3 minute read
Group 1 action kicks off this Saturday at Caulfield in Victoria for the season 2020/21.
Group 1 action kicks off on Moët & Chandon Memsie Stakes Day this Saturday as Caulfield plays host to the first elite level contest of season 2020/21 in Victoria, the Magic Millions Memsie Stakes (1400m).
The $750,000 feature boasts nine individual Group 1 winners, with runners engaged from stables right across the country. Grant and Alana Williams line up The All-Star Mile winner Regal Power alongside star mare Arcadia Queen, the Western Australian duo saddle up five runners across the program in the famous cerise and white colours of leviathan owner Bob Peters.
Tasmanian heroine Mystic Journey takes her place in the Memsie, as does Futurity Stakes winner Streets Of Avalon, Princess Jenni and Begood Toya Mother. Neds' two market leaders are each chasing maiden Group 1 titles; South Australian star Behemoth ($4) and P.B. Lawrence victor Savatiano ($4.80).
Peter Moody will launch a two-pronged attack on the Memsie through Gatting and three-year-old Glenfiddich as he chases his first Group 1 title since returning to the training ranks earlier this year.
The undercard is bursting with quality, with 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes hero Tagaloa making his highly anticipated return in the Group 3 H.D.F McNeil Stakes (1200m) as his trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young plot a path toward the $2 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10.
The Group 3 Neds Heath 1100 Stakes (1100m) will see The All-Star Mile runner-up Superstorm resume against a brilliant field of speedsters including local starlet Diamond Effort, South Australian pair Garner and Bold Star, 2019 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre and John McArdle's star mare Humma Humma.
And punters face a tough decision in the final event, the Group 3 Moët & Chandon Cockram Stakes (1200m), between Western Australian Perfect Jewel and brilliant mare Rubisaki. For years punters have trusted Perfect Jewel's jockey William Pike with their final bets of the day over in Perth, although Rubisaki's six-race winning streak has been met with as much adoration by racing tragics nationwide.
The Club is also naming a race after two members this week, with race 3 this year named the Allan & Helen Angus Handicap. As part of a new initiative for spring, and to reinforce the MRC's appreciation for its loyal members, Allan and Helen's names were randomly selected) from those who have voluntarily renewed their membership this season.
Coinciding with the official start of Victoria's Spring Racing season and Moët & Chandon Memsie Stakes Day, MRC Super Boxes will become available to the public (as well as MRC members) to enjoy across MRC's Saturday features in Spring, each with a unique menu and theme.
This Saturday's Moët & Chandon Super Boxes come in three varieties and feature a selection of gourmet savoury and sweet grazing items, Moët & Chandon champagne and goblets or sippers to create the perfect #moëtmoment at home. With inclusions such as crispy pork bao buns, champagne poached chicken sandwiches, prawn sliders and orange blossom panna cotta with champagne jelly, fans won't need to miss a second of the racing action preparing their race day feast.
After an impressive 910 entrants on P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day, the MRC Members Tipstar competition is back this Saturday with registrations open. Free to join and play, members are awarded fantasy $1 each way bets to place on one horse per race for the card. This competition will run across all Caulfield meetings during spring with winners announced weekly.
Moët & Chandon Memsie Stakes Day takes place on Saturday 29 August at Caulfield Racecourse. The first race begins at 11:45am and will be broadcast on Seven and Racing.com.
The 2020 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Carnival begins with Neds Caulfield Guineas Day (Saturday 10 October), Catanach's Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes Day (Wednesday 14 October) and Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Day (Saturday 17 October).
