Full field of 16 to contest the Winter Championship Final

A full field of sixteen is set to contest the Listed $150,000 VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Amovatio has been handicapped with the top weight and a wide barrier in the Winter Championship Series Final  at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Amovatio has been handicapped with the top weight and a wide barrier in the Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Last start Flemington winner Amovatio has drawn in the second half of the field at fourteen but will come in four places if none of the four emergencies gain a start.

The Chris Waller trained Amovatio has been lumped with 60kg and champion jockey Damien Oliver will have to be at his brilliant best if he is to combine with the four year old to collect back to back Flemington wins.

The Robert Smerdon trained Mr Utopia has been handicapped with a wide alley again, coming up with gate eleven in the original draw but could come into eight at start time.

Mr Utopia has drawn wide at his previous three starts and overcome barrier thirteen in winning over 1400m at Flemington three starts back on May 23.

At his next start on June 13 the Elusive Quality five year old finished second to Yesterday’s Song over the same course and distance from barrier sixteen and then he made up ground in the straight at Flemington again after jumping from the outside of the thirteen horse field when sixth to Amovatio in the $80,000 VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Heat 6 (1400m) on June 27.

Venture On also featured in the placings when third to Amovatio but the Mitchell Freedman trained six year old was also out at luck at the barrier draw coming up with gate seventeen in the original draw.

Henwood from the John Saddler stable will also need plenty of luck after drawing nineteen and give jockey Glen Boss plenty of work of to do in the early stages to find some cover.

Henwood ran a solid race last start when third to Charming Harmony in the $80,000 Wilson Medic One Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on July 4 and will clash again with second place getter Tried And Tired.

Tried And Tired figured a lot better at acceptance time with barrier seven and the Leon and Troy Corstens trained five year old will get his chance to go one better on the weekend.

Leading Caulfield trainer Peter Moody will be sweating on some race day scratchings for his two acceptors, Kenjorwood and Metaphorical, to sneak into the final field.

First emergency Kenjorwood (barrier 1) has been racing most consistently and hasn’t been out of the place from five starts this campaign, which includes a win three starts back in the $80,000 The Momentum Energy Trophy (1800m) at Flemington on May 9.

At his latest outing Kenjorwood finished two lengths third as favourite behind Digitalism in the $80,000 Dominant Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on June 6.

Second emergency Metaphorical (barrier 12) was a winner two runs back in the $80,000 Schweppes Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley on May 30 before beating one runner home when ninth as favourite to Alcohol in the $80,000 Vital Healthcare Property Trust Travis Harrison Cup (1600m) at Moonee Valley again on June 20.

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.