Summoned Stakes For Japhils

Trainer John Sadler has confirmed that talented mare Japhils will contest the 2015 Summoned Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

Japhils will have the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Summoned Stakes at Sandown this weekend. Photo by: Jenny Barnes

Japhils will have the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Summoned Stakes at Sandown this weekend. Photo by: Jenny Barnes

Japhils was included in the nominations for both the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) and the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m), but Sadler told Racing Ahead this morning that the Choisir mare would be better suited under the handicap conditions of the Summoned Stakes following her credible fifth behind Pittsburgh Flyer in the Group 3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 5.

“She will run in the Summoned Stakes,” Sadler said.

“The weight-for-age doesn’t really suit and she would struggle at the weight-for-age, even though her performances have been really good.

“The 1500 is a little bit of an ask from the 1100, but she has been in a long time and we are having a crack at a Group race before she has a well-earned spell.”

Sadler is set to have three runners at Sandown on Zipping Classic Day, with Charmed Harmony set to contest the Sandown Stakes and Digitalism confirmed for the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m).

Digitalism returned to winning form with a narrow victory over Lord Durante and Shenzhou Steeds in the Willhillwolf Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on September 5 before he led from start to finish to record a very tough victory in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (2025m) at Cranbourne on October 11.

Sadler said that he has been delighted with the form of Digitalism this preparation and he is confident that the Fastnet Rock gelding will be well-placed in the 2015 Eclipse Stakes.

“He has had a little bit of a freshen-up after his win in the Cranbourne Cup,” Sadler said.

“He is becoming a very, very honest horse and I would have thought that it is a nice race for him.”

Charmed Harmony rounds out the Sadler-trained trio at Sandown on Saturday and he will have the chance to record a maiden win at black-type level in the Sandown Stakes.

The Hussonet gelding recorded four straight victories during what has been an extremely long racing campaign before he stamped himself as a genuine contender at Group level with a fifth place finish in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26 as well as a fourth place finish in the Group 3 Guvera Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.

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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.