The Group 1 Memsie Stakes headlines Saturday’s nine-race card at Caulfield, and there is a case to be made for almost three-quarters of this year’s field.
Last-start Stradbroke Handicap winner Alligator Blood is currently jostling for favouritism alongside West Australian superstar, Western Empire, while the likes of I’m Thunderstruck, Tofane, and All-Aged Stakes winner Cascadian all have serious claims.
With $1 million in prize-money on offer, several will also have their sights set on a higher pay day in the sixth edition of The Everest later in October.
For our thoughts on every runner in this year’s Memsie Stakes field, read on below.
1. I’m Thunderstruck (9)
- · Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Toorak Handicap)
- · Record: 14-6:2:2
- · Distance: 6:1-0-2
- · Trainer: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr
- · Jockey: Mark Zahra
- · Odds: $8.50
Worked home well first-up in the C.F. Orr Stakes over the track and distance during the autumn before going on to run second to Zaaki in the All-Star Mile. Failed to finish off over the final 200m in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but there were genuine excuses given the state of the track. Has enjoyed a similar preparation to stablemate Illation and will no doubt appreciate a genuine tempo. The stable will have him forward for this, and although the gate is of slight concern, it’s nothing Mark Zahra can handle.
2. Cascadian (7)
- · Group 1’s: 2 (2021 Doncaster Mile, 2022 All Aged Stakes)
- · Record: 38-8:5:6
- · Distance: 12:3-1-3
- · Trainer: James Cummings
- · Jockey: Blake Shinn
- · Odds: $7.50
Godolphin are chasing back-to-back Group 1’s following Anamoe’s success in last week’s Winx Stakes. James Cummings chose to bypass that race with Cascadian, instead opting for the 1400m at Caulfield – the same launchpad that kicked off his autumn campaign. The talented eight-year-old resumed to run a place in the Orr before wrapping up a successful prep with a win in the All-Aged Stakes. Recent form suggests he might need the run, but barrier 7 should afford Blake Shinn the opportunity to get back and save his best for late. A recent trial behind Anamoe reads well and any rain about would be a plus.
3. Alligator Blood (1)
- · Group 1’s: 2 (2020 Australian Guineas, 2022 Stradbroke Handicap)
- · Record: 20-10:3:1
- · Distance: 3:1-1-0
- · Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
- · Jockey: Damien Oliver
- · Odds: $6.00
Alligator Blood has been cleared to race in Victoria, now setting his sights on a third Group 1. The Waterhouse and Bott-trained six-year-old enjoyed a brief but successful winter, resuming to run a nose second in the BRC Sprint before rediscovering his turn of foot to claim the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm. He’s drawn to get the gun run on the inside rail, but the stable has already admitted he might be in need of the run. A soft track would be to his advantage, but I’m happy to bet around him following a disrupted leadup.
4. Nonconformist (4)
- · Record: 19-5:4:4
- · Distance: 3:0-0-2
- · Trainer: Grahame Begg
- · Jockey: Jordan Childs
- · Odds: $41.00
First-up after a lengthy spell. Placed in both the Caulfield Stakes and the Cup to close out the spring and was an impressive winner of a recent Cranbourne trial. Tends to take a few races to warm up though and is likely looking for further.
5. Western Empire (12)
- · Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Railway Stakes)
- · Record: 13-7:2:3
- · Distance: 3:1-1-1
- · Trainer: Danny O’Brien
- · Jockey: Damian Lane
- · Odds: $6.00
Making his Melbourne debut in what is also his first start for Danny O’Brien. One of the stars of the Ascot Carnival over the summer, winning the Asian Beau first-up before going on to claim the Railway by nearly four lengths. Denied a hat-trick in the Kingston Town but tends to run a good race fresh. Damian Lane has stuck with him at trackwork, but he does have some work to do from a tricky barrier. Obvious talent but just might need the run following a lengthy spell.
6. Callsign Mav (14)
- · Record: 23-7:7:2
- · Distance: 9:4-4-0
- · Trainer: Danny O’Brien
- · Jockey: Jamie Mott
- · Odds: $26.00
Three-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand that has mixed his form so far in Australia. Ran a good race fresh in the Carlyon Cup over the mile here back in February but was no match in the Australian Cup and the All-Star Mile.
