The field for the Listed $120,000 SAJ Fruit Supply Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley today has been reduced to twelve runners with the scratching of the highly promising Speedeor.

Heatherly, above, is the short priced favourite for the Carlyon Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Heatherly, above, is the short priced favourite for the Carlyon Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Darren Weir trained sprinter was well fancied in the Carlyon Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at $6 on Friday afternoon and his withdrawal has now left the speedy Heartherly as the short priced $2.15 favourite.

The Robbie Laing trained Missrock now takes over the second spot in the market order at $6 ahead of Speedeor’s stablemate El Divino at $8 and the Lindsay Park trained Keen Array at $8.50.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trainer Heartherly will be at home on the Moonee Valley track that is rated a Good 4 and a stellar performance in the Carlyon Stakes will book the Lonhro mare a place in the Group 1 $500,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29.

“She’s wound up enough and the run will improve her but she’s got the miles in the legs for Saturday,” Ellerton said.

“The Moir is the target so we’ll pick our way there. She’s restricted to short courses and hopefully we can get to the Moir in one piece.”

Heatherly has raced on four occasions at Group 1 level for two placings, a third in the $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and was runner up to Extreme Choice in last year’s Moir Stakes.

Heatherly is resuming in the Carlyon Stakes following a luckless eighth to Russian Revolution in the Group 1 $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18 and has drawn nicely at barrier two in the twelve horse field.

Damian Lane will continue his association with Heatherly in the Carlyon Stakes with the pair’s most recent victory together being two starts back with an all the way win in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 4.

Heatherly has also shown her liking for The Valley with three wins, a second and two thirds from six starts there which includes a win in last year‘s Carlyon Stakes and her 2016 Moir Stakes second.

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.