Chase The Rainbow Included In Christmas Stakes Field

Chase The Rainbow could make his long awaited return to racing on Boxing Day after being included in the final field for the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Chase The Rainbow will carry the top weight of 58kg in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

Chase The Rainbow will carry the top weight of 58kg in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Chase The Rainbow has not been seen at the races since his dominant victory in the National Jockeys’ Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1 last year after suffering a nasty tendon injury as well as hoof issues and a cracked shoulder.

The Dash For Cash entire was set to return to the races in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on December 7 but was scratched from the event after suffering superficial cuts to his leg.

The Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) is on the agenda for Chase The Rainbow and he will being his path to the $3 million event when carrying the top-weight of 58kg with Steven Arnold on board this weekend.

Stephen Theodore-trained Don’t Get Excited is the only other last-start winner in the 2013 Christmas Stakes field but will need plenty of luck after drawing the outside gate in the 12 horse field.

Don’t Get Excited recorded four straight wins in Melbourne and Sydney during his an early spring campaign and returned to the races with a narrow victory over Solsay in the National Jockeys’ Trust Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on December 7.

The Elvstroem gelding has also been included in the acceptances for the Galvanishing Christmas Handicap (1400m) at Adelaide but will carry 54kg with Glen Boss on board if Theodore elects to keep the four-year-old in Melbourne.

Another galloper returning to the races after a brief break is the talented Richie’s Vibe who has not been seen at the races since he finished fourth behind Mahisara in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1400m) at the end of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

Richie’s Vibe started his spring campaign with a dominant win at Morphettville and was a near-certainty beaten when second behind It Is Written, who is also in the Christmas Stakes field, in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 29.

The Danerich gelding was upset as a short-priced favourite by British General in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 12 and finished a disappointing fifth in the City Jeep Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley (1200m) on Cox Plate Day before returning to the winners stall in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

Other interesting runners in the Christmas Stakes field include Mick Price-trained Loveyamadly, the resuming Kneeling and veteran gelding Zedi Knight.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.