Memsie Stakes – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a field of 15 runners for the $750,000 Memsie Stakes and six of them had their last start in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes on 15 August. Six runners are returning from a break and the other three have had  a Group 3 or Listed race start since resuming. The early favourite is Behemoth who won the Group 3 Spring Stakes in Adelaide last start. Second favourite is Savatiano who won the PB Lawrence Stakes last start and was won two from two at Caulfield. Third favourite is Arcadia Queen who resumed after 41 weeks for 5th in the PB Lawrence and will be better for that run.

Cascadian was 4th in the PB Lawrence and will be fitter for the run, while Mystic Journey ran 6th in that race when resuming and has an excellent second-up record. Three-yer-old Glenfiddich finished a close 2nd in  the Group 1 Champagne Stakes before a 19 week break and could go well. Regal Power was 9th in the P B Lawrence Stakes when resuming, while Begood Toya Mother finished 4th in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes first-up.  All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

1. Regal Power

This Pierro gelding only finished 9th when resuming in the PB Lawrence Stakes, but generally needs a run and improves second-up. He won the Group 1 Railway Stakes last November and also won the All Star Mile at Caulfield back in March. He could run a place.

2. Harlem

At nine-years-old he is the oldest horse in the race and resumes from a 23 week spell. His last win was the 2019 Australian Cup but he did finish 4th, just behind the placegetters, when he resumed in the Group 3 TS Carlyon Cup last campaign. Probably needs a run or two.

3. Gatting

Has changed trainers from Darren McAuliffe to P G Moody. He has been racing at Group level in Perth and won the 2009 Makybe Diva Stakes. He is first-up from an 11 week let-up without a trial. Prefer to watch him go around.

4. So Si Bon

He was 2nd in this race last year behind Scales of Justice and has raced at Group 1 level 19 times but hasn’t quite managed to win one yet. He resumed for 2.1 lengths 4th in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap two weeks ago and place prospects look best.

5. Streets of Avalon

His 2nd place in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes when resuming was promising, but then he was well beaten in the PB Lawrence last start. This is his favourite distance but he has drawn the widest barrier so I don’t expect to see him in the winners stall.

6. Mr Quickie

Resuming after 19 weeks he is probably aiming for longer races later in the Spring and will probably get better as he steps up in distance.

7. Behemoth

Won the Group 3 Spring Stakes in Adelaide last start when resuming and won it in a style that suggest he is going to win more races in the near future. He is nicely drawn in barrier 2, has Craig Williams in the saddle and looks to be one of the main chances.

8. Iconoclasm

He has 10 wins from 28 starts but none of them are at Group level and he resumes here. May be aiming too high first-up from a spell.

9. Cascadian

His 4th in the PB Lawrence Stakes when resuming was a good run from the widest barrier. Two of his 5 wins have been over this distance and he is capable of making his presence felt.

10. Begood Toya Mother

Great name and great horse with 8 wins from 17 starts. He won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in stylish fashion last September, and his last start 4th in the Regal Roller Stakes after 23 weeks suggested he needed a bit more than the 1200m of that race. Should go well and put him in your exotics.

11. Mystic Journey

With 11 wins from 19 starts, this mare clearly has lots of talent. She was always wide when she resumed for 8th in the PB Lawrence  last start, and she has a near-perfect second-up record. She will go well.

12. Arcadia Queen

This mare has won 6 of her 10 starts, and four of those wins were at Group level. She finished the race off nicely when she resumed for 5th in the PB Lawrence and has to been regarded as one of the main chances.

13. Savatiano

She has great first-up statistics and didn’t disappoint this time in when she won the PB Lawrence stakes first-up, She holds her form second-up and has raced over 1400m at Caulfield twice before for two wins. One of the main chances she should be fighting out the finish

14. Princess Jenni

In the spring she won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, but she resumes here and has never won first-up. Not the worst.

15. Glenfiddich

The only three-year-old in the race, this colt has 6.5kg to 8.5 kg less to carry than any other runner. His only win in 9 races was the Mornington Sires’ but he did run a close 2nd in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick in April, just before spelling. A forward showing wouldn’t surprise.

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

Jo’s Tips
13 Savatiano
7 Behemoth
10 Begood Toya Mother
12 Arcadia Queen

Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes 2020 (Caulfield 1200m)

Group 3 The Heath 1100 2020 (Caulfield 1100m)

Group 3 W W Cockram Stakes 2020 (Caulfield 1200m)

Listed Heatherlie Handicap 2020 (Caulfield 1700m)

Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap 2020 (Rosehill 1400m)

Group 3 Premier’s Cup 2020 (Rosehill 1900m)

Group 3 San Domenico Stakes 2020 (Rosehill 1100m)

Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes 2020 (Morphettville Parks 1400m)

Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes 2020 (Belmont 1300m)

The track was rated as Good 4

Scratchings were 12. Arcadia Queen, 13. Savatiano.

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	7. Behemoth
2nd	6, Mr Quickie	1.5 lengths
3rd	15. Glenfiddich	2.25 lengths
4th	9. Cascadian	2.35 lengths