The Stan Fox Stakes meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with light showers forecast for Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill could border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
The Underwood Stakes meeting will be held at Caulfield this weekend. the course proper was rated a Good 3 and with overcast weather in Melbourne over the next couple of days, Caulfield is likely to be racing on a Good track on raceday.
There’s a small field in this year’s Stan Fox Stakes (Sydney Race 5, 1500m). The Godolphin-owned Impending is a progressive type and will surely be in the finish. The Lonhro colt did well last start finishing 3rd to Astern & Omei Sword in the Golden Rose. Stepping up in trip will suit him well. O’Shea will put blinkers on Impending for the first time and that will sharpen him up, and I expect to see him stalking the leaders before he makes his move in the straight. Impending looks primed to peak in the Stan Fox Stakes.
Champagne Stakes winner Prized Icon will appreciate the step up to 1800m in the Gloaming Stakes (Sydney Race 6, 1800m). The James Cummings-trained 3YO won the Fernhill Handicap & the Champaign Stakes in successive races in the Autumn and he did come back well finishing just behind the placegetters 1st up in the Up & Coming Stakes. Prized Icon was out of his league last start when he stepped up to WFA company for the first time, eventually finishing down the track behind Hartnell. Back to his own age group on Saturday will suit him much better. From gate 3, Prized Icon will settle in the box seat and receive a lovely run in transit. Certainly looks the horse to beat.
Voodoo Lad has been in tip top form and he can continue his winning way in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Melbourne Race 7, 1400m). The 5YO gelding has been winning his last 2 in a row, with his latest coming from last to win running away. Stepping up to 1400m wouldn’t be a problem as Voodoo Lad has a win & a placing from 2 starts over the trip. Chris Parnham has 3 rides on Voodoo Lad with 3 wins and he’ll be on board again on Saturday. Voodoo Lad is looking to make it 3 wins in a row in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Sydney raider Lucia Valentina looks the testing material in the Underwood Stakes (Melbourne Race 8, 1800m). The Kris Lees-trained mare loves her runs to be spaced and that’s why there is 5 weeks between her 1st & 2nd up runs. There’s a slight query if 1800m is beyond race favourite Black Heart Bart but the distance looks really suited for Lucia Valentina. Champion jockey Damien Oliver will be back on board on Saturday and watch Lucia Valentina run home strongly in the Underwood Stakes.
By Owens Wong, Editor
