Dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour heads a capacity field for the Group 3 $150,000 William Hill Sprint Series Heat 1 Stakes (Cockram Stakes) (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Cosmic Endeavour heads a capacity field in the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Cosmic Endeavour will kick off her Spring Carnival campaign at Caulfield and has drawn barrier nine in the field of sixteen plus one emergency.
Cosmic Endeavour is the winner of the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Carnival and the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick during this year’s Autumn Carnival.
The Northern Meteor mare is having her first start since running fifth to stablemate Amanpour in the Group 1 $1m Cellarbrations Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 11 and has Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
The Darren Weir trained May’s Dream is the other Group 1 winner in the field and has drawn barrier thirteen with Damian Lane to ride.
May’s Dream is the winner of the 2014 Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville and might find the 1200m of the Cockram Stakes a bit short for her liking.
Weir will also saddle up Scarlet Billows who has also drawn off the track at sixteen with Michelle Payne booked to ride.
The Godolphin owned Hazard is also resuming from a spell but has been out of luck in the barrier draw coming up with the extreme outside gate at seventeen.
The Lee and Anthony Freedman trained mare found winning form during the Autumn and Winter and completed a hat trick of wins when she beat the Chris Waller trained Catkins in the Group 2 $300,000 Best Security Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on June 6.
Hazard then had one more run during the Brisbane Winter Carnival for a seventh to Srikandi in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20 before being sent for a break.
Ben Melham was aboard the Flying Spur mare in the Tattersall’s Club Tiara and has the ride again in the Cockram Stakes.
Mick Prices’ smart mare More Radiant has drawn barrier five for boom apprentice Michael Dee and the combination is coming off a first up second in the $80,000 Beveridge Williams Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15.
Jessy Belle is taking the next step up in class as she chases a hat trick of wins after two victories over 1400m at Flemington in a mares Handicap on June 27 and in the $120,000 Leilani Series Final on July 11.
Vlad Duric takes over from Craig Williams, who is riding in Japan this weekend, and the Rock Of Gibraltar mare has drawn nicely at six.
Madam Gangster, with Blake Shinn in the saddle, is another that has drawn out wide at fifteen at her first run since running fourth to Catkins in the Group 2 $175,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill at the end of March.
At her previous start Madam Gangster scored a comfortable win over Girl Guide in the Group 3 $150,000 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Girl Guide is also resuming in the Cockram Stakes and has drawn midfield at eight with Dwayne Dunn on top.
Steven Arnold has retained the mount on Group 1 placed Griante who will need plenty of luck from barrier fourteen.
