Horse Racing

Whobegotyou will face a field of nine brave rivals as the weight-for-age hero vies for a successive hat-trick of wins in the 2011 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday.

Whobegotyou will jump favourite in the 2011 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at the Valley this Saturday

Final fields for all of the Moonee Valley races were released by Racing Victoria today including acceptances for the headline showdown, the $300,000 Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

A crucial lead-up for spring horses heading towards the season’s majors including the iconic $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at the Valley on October 22, the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes this year drew a final field of 10.

Drawcard contender and likely odds-on favourite in the Moonee Valley betting markets at Luxbet is Mark Kavanagh’s dual defending champion Whobegotyou.

Winner of the past two editions of the race, Street Cry six-year-old Whobegotyou will attempt a record-equalling third straight victory when they jump from gate five with four-time Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winning jockey Damien Oliver in the mount.

While one horse before Whobe has won three straight Dato’s, Shorengo (1968-70), that was when the feature was run as a handicap and none have achieved the feat since it became a weight-for-age event

The popular ‘Whobe’ is top of the 2011 Cox Plate odds at Luxbet currently at a quote of $7.50 to go two better than their third behind non-acceptor this year So You Think and the since-retired Zipping in the race last spring.

Whobegotyou’s Cox Plate price is sure to firm dramatically if the last start Lawrence Stakes victor makes it two from two for the season on Saturday, as trainer Kavanagh is confident they can.

“He’s better now than when he was when he started this campaign, so he’s in good shape and he goes well at Moonee Valley,” Kavanagh said.

One horse out to take on the Dato champ this year is Jim Conlan’s Rekindled Interest.

Suffering an early blow with the extreme outside barrier, Redoute’s Choice four-year-old Rekindled Interest returns to the Valley for the first time since their awesome win in the Group 2 AAMI Vase (2040m) last October where they defeated subsequent Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer.

Rekindled Interest looks on track for a nice spring having run a close first-up second to Temple Of Boom in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) before their last-start fourth, beaten only a length, behind King’s Rose in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 27.

“Circumstances meant that he was just too close (to the lead) after drawing barrier three and I think he prefers to be ridden a little quieter to be comfortable and to be able to finish off,” Conlan explained of Rekindled Interest’s last-start run.

Conlan is hopeful of their chances in the Dato, but knows Whobegotyou will take some beating.

“Whobegotyou is obviously going to be the horse to beat, but in many ways with him being there, we get a real guide on where our horse is,” Conlan said.

“Whobegotyou is the measuring stick around this course.”

Other 2011 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes acceptors out to throw a spanner in the works of Whobegotyou’s historic attempt include Michael Kent’s imported American veteran Unusual Suspect to be ridden by Australia’s highest-earning jockey for last season Luke Nolen for their Australian race debut, consistent Galileo grey Linton, one-time Melbourne Cup favourite Alcopop and Memsie Stakes placegetter Red Colossus.

The full field can be found below complete with jockeys, weights and Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes barriers.

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2011 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Final Field & Barriers

Moonee Valley Race 7 – 10/09/2011