Charmed Harmony on G1 mission: Memsie Stakes considered

Another win by the in-form front running Charmed Harmony would push his claims for trainer John Sadler to consider a start in the Group 1 $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield at the end of August.

Apprentice Tom Sadler is the new rider for Charmed Harmony at Flemington. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Apprentice Tom Sadler is the new rider for Charmed Harmony at Flemington. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Charmed Harmony is lining up for a hat trick of wins after leading all of the way to take out his last two outings over 1400m in the $80,000 Wilson Medic One Handicap at Caulfield on July 4 and in the $80,000 Bruce Gaddsen Handicap at Flemington.

Sadler revealed that he was ready to step Charmed Harmony up to Group company next week in the Group 2 $200,000 Back To Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield but elected to run him this week in $90,000 Louis Polgar & Jason Vance Handicap (1400m).

“I was going to run in the Peter Lawrence next Saturday, the old situation of one of those fit horses through the Winter that can snaffle one early,” Sadler told the Sportsman.

“Once I looked at the entries for this race I thought it didn’t look a hard race for him.”

“If he was able to win and win okay we’d let him have a crack at the end of the month and run in the Memsie.”

“You never know it might be a leader’s track.”

The Hussonet six year old will have no trouble leading again from barrier four and will only have to carry 56kg, courtesy of Tom Sadler’s 2kg claim which is only 0.5kg more than he carried with apprentice Katelyn Mallyon last start.

Mallyon suffered a severe ankle injury in a trackwork accident at Caulfield on Tuesday morning and is out for up to six weeks, but Saddler has no concerns with replacing her with his son Tom who has won on the gelding twice as he worked his way up through the classes.

“I think he goes just as well for Tom, he’s won a couple on him,” Sadler said.

“He gets out and runs hi own race, he likes to run at his own speed.

“He takes them out of their comfort zone a long way from home and some of them just can’t run well.”

“That sort of horse can bring a field undone.”

Caulfield trackman George Lucas has reported that Charmed Harmony has continued to thrive on the training tracks and worked well on Tuesday morning over 1000m in 1.03.27s, running home the final 400m in 23.23s.

Charmed Harmony has been listed as the odds on favourite to complete his hat trick of wins and Ladbrokes.com.au have him at the cramped odds of $1.75 with stablemate Henwood the next in the betting at $5.

Henwood has been placed at his last two starts when third to Charmed Harmony at Caulfield before running third again to Abbasso in the $80,000 Flemington Event Staff BenchMark 90 Handicap (1600m) at Flemington on July 18.

Market order for the Louis Polgar & Jason Vance Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.75 Charmed Harmony, $5 Henwood, $9 Extra Zero, Ihtsahymn, Desert Jeuney, $17 Dylan’s Promise, $19 Luckyi’mbarefoot, $41 Happy As Hell.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.