The 2021 All-Star Mile is almost upon us.
This year the meeting heads to The Valley with a stacked card on the agenda, including the $5 million All-Star Mile and the Group 2 Alister Clark.
Rain is forecast in Melbourne so we re hoping the track isn t too affected, but it is rated a Good 4 as of Saturday morning.
RACE 1 - Grand Handicap Classic BM80 (2500m)
Rising Archie (9) gets a nice weight swing on
Aurora’s Symphony (4) following their close Sandown encounter and is drawn well. Good each-way chance.
Playoffs (5) should be fitter after running fourth at this track/distance two weeks ago. Is likely to get a better run from the draw.
The Australian Derby will be Grandslam’s next target after jockey Jamie Kah produced another masterclass in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes.
Kah’s terrific frontrunning ride gave Grandslam’s rivals no chance of running him down from the 600m before the brother to Caulfield Cup winner Jameka strode to a 6-1/4 length win.
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace booked Kah with the aim of sending Grandslam forward after the three-year-old was well held after racing back in the field from wide barriers at his previous two runs.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Grandslam’s win was a contrast to the last time he led in the Cox Plate, in which he wilted under pressure to finish last behind Sir Dragonet.
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Group 1 Australian Guineas day at Flemington produced more than one unexpected result and while on occasion it left punters scratching their heads, so too connections of beaten runners.
A $301 winner of the feature race meant there was plenty of fallout from the Guineas itself and the stewards were busy, suspending two leading jockeys for careless riding. Read all the information and fallout from a big news day.
PLATOON (3rd)
Jockey Brad Parnham: “It was a great run, the pace backed off and then they quickened at the 600m and when that happened he was left flat footed, but really built to the line. He wants more ground than 1400m so he was good.”