2008 Bletchingly Stakes – 2 August 2008

The Group 3 $100,000 Bletchingly Stakes over 1200 metres at Caulfield is a standard weight-for age race and has only attracted nine starters this year.

Last year the race was won by the mighty sprinter Apache Cat with Haradasun running second. Of the nine starters in this years race five of them ran in the Monash Stakes two weeks ago where the first four were Tesbury Jack , Red Arrow, Lucky Diva and Cargo Cult, while Lady Phoebe came sixth.

The first four meet again on exactly the same weight terms while Lady Phoebe will carry 1 kg more. Tesbury Jack won with authority so it is no surprise that he is odds-on favourite in the early betting market.

If Tesbury Jack does win he is likely to contest the Liston Stakes and run against Weekend Hussler and the unbeaten Light Fantastic. Cargo Cult didn’t get a clear run to the line and was mentioned in the stewards report, so he may be able to improve on last start.

Commanding Hope has been showing great consistency although he has been racing in weaker grades and the mare Sensational Toy ran well at her last start and is a rough hope here. Wordsmith is returning from a very long break due to injury and would be in this if he can find his three-year-old form.

by Jo Jackson

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