The 2015 Blue Sapphire Stakes field has been released and the talented Kinglike is set to return to the races in the Listed event at Caulfield on Wednesday. Photo
Kinglike has the chance to make it two wins on the trot in the 2015 Blue Sapphire Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Kinglike made his racing debut with a second place finish behind stablemate Bassett at Caulfield on May 16 before he claimed his maiden race win with an impressive effort in the Charter Keck Cramer Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on May 30.
The Exceed And Excel colt was not fancied in betting before the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m), but he was settled close to the speed by jockey Glen Boss in the early stages of the race and he proved far too strong for his rivals to stamp himself as a genuine Coolmore Stud Stakes contender.
Raphael’s Cat finished second behind Kinglike in the Danehill Stakes and the Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper will have the opportunity to turn-the-tables on his rival after being included in the 2015 Blue Sapphire Stakes field.
The son of Redoute’s Choice has also not been seen at the races since he ran in the Danehill Stakes and he is another three-year-old that is set to head towards the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
One horse that will bring a different form lie into the 2015 Blue Sapphire Stakes is Lindsay Park-trained Keen Array, who has recorded three race wins from four starts this preparation.
Keen Array started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a dominant seven lengths win at Geelong on August 14 and he won in dominant fashion against at Pakenham on September 3 before he suffered a narrow defeat to Bassett at Caulfield on September 19.
The Bel Esprit gelding returned to winning form with a classy performance in the Hill Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 2, but will face the toughest challenge of his racing career to date in the Blue Sapphire Stakes.
Godolphin-owned Mogador is also set to take winning form into the Blue Sapphire Stakes after he won at Warwick Farm on September 23 and he is set to return to black-type level for the first time since he finished fourth behind stablemate Exosphere in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28.
The 2015 Blue Sapphire Stakes field is rounded out by Gai Waterhouse-trained Dark Steel (barrier four) and Lindsay Park-trained Von Maestro (barrier three).
