Very few racehorses end their careers undefeated, particularly when they start to work their way up through the grades and for every Frankel, Black Caviar and Justify, there are a myriad of others that come up short and this weekend several high profile ‘undefeated’ up and comers will put their perfect record on the line.
Winning on debut is one thing, keeping the ball rolling to produce a picket fence is another, so let’s take a look at some of the horses who will start this weekend with the beginnings of a picket fence!
The Group I MRC Memsie Stakes (1400m) is the spring starting point for a number of high profile horses including four year-old So You Think stallion Illation, who won all three of his starts last season.
Two of those wins were in Listed races in Adelaide and the manner in which he won them has Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr putting him straight into the deep end this spring.
The reality is Illation is a Listed winner taking on a top field at WFA featuring eight Group I winners, so a bold showing from him even in defeat will be almost as good as a win!
The Group III MRC Cockram Stakes (1200m) for the mares has two unbeaten girls putting their perfection on the line in Passive Aggressive and Chain of Lightning, who have both won four from four.
A daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock and full sister to Group I placed sprinter Missrock, the Grahame Begg trained Passive Aggressive won all four starts last preparation ending with a Listed win at Flemington, while the Peter Moody trained Chain of Lightning has had an interesting progression.
She won her first two starts in country NSW for Stirling Osland back in January scoring at Inverell and Armidale before her owner/breeder Stuart Ramsey sent her south to Moody.
Chain of Lightning measured straight up to better class with wins at Caulfield and Flemington and has Jamie Kah to ride.
The Group III MRC McNeil Stakes (1200m) features three undefeated colts in Tijuana (American Pharoah (USA), Crosswinds (Written Tycoon) and Zamborghini (Zoustar).
The first two won stakes races at their second starts, while Zamborghini has looked promising with a six length debut win at Ballarat in February before beating highly rated Foujita San at his second start at Moonee Valley.
Zamborghini cost $1.25million as a yearling and Crosswinds $1.1million, so there is plenty riding on their success this spring.
Tijuana is a comparative bargain purchase, snapped up for just $100,000 by Best Bloodstock ad Lindsay Park team.
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) has three colts that have all won more than one race and go in undefeated against Golden Slipper runner-up Best of Bordeaux.
Snitzel colt Zoukerino has race fitness on his side winning the Listed ATC Rosebud at his second start two weeks ago, while the David Atkins trained Promitto (Divine Prophet) was a dominant winner of the Group II ATC Skyline Stakes at his second start back in the autumn and has not been seen since.
Coming down from Queensland with a big reputation is the Tony Gollan trained I Am Invincible colt Nettuno, who has won three from three, most recently winning the Group III Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast in May.
Stay tuned for all the action this Saturday.
