Poseidon Stakes – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

A field of eleven runners have accepted for the $175,000 Poseidon Stakes.  Four of the runners ran in the Living Legends Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight ago and three runners come through the Cap D’Antibes which was run here at Flemington on September 12.  The winner of the Cap D’Antibes was September Run and she is a deserved early favourite in this race based on that excellent performance. Minhaaj is second favourite and also comes through the Cap D’Antibes, she put in a good effort to finish third first up.

Valaquenta and Portland Sky were in a bumping dual in the straight at Caulfield but once they balanced up hit the line well.  Forever Free will be fitter for her first up effort and will run on her home track for the first time.  Wisdom of Water and Mildred  put in average runs first up and their connections will be looking for much improved performances this time round.  Island Joy appears to have good talent and is resuming in her second preparation.  The remaining three runners are all longer than $20-1.

1. Wisdom of Water

Wisdom of Water started single figures first up, lead and dropped out badly.  That was possibly too bad to be true, but I can’t recommend based off that effort.

2. Valaquenta

Valquenta resumed as a gelding in the Living Legends 1000m race at Caulfield.  He found a good position in the run and once he got balanced hit the line well.  It looks like he is in for a good preparation, my query was whether that form is as strong as the Cap D’Antibes form.

3. Pioneer River

Pioneer River has also accepted for a race at Moonee Valley on Friday night.  He didn’t do much first up but won his only previous second up start.  The booking of Mark Zahra is a plus.

4. Itzhot

Itzhot has been gelded since we last saw him at the races.  He travelled nicely in his latest jump out suggesting he has come back well.  These might be a touch sharp for him first up, but if he runs well then look for him up in distance next start.

5. Portland Sky

Portland Sky looked like it had something to offer before running into a dead end at Caulfield.  That run was better than the fifth in the form guide suggests.

6. Mildred

Lead them up in the Cap D’Antibes and with the run she got she was entitled to show more late.  Can’t recommend off that.

7. Minhaaj

She ran a good third first up in the Cap D’Antibes.  The second horse Swats That has since franked the form at Moonee Valley.  She will have taken good benefit from that outing and will give September Run something to catch again here.

8. September Run

September Run is a very good filly.  She sprouted wings making up many lengths on the rail side of the Flemington straight under Craig Williams to claim the Cap D’Antibes.  A good piece of riding from Williams could see her latch onto the back of Minhaaj here and if that happens the race might be all but over.  She is going to be very hard to beat again.

9. Forever Free

I thought Forever Free was entitled to offer a better kick than she did at Caulfield after getting a relatively soft lead.  The addition of a tongue tie here suggests she may have choked down on that occasion which would explain the mediocre run.  She was unbeaten prior to that effort.

10. Maha

Thought her run was quite good first up in a strong bench mark 64.  This is harder but a big drop in weight and the booking of Luke Currie gives her a sneaky each-way chance at big odds.

11. Island Joy

This filly showed good talent in her first prep, the second to Crosshaven before spelling now reads particularly well as that horse won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last week.  The booking of in form jockey Jamie Kah is also a positive.  It wouldn’t shock to see her finish in the money.

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

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
8. September Run	8. September Run
7. Minhaaj	7. Minhaaj
2. Valaquenta	11. Island Joy
6. Mildred	10. Maha

The track was rated as Good 4

Scratchings were  3. Pioneer River, 4. Itzhot.

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	8. September Run
2nd	10. Maha	1.3 lengths
3rd	7. Minhaaj	1.4 lengths
4th	5. Portland Sky	1.5 lengths