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Some have already been seen here and others are having their day having failed to make it into the Cup field or similar. The track should be a perfect 4.
Starting off with Race 4 the Chatham Stakes where there's the American bred Spectroscope, Godolphin owned now with James Cummings who started his racing life in France with Andre Fabre. He was transferred from Fabre to John O'Shea early 2017. In France he was running more over 1600m-2000m whereas since he's been in Australia it has been mostly 1400m or thereabouts. He's by Medaglia d'Oro out of a Rock of Gibraltar mare and with William Buick taking the ride is certainly worth a bit of e/w.
The Sprint Classic G1 is over the 1200m or the "straight six". Japanese bred Brave Smash is well known by now and it has been announced this week that he will go to stud in Australia so this may be his last race.Craig Williams has been booked for the ride.
Jungle Cat x Ifraaj has been one of the UK's top sprinters and the Appleby-Buick team are having a fantastic year. This is his first go down a straight 6 but he looked forward enough in the Rupert Clarke to be worth more than the 11.00 currently on show.
Then we have the four Aidan O'Brien trained sons of War Front - Spirit of Valor, Intelligence Cross, US Navy Flag and Fleet Review. Of these Spirit of Valor has ran two good seconds here and Waye Lordan rode a winner on Oaks Day. 9.50. US Navy Flag hated the ground in the Everest and did not get the best of rides and then was never a factor in the Manikato - he's better than those runs showed so hopefully third time luucky this prep. Ryan Moore rides and 11.00 could be value.
The Mackinnon is G1 WFA over 2000m and has a field of 10. There are two Internationals here - Blair House Godolphin Appleby-Buick was excellent in the Caulfield Stakes running a close second to Benbatl. Favourite here on 2.25.
Latrobe is trained by Joseph O'Brien and will be ridden by Mark Zahra and is owned by Lloyd Williams. He won the Irish Derby but in all honesty didn't beat that much, and then was second in the Irish St Leger. He's by Camelot and have to confess we don't find him convincing but then he has been aimed at this so should probably be kept safe.
