Malahat will carry winning form into the race and should be ready to peak fourth-up. The Exceed And Excel gelding has continued to improve with each start that he has had this time in and hit the line well to win at Rosehill a fortnight ago, despite being easy in the market. He’s only had one go down the straight previously and that was a credible seventh in the 2017 edition of the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but he is a far-more furnished prospect and does look the one to beat. Hugh Bowman will take the ride from barrier 1.
1.5 Units Malahat
Greyworm has recorded three wins and two minors from his five career starts so far and looks well placed to win at HQ on Saturday. The Master Of Design was an easy winner at The Valley in what was his first start for Maher & Eustace in late January and finished a short-nose second at his most-recent effort, despite a tough and luckless run in transit. He’ll need some luck from the outside barrier here but if he gets it, he’ll be tough to hold out.
2 Units Greyworm
Our Peaky Blinders is a horse with plenty of upside and he’ll relish a step up to 2000m on Saturday. The six-year-old is extremely adaptable and can take up the running or settle off the pace; the latter does look more likely on Saturday from his wide draw. He’s twice won at this point of his preparation and does look at touch of overs at his current price.
1 Unit Our Peaky Blinders
Super Saturday’s first black type race has drawn an open field of sprinters and at publish, we’re looking at $5 the field.
Sunset Watch has not been seen at the races since October, but he is a proven first-up performer and looks well placed here. The Akeed Mofeed gelding took up the running at The Valley first-up last time and never appeared in doubt, before making a strong transition to black type company when second in Group 3 company. He’s never raced down the straight and that is the one query.
Krone will also resume in the race and looms as a live chance at double-figure odds. The daughter of Eurozone was Group 2 placed in the spring and she’s yet to miss a place when fresh.
2 Units Sunset Watch
1 Unit Krone
This race always produces a couple of live chances for the two-year-old Group 1 races in Sydney and on exposed form, it has drawn a quality field once more.
Hawker Hurricane turned in a lacklustre performance in the Blue Diamond two weeks ago, but the rise in trip he gets in this race looks ideal, and he can return to winning form. The son of Deep Field won the Clockwise Classic at Ballarat on debut in November and resumed for a credible third in the Blue Diamond Prelude race two starts back.
Godolphin juvenile La Tene has not run a bad race and looks rock-hard fit for her run on Saturday. The Helmet filly has continued to improve with racing, and she was last seen breaking her maiden after taking up the running at Sandown.
2 Units Hawker Hurricane
1 Unit La Tene
It’s typically one of the most exciting Group 1 races of the autumn and twenty-three sprinters have accepted into a highly-anticipated and open edition of the Newmarket Handicap.
Osborne Bulls savaged the line to finish an agonizingly-close second in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes first-up and will only improve into this race and at 1200m. The Street Cry gelding has recorded nine wins and five placing through his 15 career starts to date and was an easy winner at his only other start down the Flemington straight, further to the Lightning. He’s drawn barrier 22, but the outside rail could prove the place to be by this point of Super Saturday and he’ll be steered by Hugh Bowman.
Stable mate Encryption flew home to finish second in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate last time out and looks ready to peak third-up on Saturday. The beautifully-bred colt has had three runs down the Flemington straight and won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes most-notably in spring. It would take a career-best effort, but he does look a horse on the up and will carry a light weight.
3 Units Osborne Bulls
1 Unit Encryption
Angelic Ruler has been a strong and consistent performer since debuting in January last year and she looks the one to beat in the Kewney Stakes. The Perth-trained filly resumed last month for a relatively easy win at Listed level at Bunbury before crossing the country to finish second behind Qafila in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco at Caulfield a fortnight ago. She’ll take further improvement into this race and is drawn to receive all the favours from barrier 5.
2 Units Angelic Ruler
Avilius has been a revelation for Godolphin since arriving in Australia last year and he can record a maiden Group 1 victory in the Australian Cup. The Pivotal gelding won each of his first four starts for James Cummings in spring, three of which at Group 3 level, before finishing fourth to Winx in the Cox Plate. His two runs to win the Group 3 Carlyon Cup and Group 2 Peter Young Stakes this time have been excellent and he will only improve third-up and at 2000m.
Ace High was a notable second-up improver when he finished third behind Avilius in the Peter Young and he is another horse that still has plenty of upside. The four-year-old is a Group 1 winner at this trip and also won the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) in spring.
4 Units Avilius
1 Unit Ace High
I Am A Star has been fair in her first two starts back from a spell but strikes a very winnable one on Saturday. A Group 1 winner at the track and trip, the five-year-old strung together three wins in black type company in spring, including the Group 2 Let’s Elope here at Flemington. She was hard ridden before finishing sixth in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes two weeks ago but should have an easier time of it on Saturday from barrier 4.
1.5 Units I Am A Star