Expressway Stakes – 2021

Track: Soft   Weather: Rainy

A field of nine accepted for the $200,000 Expressway Stakes but with the early scratching of Southern Lad, only eight will start. All of them are having their first-up run for the campaign with one three-year-old, three four-year-olds, two five-year-olds and two six-year-olds. There is one colt, one horse. two geldings and four mares. Trainers Chris Waller and James Cummings have two runners each. The track is likely to be soft or even heavy.

The early favourite is Savatiano who has won five from eight first-up runs and is already the winner of four Group 2 races. Second favourite is three-year-old colt Ole Kirk who finished last campaign with a win in the Group 1 Golden Rose then the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Third favourite is Star of the Seas who also goes well first-up and likes this track – last campaign he was a very close 2nd to Verry Elleegant first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes.

Standout is a lightly-raced four-year-old who has won two from three first-up races and won this race in 2020. Flit beat Alligator Blood in the Silver Eagle last campaign. Mizzy won three in a row at the start of her spring campaign, including the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes and Group 2 Golden Pendant, both at this track. Kolding has won $5.9 million in prizemoney, mainly due to being the winner of the 2019 Golden Eagle, but his best distance is 1600m, while Emeralds ran 2nd in the Golden Pendant before winning the Group 3 Angst Stakes last campaign.

1. Kolding

This five-year-old gelding from the Chris Waller stable has won 10 of his 25 starts and has won $5.9 million in prizemoney, mainly due to being the winner of the 2019 Golden Eagle. His wins include a Group 1 Epsom Handicap and a Group 1 George Main Stakes so his best distance is 1600m and I wouldn’t expect him to win here, and he usually takes a run or two to show his best.

2. Star Of The Seas

This six-year-old from the Chris Waller stable is by the same sire as Kolding (Ocean Park). He is a talented galloper with four Group 1 places to his credit. He goes well first-up and likes this track – last campaign he was a very close 2nd to Verry Elleegant first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. He has excellent wet track form and his chances will increase the more it rains.

3. Standout

Last year he won this race at his 5th race start giving him four wins from five starts at the time. This lightly-raced four-year-old now has four wins and two places from 11 starts, and has won two from three first-up races. He is not going as well this year and has no wet track form.

4. Southern Lad –  SCRATCHED

5. Savatiano

This six-year-old Street Cry mare trained by James Cummings has won five from eight first-up runs and is already the winner of four Group 2 races. She won the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m first-up last campaign on a soft track, She is another runner who can handle the wet.

6. Flit

Another James Cummings trained-mare, this four-year-old beat Alligator Blood in the Silver Eagle last campaign. She has four wins from 1200m to 1600m and is capable of surprising.

7. Mizzy

This five-year-old Zoustar mare won three in a row at the start of her spring campaign, including the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes and Group 2 Golden Pendant, both at this track. She has won her latest two trials.

8. Emeralds

Trained by John Sargent, this four-year-old Sebring mare ran 2nd in the Golden Pendant before winning the Group 3 Angst Stakes last campaign. She has mainly raced against her own sex and this looks too tough for her.

9. Ole Kirk

This three-year-old colt trained by Team Hawkes finished last campaign with a win in the Group 1 Golden Rose then the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. He has three wins and four places from eight starts and at the only start he wasn’t in the trifecta he finished 1.9 lengths 4th in the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce. This race was won by a three-year-old last year, so it would be no surprise to see him in the finish.

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

Jo’s Tips
5 Savatiano
9 Ole Kirk
2 Star Of The Seas
3 Standout

Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes 2021 (Caulfield 1000m)

Group 3 Manfred Stakes 2021 (Caulfield 1200m)