Jockey Jordan Childs has given his mount Written By the tick of approval as he heads towards Wednesday’s Group 3 $350,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Written By, above, is the odds on favourite for the 2018 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Written By, above, is the odds on favourite for the 2018 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Written By has been pencilled in as the $1.65 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Blue Sapphire Stakes and Childs is looking forward to continuing his winning association with the Grahame Begg trained colt.

Childs was aboard Written By when they combined for a commanding win in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield during the 2018 Melbourne Autumn Carnival as a two year old and the pair teamed up for a first up Spring Carnival win in the $120,000 Foundation Plate (1000m) at Caulfield on September at his first run as a three year old.

Begg sent Written By to Mornington last Thursday to gallop in between races as a final tune up for the Blue Sapphire Stakes and Childs was more than pleased with the way the Written Tycoon colt performed.

“He felt really good,” Childs said.

“He did a solid piece of work over 800 metres and quickened up the last 400.

“I gave him a bit of a squeeze the last 200 just to make him do something and not waste the day out and he felt really good underneath me. He had his ears pricked the whole way and I think he’s going very well.

“He’s definitely come out of his first-up run well, anyway.”

“I thought he did a really good job first-up,” Childs said.

“He wanted to race a bit fiercely and got taken on and was there to be beaten but I thought he held them on the line.

“I think he’s got to step up again on Wednesday but he’s definitely on track for the Coolmore.”

“But obviously you want to see him run well again going into that race and he’ll probably still take a bit of improvement out of it and be cherry ripe for the Coolmore.”

Begg has selected the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 3 as Written By’s main 2018 Spring Carnival goal.

Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Blue Sapphire Stakes has the James Cummings trained Encryption as the second pick at $5 behind Written By with Tony Nicconi at $7.50 and Performer at $$8.50.

The Blue Sapphire Stakes has only attracted a small field of six runners with Written Tycoon to jump from barrier two while the lightly raced Henry Dwyer trained Spielberg has drawn the outside gate with Damien Thornton in the saddle.

Early betting for the Coolmore Stud Stakes has the Chris Waller trained Zousain at the top of the market order at $3 just ahead of Written Tycoon at $4 and Sunlight at $5.

Pre-post betting for the 2018 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Zousain, $4 Written By, $5 Sunlight, $9 Lean Mean Machine, $11 Graff, $13 Encryption, Sesar, $15 Gem Song, Tony Nicconi, $21 Long Leaf, $26 Fiesta, Gytrash, Native Soldier, Oohood, Sandbar, $41 or better the rest.

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.