Weary heads small nominations for 2015 Missile Stakes

The Australian Turf Club has extended nominations for the Group 2 $175,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday after only six horses were entered for the first Group race of the new racing season.

The Chris Waller trained Weary heads the nominations for the Missile Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Chris Waller trained Weary heads the nominations for the Missile Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Extra entries will be accepted up until 11am on Tuesday August 4, 2015 for the weight for age Group 2 feature.

The Chris Waller trained Weary is the highest rated entrant at 107 and will be having his first start since running second to Pornichet in the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 9 during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Waller kicked off Weary’s Autumn Carnival campaign in similar style with a win over the sprint distance in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on January 31 and is set to follow the same pattern in the Spring.

“He won the equivalent race to the Missile in the autumn and he had nice trial a week ago,” Waller told AAP.

“I think he will be my only runner in the race.

“He is a bit more forward than some of the others.”

Messene from the Team Hawkes stable is the second rated horse at 106 and will be having his first run for almost twelve months.

The Lonhro seven year old raced in Group 1 company during the 2014 Spring Carnioval has hasn’t been to the races since finishing ninth of eleven behind Dissident in the Group 1 $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13.

Three runs prior Messene was narrowly beaten by Sweet Idea in the last year’s version of the Missile Stakes and during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Carnival the gelding was able to win the Group 2 $175,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

2015 Ajax Stakes winner Burbero will be having his second run back from a spell after finishing second to Brook Road in the $85,000 The July Sprint (1100m) at Canterbury on July 25.

Another good run bay Burbero will tempt trainer Bjorn Baker to nominate the seven year old for the Group 1 $1m The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 3.

“He was a revelation last time in and if he can continue on with that then we’ll have more fun with him for sure,” Baker told Racenet.

Gai  Waterhouse has nominated Liberty’s Choice who will be fitter for a first up run when fourth to Rugged Cross in the Listed $100,000 Sydney Markets Limited Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on July 18.

See The World from the Joe Pride stable has been racing through the Winter and will head to the Missile Stakes following a sixth to Rugged Cross in the Winter Stakes.

Melbourne mare Judicial Rock has been nominated by Flemington trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and was a last start runner at Canterbury when fourth to Brook Road in the July Sprint.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.