7. Elephant (11)
- · Record: 11-6:1:1
- · Distance: 5:3-0-0
- · Trainer: Emma-Lee and David Browne
- · Jockey: Daniel Moor
- · Odds: $51.00
First-up winner over this track and distance this time last year but struggled at this level in the Toorak Handicap during the spring. Settled back and never really made up ground in the P.B Lawrence Stakes two weeks ago and needs to improve significantly to be any threat.
8. Zeyrek (8)
- · Record: 14-3:2:1
- · Distance: 2:0-0-0
- · Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- · Jockey: Damien Thornton
- · Odds: $71.00
Honest type that could be a horse to follow heading towards the Caulfield Cup. Fourth in The Metropolitan during the spring and enjoyed a successful autumn that included a win in a Stakes race at Randwick. Recent trials have been good but he’s looking for much further.
9. Dragon Leap (2)
- · Record: 10-3:2:1
- · Distance: 4:1-0-1
- · Trainer: Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott
- · Jockey: Michael Dee
- · Odds: $26.00
New Zealand import making his return to Australia. Hasn’t won a race in over two years but he did win his maiden on debut over this trip. Showed improvement when runner-up over shorter a couple of weeks ago but still looks outclassed here.
10. Lightsaber (6)
- · Record: 13-4:2:0
- · Distance: 5:3-0-0
- · Trainer: Peter Moody
- · Jockey: Luke Nolen
- · Odds: $41.00
Doesn’t win out of turn but his form over the last 12 months suggests he’s capable of running a race at big odds. Strong to the line in last year’s Caulfield Guineas and chased home well to finish runner-up to Hitotsu in the Australian Guineas, which is good form. Recent trial behind Passive Aggressive was good and he should make his own luck on speed. Just tends to need a run or two to warm up.
11. Illation (13)
- · Record: 3-3:0:0
- · Distance: 2:2-0-0
- · Trainer: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr
- · Jockey: Jamie Kah
- · Odds: $6.50
Unbeaten four-year-old that put the writing on the wall when winning by 4.5L at Pakenham on debut. Ventured to Morphettville where he was just as dominant in a Stakes race and the Adelaide Guineas, and although this is a tougher assignment, his recent jump-outs command respect. Not sure how he’ll go on a genuinely heavy track from a tricky draw, but if he can shuffle across early under Jamie Kah, look out.
12. Tofane (3)
- · Group 1’s: 4 (2020 All Aged Stakes, 2021 Stradbroke Handicap, Tatts Tiara, 2022 C.F. Orr Stakes)
- · Record: 30-8:5:4
- · Distance: 8:4-2-2
- · Trainer: Michael Moroney
- · Jockey: Jye McNeil
- · Odds: $7.50
First-up winner over this track and distance in the C.F. Orr Stakes last prep. Probably deserved to claim a fifth Group 1 last time out in the All-Aged Stakes where she did plenty of work out wide before being gunned down late by Cascadian. Draws perfectly in barrier 3, loves rain-affected tracks, and flies first-up. Plenty to like.
13. Duais (10)
- Group 1’s: 3 (2021 QLD Oaks, 2022 Australian Cup, Tancred Stakes)
- Record: 19-7:4:1
- Distance: 2:0-0-0
- Trainer: Edward Cummings
- Jockey: Josh Parr
- Odds: $21.00
Scratched from last week’s Winx Stakes in favour of this. One of the stars of the autumn, but it looks like she’s got her sights set on bigger races (and further distances) than this. Nominated for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup, so I’m not sure how ready she’ll be for this. Does race well fresh though, and a rain-affected track will be to her liking. Worth a look each-way.
14. Snapdancer (5)
- · Group 1’s: 1 (2022 Robert Sangster Stakes)
- · Record: 119-6:5:2
- · Distance: 5:0-2-0
- · Trainer: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
- · Jockey: Ethan Brown
- · Odds: $9.50
Impressive winner of the Sangster at Morphettville and she tends to do some of her best racing first-up. A wet track should be to her liking and she should have no trouble finding the front from barrier 5. Whether 1400m fresh is a little too sharp remains the big query.