Trainer Darren Weir’s four runners, Prince Of Penznace, Black Heart Bart, Mahuta and Palentino have come up with mixed fortunes in the barrier draw for the Group 1 $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Black Heart Bart, above, is one of four runners for trained Darren Weir in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
The most fancied of the Weir quartet at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Goodwood winner Black Heart Bart who has drawn favourably at barrier five in the fourteen horse field with Brad Rawiller in the saddle again.
Black Heart Bart is resuming after going down narrowly to Under The Louvre in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11 after winning the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 21.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance is also resuming from a break and has drawn out wide at gate eleven with Harry Coffey getting the nod to ride.
The wide barrier won’t worry Prince Of Penzance who will get back in the field before running on late down the middle of the track.
Prince Of Penzance has had one run since winning the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last November and made up plenty of ground in the straight when second to stablemate Tonopah in the Group 3 $150,000 Robert & Fay Gerard R A Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 21.
Australian Guineas winner Palentino has had the benefit of one run from a spell for a fourth to Voodoo Lad in the Listed $120,000 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 13 and has also drawn wide at gate ten with Make Zahra back in the saddle taking over from Brad Rawiller.
The last of Weir’s runners, Mahuta with John Allen in the saddle, will be able to get a cosy run from barrier two.
The Robbie Laing trained Lord Of The Sky has drawn the rails and Damien Oliver will hoping for a clean getaway to give the free running sprinter stallion every chance to set the race up from the front.
Trainer John Sadler has put the blinkers back on Charmed Harmony who also runs his best races from the front and the seven year old will jump from gate three with Tom Sadler back in the saddle.
Charmed Harmony has won three times over the same course and distance as the Memsie Stakes after racing in or near the lead and it will be interesting to see if he and Lord Of The Sky match strides in the early and middle stages.
Victoria Derby winner Tarzino has drawn barrier nine with Craig Newitt in the saddle while Australian Derby winner Tavago has drawn next to him at eight with Ben Melham having his first ride on the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained gelding.
The Tony McEvoy trained Alpine Eagle has drawn midfield at six for Luke Curry while the Lindsay Park Team has three runners, He Or She, (Dwayne Dunn, barrier 12), Tashbeeh (Cory Parrish, 14) and Rising Romance (Damian Lane, 4).
Early market order for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Black Heart Bart, $6.50 Mahuta, $7.50 Palentino, $9.50 Lord Of The Sky, $11 Alpine Eagle, $13 Tarzino, $14 Sofia Rosa, $16 Rising Romance, $20 He Or She, $26 Charmed Harmony, Tally, Tavago, $34 Prince Of Penzance, $41 Tashbeeh.
