Melbourne looks set to rival Sydney on stars this weekend, with many famous names at Caulfield to race. The Group 2 1400m Memsie Stakes has most of these stars, including last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Viewed and Cox Plate winner El Segundo.
The Memsie Stakes is traditionally a warm-up race for horses that are really looking further ahead in the Spring Carnival. Last year’s winner was Weekend Hussler, and other winners include Miss Finland, Sunline and Makybe Diva, who went on to win her third Melbourne Cup later on that year.
Typhoon Tracy is one of the babies of the race. The Coolmore Classic winner, who came third in the J.J Liston Stakes a few weeks ago, is no stranger to challenge. But it will be interesting to see how she copes with this race.
I like experienced racer Orange County. Although he has not won since September last year, he has done well in recent races, including the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, he is a tough runner and should be near to his best racing, unlike those coming straight off a spell.
El Segundo is out for revenge. He hopes to beat Mic Mac, the four year old who beat him earlier this month in the Aurie’s Star Handicap. He will prefer the weight-for-age system of the Memsie Stakes, and is a big chance to join Sir Boom and Sunline as the only horses to have won two Memsie Stakes.
Fiumicino looks a good horse, but I think he is better suited to longer distance races. He has raced 1400m five times, and only managed one place. Like so many others, Efficent has not raced well since his last win. He has not even managed a place since the 2007 Melbourne Cup, so hopefully he can get a good result here.
El Segundo and Orange County are my first two picks, because they both run well over this distance and have much-needed experience. I also like Whobegotyou and the old warhorse Valedictum and is worth an each-way bet.
For the latest odds for this great race checkout Sportsbet’s Racing Section, where they give you a $50 free bet just for making an account!
My Tips:
El Segundo
Orange County
Whobegotyou
Valedictum
