The release of entries for the Group I Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas has added plenty of interest to competitive metro maiden and Benchmark events which are often the first stepping off point for potential contenders, so let’s take a look at the runners today that hold entries.
The Sandown meeting has a long list of entries with particular interest in the Benchmark 64 event.
The Peter Moody trained I Am Invincible filly Waltz On By is yet to run in anything other than a Black Type race so may appreciated the drop in grade to post a win. A homebred for Arrowfield Stud from Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me, in turn a daughter of champion filly Miss Finland, she’s bred in the purple.
The Maher Eustace team have the race favourite in The Fortune Teller, who bolted in at Swan Hill at his only start. He’s from the one and only Australian crop of Group I winning sprinter Caravaggio (USA) and is the second winner from National Velvet, a winning Commands mare, whose dam is a half-sister by Lonhro to Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent.
Dark and dashing, he's going to look impressive in the yard!
Also keep an eye on race 1, the maiden event with the Price / Kent stable looking to break the ice with Tarzino gelding Artzino, who might well be looking for further.
His sire Tarzino had two Australian classic winners last season in Gypsy Goddess and Jungle Magnate and this guy is a half-brother to stakes-winner Art de Triomphe and Group III placed Arctic Shock from Group III winner Art Beat.
Race 2 at the Canterbury meeting features the debut of a blue-blooded Snitzel filly trained by John O’Shea, whose stable is really firing into spring. Orzala has shown promise at the trials and has a good barrier with James McDonald to ride.
A $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Arrowfield draft, Orzala is a half-sister to multiple Group placed stakes-winning stayer Carif and is from Champion 3YO Filly Norzita, a two time Group I winner of the ATC Flight Stakes and Vinery Stud Stakes.
