Last year’s runner up Mr Sneaky is creeping back into calculations for the 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Mr Sneaky had to settle for the runner’s up cheque twelve months ago when his stablemate Santa Ana Lane stormed home to collect the major prize.
The Anthony Freedman trained Mr Sneaky has been allocated 53kg, 1kg more than he carried last year, even though the five year old hasn’t visited the winner’s stall from eight starts since.
Mr Sneaky has been unplaced twice at Group 1 level with his best effort during the last twelve months being a second to Thronum in the Group 2 $200,000 Carlton Draught Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley at the beginning of the 2018 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Stable foreman Sam Freedman believes that Mr Sneaky is going just as good as he was last year and expects him to be amongst the placegetters again.
“I think he’s going into the race in as good a form as he was in last year,” Sam Freedman told AAP.
“It’s probably a stronger race but I think he’s going to be competitive like he always is.”
Sam Freedman is suggesting the firm track at The Valley last start on September 8 contributed to Mr Sneaky’s lacklustre performance when fourth in the Listed $120,000 Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) which followed on from his first up third to Faatinah in the Listed $120,000 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on August 25.
“The track was probably a little bit firm for him and just second-up syndrome, he was just a little bit flat when he came out on him last start,” Sam Freedman said.
“But he’s come through it OK.
“He was a little bit jarry after the run but he’ll be tip-top for the weekend and hopefully he can produce a similar effort to last year.
English raider Jungle Cat from the Godolphin stable prepared by Charlie Appleby has been given the top weight of 58kg and will be having his first Australian start after winning the Group 1 US$1m Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan in Dubai on March 31.
Godolphin’s Australian trainer James Cummings has nominated last start winners Home Of The Brave and Osborne Bulls who are sharing the second line of betting for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at $5 just ahead off Jungle Cat $8.
Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir has the $4.50 early favourite Land Of Plenty leading the team ahead of Peaceful State ($10), Cliff’s Edge ($26), Danon Liberty ($31) and Ozi Choice ($61).
– horseracing.com.au
