Track: Good  Weather: Cloudy

There is a small field of seven runners for the $127, 250 R N Irwin Stakes with three mares and four geldings. There are 3 four-year-olds, 1 six-year-old and 3 seven-year-olds. Two runners had their last start in the Listed Manihi Classic, four in Group races in Melbourne and one in a Group race in Sydney. Trainer Phillip Stokes has two runners.

The early favourite is Trekking who has won 10 of his 42 starts and won the 2020 Goodwood at his only previous race at this track. Second favourite is Swats That who ran 2.3 lengths 5th in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m last outing. Third in the market is Instant Celebrity who resumes from a 25 week break and placed in a Traralgon trial.

Bella Vella resumes after over a year off the track, and had her last start in the 2021 Group 1 The Galaxy. Dexelation resumed for 5th in the Manihi Classic and ran 3rd in this race last year when second-up. Outlaws Revenge resumes from a 14 week spell after finishing 7th in the Group 3 Standish Handicap and won two Listed races here at the end of 2021, while Shamino finished 3rd in the Manihi Classic and is the outsider of the field..

1. Trekking

This seven-year-old Street Cry gelding has won 10 of his 42 starts and won the 2020 Goodwood at his only previous race at this track. He has got off to a poor start this campaign but is a dual Group 1 winner and has won more prizemoney than the rest of he field combined. Trainer James Cummings hasn’t won this race before, but his grandfather Bart won with Stormy Rex in 1979. One of the chances.

2. Dexelation

Another seven-year-old, who resumed for 5th in the Manihi Classic and ran 3rd in this race last year when second-up. Last campaign he won three sprint races in a row but has yet to win at Group or Listed level. Trainers Richard & Chantelle Jolly and jockey Jake Toeroek combined to win this race with Kemalpasa in 2021 and Hard Empire in 2019. Can place.

3. Outlaws Revenge

He resumes from a 14 week spell after finishing 6.4 lengths 7th in the Group 3 Standish Handicap and has never won first-up. He won the Listed City Of Marion Stakes over 1200m and the Listed Christmas Handicap over 1100m, both at this track at the end of 2021. Rough hope.

4. Shamino

One of two runners for Philip Stokes and also one of two runners sired by Shamus Award (the other is Swats That). He was slowly away and worked home nicely to grab 3rd in the Manihi Classic. Trainer Phillip Stokes won this race with Nostradamus in 2016. Not the worst.

5. Swats That

This Shamus Award mare ran 2.3 lengths 5th in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m last outing. She is a mare that has always shown a lot of potential but has been costly to follow. In the mix.

6. Instant Celebrity

The second of the Phillip Stokes runners. She raced at Group 2 level at Flemington in the last three races of her last campaign where she finished 6th, 7th and 7th. At Morphettville her record is three wins and a place from five starts. She resumes from a 25 week break and placed in a Traralgon trial. She’s won first-up before and I think she will go well.

7. Bella Vella

This seven-year-old Commands mare resumes after over a year off the track, and had her last start in the 2021 Group 1 The Galaxy. She has 10 wins and 10 places from 34 starts and is a Group 1 winner.Won a recent Morphettville Parks trial by over a length and is a proven first-up winner. Put her in the multiples.

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