3 minute read
South Australian mares Instant Celebrity and Ecumenical will be trying to capitalise on perfect barriers in the $300,000 Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Phillip Stokes' Instant Celebrity has drawn barrier five with Ben Allen booked to ride while Ecumenical jumps from barrier three for Murray Bridge horseman Mick Huxtable.
Instant Celebrity found herself a mile back in the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes when beaten just 2.25 lengths behind Turaath and Stokes said Saturday would ultimately define her spring.
"This is the fork in the road for her,'' Stokes said.
"We're very happy with her, she's third-up and drawn a good barrier.
"This race will tell us if she needs the mile now or we drop back to the sprint trips, but I'm very happy with her,'' he said.
Fellow SA mare Ecumenical returns to Melbourne on the back of a game effort behind Annavisto last time out and is marked a $19 chance with tab.com.au. Instant Celebrity is a $6.50 third favourite behind star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey ($4.20 favourite).
