahead of Memsie Stakes Day below!
Vivy Air is a Group 2 place getter that presents fitter second-up.
Ciaron Maher’s mare by Hellbent has made the journey back up to Victoria after racing at Rosehill a few weeks ago, seen making up decent ground down the centre of the track to run third over 1200m.
She’s placed twice over this distance range and has found the money in all three attempts second-up from a spell.
Dropping 4kg under Michael Dee and just needing a touch of luck to go her way out wide, she has to be considered one of the main contenders in a very open race to start the day.
Don’t mind this for Step Aside back over 1400m.
The son of Redwood trained by Chris Waller has been around the mark in three runs back this prep, giving good chase when wide at Flemington a few weeks ago stepping up sharply to the mile.
He’s likely better suited here back on top of the ground and is likely to get a perfect run in transit from an inside gate.
Blake Shinn takes over and given the form he’s been in recently, it’s tough to knock this pair.
Rise To It ran an eye-catching second over this trip a few weeks ago at Headquarters, a run he can only improve on with a stack of fitness on his side now.
Ciaron Maher’s gelding doesn’t win out of turn, but he did showcase a nice turn of foot to finish half a length off Star Vega in a race that has held up form-wise ever since.
He’ll need some room from the inside gate, but with firmer conditions suiting and Jamie Kah retaining the ride, this boy should go well.
Duke De Sessa is worth another look after being held up badly at The Valley a fortnight ago.
The son of Lope De Vega was afforded a lovely run in transit around midfield, but simply found no luck in traffic until late, eventually finishing over four lengths off.
He seemed to handle the sharp rise from the mile that day in his stride though, and he should receive plenty of favours from the inside gate again.
Some sting out of the track would be appreciated, burt he only needs to improve slightly on recent efforts to feature.
Arkansas Kid looks in for another big prep based on his first-up win a couple of weeks ago.
The Hayes-trained son of Harry Angel exploded with a well-timed run down the outside to score over 1200m, appearing to have plenty left in the tank when crossing the line strongly.
The decision to drop back to 1100m is interesting, and although this is a much tougher assignment, he has handled his own at the top level placing in races like the Blue Diamond as a three-year-old.
Growing Empire is the one I want to be with here on return.
This boy kept finding to win the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes at Morphettville back in April, leading them from barrier to box to go clear by 4.5 lengths through the line.
He could be slightly tested here first-up over 1200m, but there’s been a lot to like about his two jumpouts leading in, and he should appreciate a genuine early tempo with a couple likely to roll forward.
Caste is an interesting mare going around at good odds ahead of her second run back.
The Hayes-trained five-year-old was beaten three lengths off a lengthy spell in the Regal Roller over the track and distance last start, seen giving a decent chase down the outside after being passed fit at the barrier.
That was her first run back in close to a year though, so there is scope for natural improvement if she can overcome the wide gate.
Having won a Group 2 as a four-year-old last winter, I’m happy to have an each-way play.
Munhamek is a proven Stakes performer that doesn’t look out of place in a race like this.
The old boy was fresh from a six-week let-up when he went around in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes a couple of weeks ago, caught wide throughout and forced to try and make up ground earlier than he wanted.
He was going great guns winning three in a row over the mile before being given a break, so with some added fitness now, I’m willing to bet that latest run over 1400m has topped him off nicely.
She hasn’t got the best first-up record, but it just feels like this might be another statement race from Pride Of Jenni, who already asserted her dominance when winning the Queen Elizabeth in what was arguably the greatest victory of the last decade.
Her jumpouts have all been exceptional pieces of work, and as she does best, she should land right on the speed and set an enormous task for the likes of Mr Brightside in the final stages.
A firm track is a big tick, and with a solid record here at Caulfield to her name, she’ll be very hard to beat.
The barrier is really the only thing going against Another Wil.
This boy was one of the stars of the autumn, winning four in a row before coming undone in the Doncaster where he was clearly unsuited on the heavy track and looking in serious need of a spell.
He hasn’t had a trial leading into his return, but he does look capable of running a huge race over 1400m despite wanting further.