VRC Sires Produce Stakes – 2022

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

Eight colts and eight fillies make up the sixteen horse field for the $300,000 Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes.  Annabel Neasham has three runners entered – Peter Moody and Team Maher & Eustace have two.  Unusually only one runner comes via the Blue Diamond Stakes.  The current favourite in the betting is one of the Maher & Eustace runners – Sir Bailey.  He won a two year old handicap at Sandown by 1.25 lengths on February 16.

Let’srollthedice bolted in after being heavily back on debut at Bendigo.  Bonheur hit the line well in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude last start.  Merchant Prince & Man In The Mirror are expensive colts prepared by Annabel Neasham.  Brosnan was sixth in the Skyline on debut.  Jamarra is back from a seven week freshen up, while Sumartra is drawn well for Damian Oliver.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Merchant Prince

Moody and Nolan combine.  Should of finished much closer in the Blue Diamond when running into trouble all the way up the home straight.  Right in this.

2. Jamarra

Was second behind Jacquinot at Caulfiled on Boxing Day, then finished four lengths off Lofty Strike here in the middle of January.   Will need luck from the inside gate.

3. Nobel

$2.1 Mil dollar colt.  Resumes in second prep.  Was an unlucky third at Moonee Valley on debut in October.  Won a recent Warwick Farm trial and has a leading rider.

4. Sir Baily

Second of the Maher & Eustace runners.  Ran well on debut at Pakenham, then won at Sandown beating Merchant Prince.  Kah sticks.  Rates highly.

5. Man In The Mirror

Good debut win at Warwick Farm in December, then whacked away in the heavy conditions at Randwick last time.  Gets back on top of the ground here.  Chance.

6. Let’srollthedice

Was backed off the map at Bendigo on debut where he won easily like a good horse in the heavy conditions.  Was eased down the last bit and still ran the fastest last 200m of the day which is always significant for a two year old.  Different set up here on a good surface but if he handles it is a key winning hope.

7. Brosnan

Started $11 in the Skyline on debut and ran on well from the back.  In the mix.

8. Yaki Ishi

Was fourth at Pakenham on debut.  Williams sticks.  Rough place chance.

9. Bessmati

Broke maiden at Wyong last start.  Will make own luck up on speed.

10. Sumatra

Solid showing in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude, then finished sixth at Ballarat after a big drift in the market.  Oliver sticks but it is hard to recommend off that.

11. Queen Latifa

Even effort at Pakenham last start.  Not here.

12. Do It La

Pulled out plenty to break maiden on debut at Ballarat.  Not sure that forms good enough to play a role here though.

13. Bonheur

Well bred filly trained by Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young.  Was climbing all over their backs in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude.  As strong as anything through the line.  Nash Rawiller booking is a big tick.  Each way chance.

14. Miss Faberge – SCRATCHED

15. Quang Tri

Made solid ground at Pakenham on debut.  That form doesn’t look good enough for this.

16. Sirius Princess

Debutant.  Drawn wide.  Hasn’t trialled well enough.  Prefer others.

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

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
4. Sir Bailey	6. Let’srollthedice
6. Let’srollthedice	1. Merchant Prince
1. Merchant Prince	13. Bonheur
13. Bonheur	4. Sir Bailey

Group 3 Black Opal Stakes 2022 (Canberra 1200m)

Listed National Sprint 2022 (Canberra 1400m)

Group 1 Australian Cup 2022 (Flemington 2000m)

Group 1 Newmarket Handicap 2022 (Flemington 1200m)

Group 2 Kewney Stakes 2022 (Flemington 1600m)

Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap 2022 (Flemington 1400m)

Group 3 Matron Stakes 2022 (Flemington 1600m)

Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes 2022 (Flemington 1200m)

Listed Moomba Plate 2022 (Flemington 1100m)

Group 1 Coolmore Classic 2022 (Rosehill 1500m)

Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes 2022 (Rosehill 1500m)

Group 2 Ajax Stakes 2022 (Rosehill 1500m)

Group 3 Sky High Stakes 2022 (Rosehill 2000m)

Group 3 Magic Night Stakes 2022 (Rosehill 1200m)

Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes 2022 (Rosehill 1200m)

Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes 2022 (Rosehill 1100m)