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First season sires hold a strong hand in Saturday's Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown.

First season sires hold a strong hand in Saturday's Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed) at Sandown with five of the 16 runners being by first season sires. They include River Twain, by Vinery Stud's Headwater, Dubai Star who is by Coolmore's Pride Of Dubai and Real Feeling, a daughter of the Arrowfield Stud shuttler Real Impact. 

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained favourite Tagaloa, a son of Lord Kanaloa, is however not a certain starter in the race with Busuttin considering a race at Moonee Valley at the end of the month. A $300,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Tagaloa finished third on debut in the Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3) at Flemington earlier this month behind Hard Landing (All Too Hard), beaten just over two lengths.