2008 Mackinnon Stakes – 1 November 2008

The Group 1 Crown Mackinnon Stakes over 2000 metres at Flemington carries prizemoney of $750,000, but just as importantly the winner is exempt from any ballot on the 2008 Melbourne Cup. It is a standard weight-for-age race and the favourite in the field is Princess Coup at $3.50. Following the scratching of Zagreb there will only be eleven runners.

Princess Coup is a New Zealand super mare. She has won the Kelt Capital over 2040 metres, which is New Zealands equivalent of the Cox Plate, two years in a row, and she was runner-up in the Mackinnon Stakes last year when Sirmione scored an upset win at long odds. She failed in the Cox Plate last week but the ride wasn’t the best, and she will be much better suited by the Flemington course than she was at Moonee Valley.

Princess Coup is trained in Matamata, which was also the home of the speckled grey mare Horlicks who won the Mackinnon in 1989 ahead of King’s High and Vo Rogue. She then went on to win the Japan Cup over 2400 metres.

Second favourite in the early markets is Littorio at $5, who will be running in the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday, and is one of the best local hopes. Many horses that run in the Mackinnon go on to do well in the Melbourne Cup.

Next in the betting is the Epsom winner Theseo at $5.50 followed by last years winner Sirmione at $6.50 and Red Ruler at $7. The others are all at double figures.

The grey gelding Barbaricus who ran third in the Caulfield Cup is at $14. He is currently 24th in order of entry for the Melbourne Cup but as whoever wins the SAAB Quality becomes exempt from the ballot he has to do well here to get a run in the Cup. He looks a genuine stayer having put together a string of impressive placings, so it would be nice to see him in the Melbourne Cup.

Bart Cummings has won the Mackinnon more times than any other trainer in history, and is the only trainer to have two runners in the field this year. These are Sirmione who won last year at 60 to 1, and Viewed. On their current form I wouldn’t pick either of them to be in the first three home, but having said that I felt the same way about Sirmione last year.

The racing at Flemington is superb this Saturday with a 10 race program of four Group 1, two Group 2, and four Group 3 races. Enjoy!

by Jo Jackson