Promising four year old Tally will kick off his Spring Carnival as a ‘young man’ when he steps out in the Group 1 $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tally, above, is one of the outsiders in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Trainer John O’Shea said that Tally had developed tremendously during his winter break and has returned to the stable as a mature four year old.

“He went out after his Autumn campaign as a teenager and has returned as a young man,” O’Shea said.

“Last time in he came a long way from restricted class to winning a couple of Group 2 races and then kept going to run third in the Australian Derby.

“It was a great effort and showed he was a horse capable of stepping up this Spring.”

Tally will take on weight for age company for the first time when he takes his place among a classy Memsie Stakes field that is sprinkled with Group 1 winners, but he showed in the Autumn that he is a galloper of the future.

During his three year old season Tally worked his way up through the classes with four consecutive wins which included two victories at Group 2 level in the $200,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 27 and in the $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley on March 18.

Tally rounded off his Autumn Carnival campaign with a third to Tavago in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’.

Talented Melbourne apprentice Michael Dee takes the ride on Tally who has drawn awkwardly at barrier thirteen in the fourteen horse Memsie Stakes field.

O’Shea gave Tally one official trial at Randwick on July 29 in preparation for his return to the race track and he has been pleased the trainer with his work since.

“He’s had a trial in Sydney before going to Melbourne and has continued to work well,” O’Shea said.

Tally is also among the nominations for the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 15 and the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 as is Tavago who he is going to meet again in the Memsie Stakes.

Victoria Derby winner Tarzino and Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa are also stepping up to weight for age for the first time at their first runs as four year olds.

Tally is listed as one of the outsiders of the Memsie Stakes at $34 with Ladbrokes.com.au who have Group 1 Goodwood winner Black Heart Bart as the $2.70 favourite.

Black Heart Bart’s stablemates Mahuta at $6.50 and Palentino at $7.50 are the only other runners under the $10 mark.

Early market order for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Black Heart Bart, $6.50 Mahuta, $7.50 Palentino, $11 Lord Of The Sky, $13 Alpine Eagle, $15 Tarzino, $18 Sofia Rosa, $19 Rising Romance, $20 He Or She, $26 Charmed Harmony, Tavago, $34 Tally, $41 Prince Of Penzance, $81 Tashbeeh.