The 2015 George Main Stakes field has been released and ten talented gallopers are set to contest the Group 1 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Kermadec is one of ten runners that have been included in the 2015 George Main Stakes field. Photo by: Steve Hart
Chris Waller has won two of the past three editions of the George Main Stakes and he will have the chance to maintain his recent dominance in the race after including Moriarty, Kermadec and Royal Descent in the final field.
Kermadec has drawn ideally in barrier five and is set to start the George Main Stakes as favourite following his promising efforts in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 and the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 5.
Glen Boss was booked to ride Kermadec in the George Main Stakes, but he will miss the meeting with suspension and Glyn Schofield will replace the talented hoop on the son of Teofilo.
Royal Descent has followed a similar form line into the George Main Stakes and has the chance to go one better in the race after finishing second behind Streama in 2013 and second behind Sacred Falls last year.
Moriarty has failed to fire in both the Warwick Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes, but he is set to get a lovely trial into the race from barrier one with Jim Cassidy in the saddle.
Another trainer that will have multiple runners in the 2015 George Main Stakes is John O’Shea, who has included both Sweynesse and Hauraki in the acceptances for the Group 1 event.
Sweynesse and Hauraki were both unable to get into the finish when they returned to racing in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on September 5, but both are sure to benefit from the step-up in trip.
Rounding out the trainers with multiple runners in the 2015 George Main Stakes is Kris Lees, who has both Protectionist and Lucia Valentina in the $500,000 race.
Protectionist only beat one runner home in the Tramway Stakes and Lees does not rate him a winning chance this weekend, while Lucia Valentina flew home late in the same race, but does not have a great second-up record.
The big loser of the 2015 George Main Stakes barrier draw that was conducted this morning was Gai Waterhouse-trained Pornichet, who is set to jump from barrier nine with Blake Shinn in the saddle.
Pornichet produced a tough effort first-up when he finished second in the Warwick Stakes, but he did not receive a great deal of luck in running in the Chelmsford Stakes and he could finish no better than sixth behind Complacent.
Hooked is the only horse taking winning form into the George Main Stakes following his victory in the Tramway Stakes, while Kirramosa finished a more than credible fifth in the same race.
