In-form sprinter Inn Keeper has drawn the rails in the small eight horse field for the 2018 Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Jukebox, above, has drawn barrier 6 in the 2018 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Jukebox, above, has drawn barrier 6 in the 2018 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Inn Keeper is chasing his fifth win on the trot and Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde said that it was time for the four year old be tested in Stakes company following his last start win in the $100,000 Golden Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill on June 8.

“He’s a 92-rater now and he’s gone right through the ratings races and then to an open handicap last time down the bottom of the weights,” Wilde said.

“It probably is the next logical step to test him out in stakes company and just see where he is.

“We’re happy with him. He only does what he has to so it will be interesting in this sort of grade where he fits in.”

Linda Meech gets the ride again on Inn Keeper after partnering him to victory at his last four starts at Terang, Warrnambool, Caulfield and in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill.

The Ciaron Maher trained Jukebox is resuming from a spell and will be facing the starter for the first time since finishing fourteenth to Merchant Navy in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Premiership leader Craig Williams has ridden Jukebox in all of his six race starts to date, which includes three wins, and will continue his association with three year old who has drawn barrier six in the eight horse Sir John Monash Stakes field.

Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir will saddle up two runners in the Sir John Monash Stakes, Voodoo Lad with Brad Rawiller to ride from barrier five, and Ducimus who will jump from the outside gate with Dean Yendall holding the reins.

The Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained Crystal Dreamer has drawn barrier seven for Damian Lane and the five year old will be having his first run back since finishing third to Secret Agenda in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 3.

Final field for the 2018 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 257x145x00 VOODOO LAD Darren Weir Brad Rawiller 5 58.5kg 107
2 x39621143x CRYSTAL DREAMER Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra Damian Lane 7 58.5kg 103
3 19x7231x65 SUNDAY ESCAPE Andrew Murray Dwayne Dunn 4 58.5kg 92
4 77×3133221 ASHLOR Dan McCarthy Jamie Mott 2 58.5kg 94
5 111x6x1111 INN KEEPER Symon Wilde Ms Linda Meech 1 58.5kg 92
6 11x1220x JUKEBOX Ciaron Maher Craig Williams 6 58kg 90
7 12x54x4x28 DUCIMUS Darren Weir Dean Yendall 8 58kg 73
8 3431322×11 SHOWPERO Wayne Francis & Glen Kent Stephen Baster 3 56.5kg 85

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.