The Lloyd Williams owned, Robert Hichmott trained The United States has drawn just worse than midfield at barrier ten in the Group 1 $1m Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The United States, above, has been installed as the favourite for the Cantala Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
A full field of sixteen plus one emergency accepted for the Cantala Stakes with The United States holding his spot at the top of the market order at $5.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Steven Arnold replaces Kerrin McEvoy who was on The United States when he won the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
McEvoy has stuck with the Ciaron Maher trained Bon Aurum after the pair combined for a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 24 before running sixth to He’s Our Rokkii in the Group 1 $500,000 IG Markets Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.
Maher has added the blinkers to Bon Aurum ($26) who will need plenty of luck after drawing one from the outside at gate sixteen.
The Lindsay Park trained He’s Our Rokkii has drawn alongside of The United States at gate eleven with regular rider Dwayne Dunn in the saddle again and is on the second line of betting at $7.
Stablemate Seaburge is also well in the betting at $8.50 and has drawn nicely at barrier two with lightweight jockey Chad Schofield flying in from Hong King to ride.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle up three runners in the Cantala Stakes with Good Project drawing the rails with Zac Purton, McCreery also drawing nicely at three with Craig Newitt and Mackintosh fairing the worst of the stable’s runners at barrier twelve for Joao Moreira.
Trainer Darren Weir had mixed results at the barrier draw for his three Cantala Stakes acceptors with Stratum Star (Damian Lane) drawing the best at barrier four, equal topweight Palentino (Mark Zahra) drew barrier seven while last start Moonga Stakes winner Voodoo Lad (Blake Shinn) came up with the outside barrier at seventeen in the original draw but will come back to sixteen when the field is finalised at scratching time on Saturday morning.
Market order for the Cantala Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 The United States, $7 He’s Our Rokkii, Palentino, $8.50 Seaburge, $9 Mackintosh, $11 Voodoo Lad, $13 McCreery, $14 Le Romain, $16 Hopfgarten, $20 Good Project, $21 Thunder Fantasy, $26 Stratum Star, Bon Aurum, Tivaci, $31 Humidor, $41 Great Esteem, $61 Entirely Platinum.
