Gilgai Stakes – 2021

Track: Good-Slow Weather: Shower or two

There are eight remaining in the field for the $300,000 Gilgai Stakes after the early scratching of Lost And Running.  Three had their last start here in the Bobbie Lewis three weeks ago and Kevin Corstens saddles up two runners.  The early favourite in the betting is last years winner Zoutori.  The six year old gelding  resumed with a fourth in the Bobbie Lewis and meets many key rivals better at the weights.  Next in the betting is Away Game.  She has finished in the placings at her last four starts and looks set to run well again here.

Kemalpasa has two wins from three goes at the track and distance and finished third in this race last year.  Splintex won the Bobbie Lewis and gets Brett Prebble in the saddle for this assignment due to Craig Williams being suspended.  Kementari is a Group 1 winner, while Bons Abroad ran out of room late in the How Now Stakes first up.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Zoutori

Track and distance specialist who won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap second up here in March.  Also won this race last year.  He hit the line well first up in the Bobbie Lewis and is capable of settling closer to the speed here.  Rates highly.

2. Splintex

Has seven wins from twenty starts.  Normally an on pacer but sat off them in the Bobbie Lewis and that proved a winning formula.  Up in weight here but is going well and can figure again.

3. Kemalpasa

South Australian gelding who loves the Flemington straight.  He ran third in this race last year before going onto win the Linlithgow on Derby day.  Returned with a good second in Adelaide and gets Damian Lane for this.  Go well.

4. Kementari

Resumes off a second placing in the Wayne Wilson at Eagle Farm in June.   He has won one of eight first up and has struggled at Flemington in the past.  Place chance at best.

5. Lost And Running – SCR

6. Away Game

Very consistent mare trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.  She finished second at Caulfield off a wide run on August 14, then beat all bar Splintex home in the Bobbie Lewis.  She is another who has more weight to carry here but she is flying!

7. Vulpine

Likes to roll forward and make her luck up on speed.  She has started big odds at her last two runs and weakened out.  Prefer others.

8. Bons Abroad

Travelled into the race nicely before the gap closed first up in the How Now Stakes.  She won her only previous start here in May and goes well for Teo Nugent.  Place claims.

9. Ruby Street

Lightly raced five year old mare who returned with an excellent win here in a benchmark 70 on September 22.  Takes a big step up in class but it wouldn’t shock to see her run a race.  Consider for multiples.

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

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
1. Zoutori	1. Zoutori
6. Away Game	6. Away Game
3. Kemalpasa	3. Kemalpasa
2. Splintex	2. Splintex

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	4. Kementari
2nd	1. Zoutori	0.1 length
3rd	3. Kemalpasa	0.3 length
4th	2. Splintex	1.05 lengths

The track was rated as Soft 6.

Scratchings: 5. Lost And Running