Price Duo Headline McNeil Stakes Field

The 2015 McNeil Stakes field has been released and leading Melbourne trainer Mick Price has both Prince Of Brooklyn and Ready For Victory in the Group 3 event at Caulfield on Saturday.

Ready For Victory will start his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

Ready For Victory will start his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

Ready For Victory only had three race starts as a two-year-old, but he stamped himself as a leading contender for races like the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) with a string of strong efforts.

The More Than Ready colt made his racing debut with a fast-finishing victory in the Listed Festival Of Racing 1000 (1000m) at Flemington on March 7 and he was sent to Sydney for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21, where he finished a credible fourth despite racing erratically in the straight.

Ready For Victory was sent to the spelling paddock following a flat seventh place finish in the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 6, but he showed that he was ready for a return to racing with two solid barrier trials at Cranbourne on August 10 and August 21.

Prince Of Brooklyn also trialed very strongly in the lead-up to the McNeil Stakes and he will defend his unbeaten record in the Group 3 event this weekend.

The son of Magnus made his racing debut with an impressive victory in the Group 3 National Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16 and he proved that win was no fluke when he took out the Elvstroem Classic (1300m) at Swan Hill on June 5.

Price believes that Prince Of Brooklyn may have been flattered by good placement as a two-year-old, but he was very impressed with his two barrier trials victories at Cranbourne.

Another horse that will take winning form into the McNeil Stakes is Peter Moody-trained Gold Symphony, who will have his fourth race start in the $150,000 event this weekend.

Gold Symphony made his racing debut with a comfortable win at Mornington on July 2 and he finished second behind the highly-rated Jalan Jalan in The Flemington Family Handicap (1200m) on July 18 before he claimed his maiden stakes win in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15.

The Vain Stakes is set to be the key lead-up guide for the McNeil Stakes and Vain Stakes runner-up Top Me Up, Godolphin-owned Demonstrate, Peter Moody-trained Stoker, Equinova and beaten favourite Ragazzao Del Corsa will all back-up in the McNeil Stakes this weekend.

The only filly in the McNeil Stakes field is Doug Harrison-trained Stream Ahead, who stamped herself as a horse to watch with a second place finish behind the highly-rated Petits Filous in the United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 1.

The 2015 McNeil Stakes field is rounded out by Ciaron Maher-trained Brockhoff and debut winner Mr Individual.

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.