Track: Slow-Heavy? Weather: Afternoon Rain

The early scratching’s of Mynumerouno & Athelric leaves a field of ten runners for the $200,000 Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes.  There are seven geldings and three colts in this years field and three of them had their last run in a three year old set weights and penalties race at Moonee Valley on September 24.  The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace and Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stables saddle up two runners each.

The early favourite in the betting is one of the Price/Kent runners, Profiteer.  The talented colt was heavily fancied in the Moir Stakes first up where he finished sixth after doing plenty of work in the run.  He drops back to his own age group for this second up assignment and is capable of sharp improvement.  Next in the betting is Minsk Moment.  He is unbeaten in his two trips to the races and was very impressive winning at Moonee Valley first up.

Extreme Choice scored easily in an Echuca maiden on resumption and the time he ran suggests he is right in the mix for this.  Port Louis strips fitter after finishing second behind Minsk Moment at Moonee Valley first up.  Jigsaw likes to make his own luck up on speed and will appreciate any rain that arrives prior to jump time.  Scissor Step was dominant winning a class 1 at Ballarat last start, while Prowling should of finished closer at Moonee Valley.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Profiteer

Talented colt who was dominant wining at his first two starts.  He resumed in the Moir against the older horses where he was well supported but tired after working outside lead in the run.  Strips fitter here second up.  One of the main chances.

2. Jigsaw

Saved from a race at Caulfield last Saturday to run here.  He likes to make his own luck up on speed and wasn’t beaten far in the Poseidon Stakes last start.  Each way claims.

3. Scissor Step

Son of Toronado trained by Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra at Flemington.  He lead and won a class 1 easily at Ballarat last start.  This is tougher.

4. Port Louis

One of the most talented maidens in the country.  He ran well in the Champagne Stakes and BRC Sires Produce Stakes earlier in the year.  No match for the winner Minsk Moment but ran well when second at Moonee Valley first up.  In the mix.

5. Mynumerouno – SCR

Has three wins and a third from his four starts.  He capitalised on the right run to win narrowly at the Valley last start.  Needs to go to another level if he is to feature here.

6. Ranveer

Winkers go on.  Ran well here first up over the 1000 when second behind General Beau, then only fair in the Danehill Stakes last time.  Ready to peak third up?

7. Athelric – SCR

Charged to the line at Moonee Valley over 1200 on September 4, then wasn’t beaten far out to 1400m last start.  Back to 1200m here and draws well.  Could be worth another chance.

8. Minsk Moment

Unbeaten colt trained by Chris Waller.  He was badly held up at the top of the straight first up but once the gap appeared burst through to win impressively.  Rates highly here.

9. Extreme Warrior

Ran second in the Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview here as a two year old.  Resumed from a wind operation at Echuca where he justified the short betting quote to win a maiden by 4.25 lengths.  Draws well here.  Capable of running a big race.

10. Prowling

Was impressive breaking his maiden at Cranbourne two starts ago,  then not much went right at Moonee Valley behind Minsk Moment but he still ran well considering.  Roughie with a chance.

11. Growl

Was competitive in a high rating Sandown maiden two back, then far too good at Ballarat last start when surging through a gap late.  Up sharply in grade here but has talent.

12. Cardinal Gem

Resumer from the Greame Begg stable.  He finished midfield at Flemington at his last start in the July.  This looks a big throw at the stumps first up.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
1. Profiteer	8. Minsk Moment
8. Minsk Moment	1. Profiteer
9. Extreme Warrior	10. Prowling
2. Jigsaw	6. Ranveer

Group 1 Thousand Guineas 2021 (Caulfield 1600m)

Group 3 Coongy Cup 2021 (Caulfield 2000m)

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	9 Extreme Warrior
2nd	1 Profiteer	3.75 lengths
3rd	8 Minsk Moment	7 lengths
4th	3 Scissor Step	7.5 lengths

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings: 2. Jigsaw, 5. Mynumerouno, 7. Athelric.