Missile Stakes – 2020

Track: Soft   Weather: Showers

There is a field of 13 runners for the $200,000 Group 2 Missile Stakes and nine of them are having their first run from a spell. Two of them are second-up after a run in the July Sprint over 1100m at Rosehill on 25 July while the other two have raced through the winter. Three of the runners are trained by Chris Waller, three by James Cummings who trained last years winner, and two by P & P Sn0wden. The early favourite is Melody Belle who resumes here from a 17 week spell  and goes well first-up. She has won 15 of her 30 starts. Second favourite is Eduardo who has had one run from a spell for a win in the July Stakes. Third favourite is Flit who is resuming, was placed in a Hawkesbury trial recently, and has a great record at this distance.

Savatiano resumes after 14 weeks, won a recent trial and has won 4 of 7 first-up. Special Reward has a terrific record of 8 wins from 14 starts, with 6 of them at this distance. Le Romain has placed twice in this race before and looks ready to go after two excellent trials. Kolding resumes after 17 weeks and goes best over further and Cascadian is also resuming and best over longer Mister Sea Wolf goes well first-up. The other runners are currently 30 to 1 or longer.

1. Kolding

His best distance is over 1500-1600m but he has won one of four first-up runs. He resumes from a 17 week spell and has had two lead-up trials where he finished 6 lengths 5th and 5.2 lengths 5th. I’m not expecting him to be in the finish.

2. Mister Sea Wolf

He is the oldest horse in the race but still races well and placed in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes back in March. Recently he has had two lead-up trials but is best over further and will probably zoom home too late.

3. Imaging

This UK import has had  4 starts in Australia and his only win was over 1500m at this track in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes. He has a good record on rain-affected going but will find this too short.

4. Melody Belle

She has won 10 Group 1 races and is a marvellous mare returning after a 17 week break. Her first-up statistics are 3 wins and 3 places from 7 first-up runs, and she won a 850m Kensington trial on 31 July showing she is ready to go. I expect her to win.

5. Flit

This mare is the most lighly raced runner but already has a Group 1 race on her resume with the 2019 Thousand Guineas. She also won the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes back In February. Normally she comes to hand quickly and was a close 2nd on a Hawkesbury trial in July. She should go well and i expect her to be in the finish.

6. Cascadian

He has a good strike rate with 5 wins and 5 places from 16 starts and has 2 wins and a place from 4 first-up runs. He will come to hand quickly and is not without a chance here.

7. Special Reward

With an impressive record of 8 wins and 2 places from 14 starts, he clearly has to be considered a chance. At the end of last campaign he won the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes then the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket. He has won 3 from 3 in the wet and has had three trials to get him ready for this. One of the main chances and a must for any multiples.

8. Hightail  – SCRATCHED

9. Le Romain

Last year he ran 3rd in this race and in 2017 he finished 2nd in this race behind Invincible Gem (who finished 2nd in the race last year). He resumes from a 16 week spell and has looked good at two trials. It would be no surprise to see him run a place in this race again.

10. Eduardo

He was a last start winner of the July Sprint over 1100m at Rosehill on 25 July where he found the front at the 250m and fought back the challengers. That was his first run at Rosehill and on the basis of that run he is a major contender here.

11. Glenali

This Redoubte’s Choice gelding finished 3rd behind Eduardo when resuming in the July Stakes after 23 weeks. He had the best 800-400m race sectional of the day at distance, but has never won second-up. Not the worst.

12. Signore Fox

In May, this Exceed And Excel horse finished well back in the field in two races, but after a six week freshen he won the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton on 8 July at long odds in good style. Since then he has won a Randwick trial by 2.3 lengths and could potentially be the surprise package in the race.

13. Savatiano

This Street Cry mare goes well first up  and won the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill when resuming last preparation. She won a Randwick trial on 31 July and is one to include in the multiples.

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

Jo’s Tips
4 Melody Belle
10 Eduardo
5 Flit
7 Special Reward

The heavy track led to 7 of the 13 horses being scratched.

Scratchings were 1 Kolding, 6 Cascadian, 7 Special Reward, 8 Hightail, 9 Le Romain, 12 Signore Fox and 13 Savatiano.

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	Eduardo
2nd	Flit	1.5L
3rd	Imaging	1.9L
4th	Glenali	2L