The 2015 Darley Classic nominations have been released and 62 sprinters have been included in the initial entries for the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington on November 7.
Terravista, Lankan Rupee and Chautauqua are set to clash again in the 2015 Darley Classic. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Terravista stamped himself as one of the best sprinters in Australia when he took out the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) last year and he will have the chance to join River Rough (1983 and 1984), Planet Ruler (1989 and 1990) and Black Caviar (2010 and 2011) as the only horses to win the Darley Classic in back-to-back years.
The Joe Pride-trained sprinter was set to return to racing in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, but he was scratched from the rain due to wet weather and he will instead resume in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on October 3.
Chautauqua was only narrowly denied by Terravista in the Darley Classic last year and he will have the chance to turn-the-tables on his rival in the 2015 edition of the race.
The Encosta De Lago gelding finally claimed a maiden win at the highest level of racing when he took out the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and he returned to the races with an impressive victory in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6.
Lankan Rupee rounded out the Darley Classic trifecta and he is set to contest the race for the second year in a row.
The star sprinter started his autumn campaign with a visually dominant win in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 21, but he was unable to replicate that form in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 14 and the T.J. Smith Stakes.
Other Group 1 winning sprinters that could head to the 2015 Darley Classic included Boban, Bounding, Buffering, Kermadec, Moment Of Change, Rebel Dane, Srikandi, Flamberge and Tiger Tees.
No three-year-old has won the Darley Classic since Pharein took out the 1999 edition of the race, but a large group of younger horses have been included in the 2015 Darley Classic nominations.
Chris Waller has confirmed that Exosphere will head to the Darley Classic if he performs well in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Victoria Derby Day and he could be joined in the race by fellow three-year-olds Bassett, Black Vanquish, Furnaces, Hardline, Japonisme, Kinglike, Mawahibb, Mogador, Ottoman, Pained Firetail, Press Statement, Sebring Sun, Sooboog and Spieth.
Arguably the most interesting horse in the 2015 Darley Classic nominations is Singapore-based Super One, who has recorded four wins from as many race starts.
Super One is set to take on Exosphere in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and he is another three-year-old that could be given a chance against the older horses in the Darley Classic.
Other notable horses in the 2015 Darley Classic nominations included Catkins, Churchill Dancer, Disposition, Gregers, Knoydart, Lumosty, Rich Enuff, Rock Sturdy, Under The Louvre and Winx.
