Missile Stakes – 2021

Track: Good   Weather: Showers

There is a small field of seven runners for the $200,000 Group 2 Missile Stakes following the early scratching of Hellenism. They all have different trainers and come through different lead-up races. Two are first-up, three are second-up, one is third-up and the other has had five starts this campaign. There are six geldings and one mare. The early favourite is the mare Fasika who resumes here and won the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes over 1200m at Randwick when she resumed last campaign. Second favourite is Viridine who was 0.7 length 5th in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes over 1200m last outing and goes well here. Third favourite is multiple Group 1 winner Kolding who is resuming, and finished last campaign with a narrow win in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes.

Phobetor has won six of his 11 starts and was outgunned in the final 75m to finish 2nd in the Listed Ramornie Handicap over 1200m last start. Chat came from the back of the field for a fast-finishing win in the July Sprint over 1100m when resuming from a 26 week spell with the best overall race sectionals. Hightail resumed for 4.45 lengths 8th in the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes and has good form at this distance, while Riodini has four wins from his 11 starts.

1. Kolding

This Chris Waller trained galloper is the only runner to have won at Group 1 level (three times) and has won more prizemoney than the rest of the field combined. He resumes here and his best distance is from 1400m to 1600m. He is the highest rated runner in the field but has only won one of six first-up runs. Won’t be far away, but I’m not expecting him to win.

2. Viridine

He is the oldest horse in the race but has been racing well at Group level and unlike the other runners he has raced through the winter. Trained by James Cummings he ran on strongly out wide to finish 0.7 lengths 5th in the Group 2 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Has three wins and two places from nine starts at Randwick and is one of the main chances.

3. Hightail

This five-year-old Written Tycoon gelding trained by Peter & Paul Snowden resumed for 4.45 lengths 8th in the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes over 1200m and has had a six week let-up. Has Hugh Bowman aboard and could surprise.

4. Riodini

He has four wins and four places from 11 starts. Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott he ran 3rd in the 2020 Epsom Handicap then had a setback in training earlier in the year which meant he missed the autumn carnival. He is probably heading for the Epsom again and resumed for 12,9 lengths 8th in the Listed Winter Stakes on a heavy track. Will be fitter now.

5. Phobetor

An interesting runner trained by Michael Costa on the Gold Coast that has six wins and a place from 11 starts. After 50 weeks away from the track he resumed with a narrow win in an open handicap at Doomben on 16 June, then finished 2nd in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. I think he is smart enough to make his presence felt at his first attempt at Group level.

6. Chat

This five-year-old Deep Field gelding from the John Thompson stable has five wins and five places from 20 starts and goes well fresh. I was impressed with his win in the July Sprint when resuming after 26 weeks, as he was slowly away and contacted another runner shortly after the start then had to find a run before knuckling down to arrive near the line. Could place.

7. Fasika

Last year trainer Joseph Pride won this race with Eduardo who has won two Group 1’s since then. This year he trains this six-year-old So You Think mare who looks the main chance here. Resuming from a 14 week spell she is a proven first-up runner winning in three of five attempts including a win in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick in April. She has drawn the inside barrier and I think she can win.

8. Hellenism  – SCRATCHED

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

Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap 2021 (Flemington 1200m)

The track was rated as Good

Scratchings: 8. Hellenism