The 2017 Sir John Monash Stakes Form Guide is essential reading for punters and racing fans ahead of the Group 3 feature race at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.

Supido is set to start a clear favourite in Saturday's Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Supido is set to start a clear favourite in Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Ten sprinters have been confirmed in the 2017 Sir John Monash Stakes final field and we have analysed each horse in detail, in order to help you find the race winner.

Supido is set to start a clear race favourite in the Sir John Monash Stakes, but is sure to face plenty of resistance from horses like Lord Of The Sky and Chocolate Holic.

Lord Of The Sky

Lord Of The Sky has not been seen at the races for close to a year, but he is one of the class horses of the 2017 Sir John Monash Stakes field and is a live chance of winning the race first-up. A previous winner of the Sir John Monash Stakes having comfortably taken out the 2014 edition of the race, the Danerich entire resumed last year for fourth in this race, before taking out the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later and finishing fifth in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), in which he sustained an injury. Lord Of The Sky has trialled extremely well and trainer Robbie Laing is thrilled with his condition ahead of Saturday’s race.

General Truce

Veteran sprinter General Truce will also return to competition in the Sir John Monash Stakes and may need the run to find peak form. The nine-year-old made eight starts through his most recent spring and summer campaign and was inconsistent at best; returning to the paddock after beating only one runner home in the Arbroath Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on January 14th. The Brief Truce gelding will jump from barrier 7.

Divine Ten

Divine Ten has not been seen at the races since February and will only make his third Australian appearance when he takes his position in the Sir John Monash Stakes field. Formerly saddled in Hong Kong where he experienced plenty of success as a sprinter, the Holy Roman Emperor gelding failed to make anything of an impact, or beat a single runner home in either of his two starts this year. He faces a big task in returning to winning form amongst this company.

Daytona Grey

Daytona Grey faces a notable step up in class into the Sir John Monash Stakes field, but is sure to have stripped fitter from his first-up run for fifth at Morphettville three weeks ago. Posting a career total of twelve wins and eight minors through fifty competitive starts, the Artie Schiller gelding performed well in similar races to this throughout 2016; winning the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) and running second in the Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m) most notably. Confirmed to be partnered by regular hoop Clare Lindop, Daytona Grey should enjoy a good run in transit from barrier 2.

Murt The Flirt

Murt The Flirt has shown plenty of potential throughout his racing career and is capable of producing a competitive performance and result in the Sir John Monash Stakes. Third in the Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) on the Gold Coast in early January, the Murtajil gelding placed fourth in the Coastline BM M2 BM85 (1200m) on January 28th and was sent to the paddock after failing to fire at Doomben a fortnight later. He’ll likely take benefit from this run, but is still capable.

Chocolate Holic

Chocolate Holic will have his first start for master trainer Darren Weir in the Sir John Monash Stakes and is a live chance of winning the race first-up. Formerly saddled by Grant Williams in Perth, the Blackfriars gelding was a standout through the recent Summer Carnival; winning both the Listed Northam Cup (1600m) and Listed Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m), as well as finishing second behind Vega Magic in the Group 3 AJ Scahill Stakes (1400m) most notably. Having trialled well leading into this race, Chocolate Holic is drawn to find a good position behind the pace from barrier 8 and has the notable advantage of Craig Williams in the saddle.

Supido

Another class horse in the Sir John Monash Stakes field, Supido will also resume on Saturday and is set to start a resounding favourite in betting markets. A Group 1 performer in seasons gone by, the Sebring entire failed to fire in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1100m) first-up this year, but responded with a smart run for third in the Group 1 Challenge Stakes (1000m) behind English and Redzel. Failing to handle the heavy going in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) in March, Supido has reportedly taken plenty of benefit from his time away from racing and should prove extremely tough to beat in the Sir John Monash Stakes.

Cashed

Cashed has found strong form in recent weeks, albeit in lighter company and is primed for a big run in the Sir John Monash Stakes. Posting six wins and a further ten minors through thirty-six career starts so date, the Krupt gelding took plenty of benefit from his first-up run for sixth in the Stan Coyle Memorial Plate (1000m) on June 10th, before storming home to win the Holdfast Insurance BM90 (1050m) three weeks ago. Cashed will enjoy the slight step up in distance, but clearly faces a big task in overcoming this Sir John Monash Stakes field.

Sunday Escape

Six-year-old Sunday Escape has finished close at each of his three most-recent starts, but is another horse that will undoubtedly have to muster a career-best performance to walk away the Sir John Monash Stakes winner. The Hard Spun gelding has been up and racing for close to a year, but ran second in a Caulfield 1100m race on May 13th, before placing fourth in the Country Achiever Gerald Egan Handicap (1100m) last time out.

O’Malley

The final horse confirmed in the 2017 Sir John Monash Stakes field, O’Malley has steadily built to the task this time, but would need to improve tenfold to post his first black type win in this race. Fourth in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) first-up on April 22nd, the son of Street Boss could only manage a mid-field finish in the Sports Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on May 6th, before placing sixth in the Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1000m) on June 10th.

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.