South Australian horses have already had a significant impact on feature races this Spring, so why shouldn’t my stable reflect some bias.
Let’s kick off with Instant Celebrity, a steal for $150,000. The Stokes stable has always had an extremely high opinion of the three-year old filly and Tommy Stokes has done a terrific job as the Adelaide boss.
The Thousand Guineas is the mission and the stable has altered the preparation in comparison to previous attempts at the three-year challenge.
Then there is Behemoth, an easy selection on the strength of the Memsie and Sir Rupert victories, and trainer David Jolly could not be more content with the big bloke. The Toorak or Cantala, maybe even both, are prime targets. The Everest is also not out of the question.
As for the other SA selections, I’m probably clutching at a few straws with The Brumby, The Multiplier and Crown Mist, who can all be squeezed in at reasonable prices.
The Brumby was beaten less than a length by Instant Celebrity in the Oaklands Plate.
The Multiplier had a handy win at Morphettville last week and trainer Will Clarken has already had Melbourne success with Vella Bella winning the McEwen.
And Crown Mist has shown promise for the Gordon Richards stable.
Hungry Heart is an obvious choice for the stable, favourite for the Flight Stakes and incredible value at $200,000
Russian Camelot will score heavily for SuperCoach stables, and Mugatoo should nail handy points at Randwick.
And how can Craig Williams not have success?
WARREN’S RD 1 TEAM
Behemoth $350,000
Russian Camelot $350,000
Mugatoo $325,000
Hungry Heart $200,000
Instant Celebrity $150,000
Alcyone $125,000
Crown Mint $125,000
The Brumby $125,000
Night Raid $100,000
The Multiplier $100,000
Annaviso (emg) $50,000
Jockey: Craig Williams
Salary cap spent: $2m
GILBERT GARDINER’S STABLE
Arcadia Queen (C) $400,000
Surprise Baby $375,000
Russian Camelot $350,000
Persan $200,000
Cadre Du Noir $175,000
Mozzie Monster $125,000
Ain’tnodeeldun $100,000
Night Raid $100,000
Contract Signed $75,000
Buildmeupbuttercup $50,000
Deep Speed (emg) $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
Salary Cap spent: $2m
All aboard the hype trains!
Two of the top three were no-brainers, with Russian Camelot and Surprise Baby the clear standouts from Arcadia Queen.
The West Aussie’s slashing second at Flemington convinced Good Capitalist to include the glamour mare, who should be winning one or more Group 1s this time.
Not Robinson Crusoe here, but Persan deserves to be a Cups contender and selected because I think the Group 2 Bart Cummings is well within the son of Pierro’s grasp.
Cadre Du Noir is another with a bright future despite going down at short odds last start when posted wide the trip. Looks more than capable of picking up staying features in Sydney.
Night Raid and Mozzie Monster are in the team and will be relied on to bank some three-year-old Group races, while Ain’tnodeeldun, Contract Signed, Buildmeupbuttercup and Deep Speed are placeholders only until we see nominations and final fields.
Tossed up between Damien Oliver and James McDonald as my jockey selection and settled on the former as I think he’ll get the best rides in Sydney.
BRAD WATERS’ STABLE
Gytrash $425,000
Russian Camelot (c) $350,000
Schabau $225,000
Showmanship $225,000
Hungry Heart $200,000
Cadre Du Noir $175,000
Alcyone $125,000
Night Raid $100,000
Tanaawol $75,000
Annavisto $50,000
Collide $50,000 (emg)
Salary cap spent: $2 million
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Trying to cover big races in two states makes life tough when picking my initial Supercoach Racing stable so putting yourself in every trainer’s shoes is the only way to sort out the choices.
The $2 million budget probably doesn’t allow us to have a crack at winning all four Group 1 races on the day – the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington and the Epsom, Metropolitan and Flight Stakes in Sydney – so my approach is to look for value with obvious choices.
Hungry Heart is the short-priced favourite for the Flight Stakes but is great value at only $200,000 for Week 1. She’s a lock at that price.
Russian Camelot is a $350,000 buy but the Turnbull Stakes over the Flemington 2000m course looks the perfect race for his Cups preparation.
The staying ranks provided the toughest decision for the opening week. The Metrop is on at Randwick but I’ve decided to target the Group 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington with two possible runners - Schabau and Cadre Du Noir.
Either horse could be switched to Sydney for the Metrop should connections desire.
I’m thinking the Group 2 Premiere Stakes would be a great race for Gytrash’s final lead-up run to The Everest and he’ll be extremely hard to beat there.
I think I’ve found some real value among the three-year-old ranks with the smart Annavisto a steal at $50,000 while Alcyone could tackle the 1800m Super Impose Stakes at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes day.
And what better jockey to carry us through the Supercoach Racing period than Damien Oliver?
CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S STABLE
Russian Camelot $350,000
Mugatoo $325,000
Dame Giselle $225,000
Schabau $225,000
Hungry Heart (c) $200,000
Kisukano $200,000
Instant Celebrity $150,000
Mozzie Monster $125,000
Night Raid $100,000
Buildmeupbuttercup $50,000
Deep Speed $50,000 (emg)
Jockey: James McDonald
Salary cap spent: $2,000,000
The Epsom or Metropolitan for Mugatoo? The latter is the preference for the lightly-raced ex-English galloper.
Either way, both races are Group 1s in the opening round of SuperCoach Racing and the six-year-old gelding is a near-certainty to be a lock for my final Round 1 team at $325,000.
One change this spring is Round 1 has been scheduled the week after the Golden Rose meeting, where last year there were an abundance of high-quality three-year-olds to keep a tight $2 million salary cap well under budget.
Therefore, the Group 1 Flight Stakes for three-year-old fillies is the race to target. The top two in the market Hungry Heart and Dame Giselle are the obvious picks, and Queensland filly Kisukano has shown class in her wins.
The most I’ve spent is $350,000 on South Australian Derby winner Russian Camelot, and there’s a high level of expectation with the northern hemisphere-bred colt.
There was no room for four-year-old mare Probabeel just yet but she’s an alternative option in the Epsom Handicap where her price of $375,000 appeals.
The Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes is also for the fillies and will help ease the budget constraints.
Night Raid most likely will be running the following week in the Thousand Guineas but Mozzie Monster and Instant Celebrity are possibilities. But the necessary changes will be made closer to lockout.
German import Schabau has come back in great order and will aim to book a Melbourne Cup berth in the Bart Cummings.
For now, my $50,000 cheapies are Buildmeupbuttercup and Deep Speed. Both are unraced three-year-olds and who knows if they’re up to city standard. No doubt these positions will change before Round 1 starts.