There are four Group 1 races on the program at Flemington this weekend for Derby Day including the Kennedy Cantala over 1600m.
The race was previously run on the final day of the Flemington Carnival and has been won by some very good horses including Vain, Gunsynd, Better Loosen Up and Shaftesbury Avenue.
A quality field of sprinter/milers has accepted for the race and our full 2021 Kennedy Cantala Preview can be read below.
Zoutori
Zoutori has an excellent record at Flemington including taking out the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap earlier this year.
Most of his best racing has been over the sprinting distances ta headquarters but he does have a win to his name over 1600m.
He has always been a very consistent performer and he is one of the more interesting runners in the Kennedy Cantala this year.
He has both a wide barrier and big weight to contend with.
Cascadian
The 2021 Doncaster Mile winner has been excellent in all four of his runs this prep without winning and he should be ready to peak now.
This is his third attempt at winning this race in three years, finishing within 0.2 lengths of the winner in the past two years.
He actually comes into this race in better form this spring then the last two and he represents good value at his current price.
Superstorm
Superstorm was not seen at the races for almost an entire year leading into his first up assignment in the P.B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield where he finished fourth, beaten 1.5 lengths.
He narrowly defeated Elephant at The Valley at Group 2 level before placing in two subsequent runs in Group 1 races.
The son of Sebring has been unplaced just once from six career starts over 1600m and he looks really well placed in this race at this stage of his prep.
The double figures looks a good each way bet.
Riodini
Riodini went within a whisper of winning his first stakes race when narrowly defeated by Think It Over in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at Royal Randwick earlier this prep.
He backed that effort up with another runner up finish behind Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 George Main Stakes before being well beaten last start in the Epsom Handicap.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained gelding is extremely tough and if Rachel King can control the pace out in front, he is every chance.
This is a high quality Group 1 and I therefor think he is well under the odds at his current price.
Buffalo River
Buffalo River brings in winning form after taking out the Group 3 Moonga Stakes at Caulfield last start.
Six of his seven career wins have all been on rain affected tracks and he certainly seems to grow a leg with a down pour.
He’s had three goes at Group 1 level for just the one placings and I have doubts whether he has the class to win a race of this quality.
Aramayo
Aramayo has competed in top quality races all throughout his racing career and he went within a head of claiming his maiden Group 1 victory in the Epsom Handicap last start at Royal Randwick.
The now six year old gelding has been placed in all three of his runs so far this prep but he is yet to win from four attempts at Flemington during his career.
He is capable of producing a rating high enough to win this event but he looks very skinny in the market.
Icebath
Icebath has now amassed $3.4 million in prize money after taking out The Invitation at Royal Randwick last start.
This is an incredible feat for the five year old mare considering she has never won a stakes race and has just four wins to her name from 25 career starts.
Connections decided to avoid the Empire Rose Stakes against her own sex over the same distance as she gets in well at the weights and she is one of the leading chances.
Her chances only increase with any rain.
Lunar Fox
The 2021 Australian Guineas winner Lunar Fox is yet to win a race since he took out that Group 1 race at triple figure odds.
That was his only start at this track and distance but he would need to improve to be any chance in a race of this quality.
Kahma Lass
Khama Lass brings winning form in the Group 1 Kennedy Cantala, winning the Listed Weekend Hussler last time out where she beat home Buffalo River.
She would need to perform a personal best rating to be considered in this race and I’m unsure whether she has the class to do so against some of the best milers in the country.
Quantum Mechanic
Quantum Mechanic has been a very consistent performer in recent times having placed in 13 of her last 16 race starts.
The majority of her racing has been against her own sex however she got to within two lengths of the winner I’m Thunderstruck in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap last time out.
She isn’t the roughest and I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran a bit of a race.
Chaillot
Chaillot finished within a length of Shout The Bar in the 2020 Empire Rose Stakes and is another that avoids the mares in that race this year and gets in well at the weights.
She returned from a long lay off with an impressive with in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes at Sandown first up where she stormed home from near last on the turn.
The now five year old mare has won five of nine career starts and is being asked to carry just 52kg in this event.
One of the leading chances.
Just Folk
Just Folk couldn’t have been much more impressive when winning the Group 2 Crystal Mile at The Valley leading into this event.
He is one of the most progressive horses in this field but a race of this quality may be beyond him at this stage in his career.
Romancer
Romancer was well beaten in the Crystal Mile last start and would need to improve dramtically to feature in this race.
Mr Brightside
Mr Brightside is the early favourite in the 2021 Kennedy Cantala having won his last six races in a row.
This includes a dominant win in the Listed Seymour Cup last start where he put the field away in a few strides.
Craig Williams will steer from barrier six and the four year old gelding is being asked to carry just 52kg.
This is clearly his toughest test to date and he will need to go to another level in order to win.
I can’t have him as short as his current quote but he’s in this up to his eye balls.
King Magnus
King Magnus is another that has been very consistent of late having placed in six of his last seven including a second in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes at Caulfield last start.
will need to improve and the $31 looks about the right price.
Flash Aah
Queenslander Flash Aah was beaten just over two lengths in the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba two back before finishing well back behind Apache Chase last start.
That form is not good enough to be winning a Group 1 Kennedy Cantala on Victoria Derby Day.