Track: Good   Weather: Fine

A field of 8 runners have accepted for this years running of the Standish Handicap.  There are a myriad of different form lines here with no runners having come through the same race last start.  Defiant Dancer was an easy winner of a benchmark 84 race at Flemington last start and has come up the early favourite for this years race.  There has already been good money for Sirius Suspect who looks set to peak 3rd up back onto his home track.  He was a 1.5 length winner at his last start on Pakenham Cup day.

Southern Lad is one of two horses in the race to have had their last start in Sydney.  He ran second at Randwick – the in-form Jye McNeil is booked to ride.  Graff is the top weight for this years race and has been freshened since finishing midfield in the Group 1 VRC Classic.  William Thomas has run a number of 3rds in recent times but drops right down in the weights – he will carry 55.5 kg.

Morrissy is another to have had a freshen up and has a good record over 1200m.  The remaining runners are $20-1 or longer.

1. Graff

Graff is having his 3rd start for the Danny O’Brien stable.  He won impressively 1st up at Caulfield back in October and then found Group 1 company a little bit too difficult.  He has since been freshened and importantly Damian Oliver who won on him at Caulfield gets back aboard to ride here.  The only query is his 1200m record, he has just one placing from 5 attempts.

2. William Thomas

William Thomas has been running on well with out winning.  Place hope.

3. Morrissy

This 5 year old galloper has been freshened since racing in a number of 1400m races during the spring carnival.  He has both a good 1st up record and a good 1200m record and can run a race at each way odds.

4. Sirius Suspect

Sirius Suspect is a very consistent horse who put in a good run here first up.  He has since been to Pakenham where he won well.  He has drawn perfectly in barrier 6 for Jamie Kah and we expect him to run well again.

5. Southern Lad

Liked this geldings return behind Athiri at Randwick.  We saw a number of Sydney horses be very competitive all through out the Melbourne Spring Carnival and this looks like it may have been a target race.  One of the chances.

6. Neighbourhood

He has had 6 weeks off since hitting the line well in the Heffernan at Sandown.  Prior he ran well here at Flemington.  Don’t discount.

7. Albumin

Albumin started huge odds when finishing 2nd to Pandemic in Sydney last start.  We have since seen Pandemic come to Melbourne and win impressively.  An outside chance in this.

8. Defiant Dancer

This son of Foxwedge has strung 4 wins in a row together.  He returned with a solid win on his home track at Pakenham and then blew his rivals away at this track and distance last start.  He is ready now to take the step up to listed level.

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

Listed Bagot Handicap 2021 (Flemington 2800m)

Listed Christmas Classic 2021 (Canterbury 1200m)

Group 2 Perth Cup 2021 (Ascot 2400m)

Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate 2021 (Eagle Farm 1400m)