The inaugural race set to kick off the Victoria Derby Day action at Flemington this Saturday is the $250,000 Group 3 Inglis Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), a top field of eight three-year-old milers engaged for the feature.
The first of nine features on an all Group race card, the 2011 Carbine Club Stakes is scheduled to get the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s opening meeting underway at 11:20am (AEDST).
To wear the No. 1 saddlecloth in the Carbine Club Stakes field this year is 56kg topweight, the Peter Snowden-trained Galah.
Snowden has a strong hand in the Derby Day classics this year, Galah the first of three colts out for a win to be followed by Sepoy in the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Induna in the marquee race of the meeting, the $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
Drawn favourably midfield in barrier four and due to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Redoute’s Choice colt Galah is out for their fourth win on the trot and comes off a gritty win over Masthead in the Listed Australia Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15, the same race last year’s Carbine Club Stakes winner Mr Chard won on way to their Derby Day victory.
It is a strong field brimming full of genuine chances in the Carbine Club Stakes 2011, two other last-start winners taking on the favourite.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Meethaq will get the inside running from barrier one as they look for their second successive win over 1600m following their Thousand Guineas Day victory where they defeated fellow Carbine Club Stakes rival First Course and Victoria Derby hope Collar.
Lightly-raced Saint Etienne from the stables of Mick Price has a little bit of work to do from barrier seven, but has every chance for a big race win having broken their maiden carrying 57kg at Echuca last-start on October 11.
More notable acceptors for the Carbine Club Stakes include the Peter Moody-trained Fastnet Rock colt Highly Recommended, coming off a third to Galah in the Australia Stakes, in barrier three with top hoop Luke Nolen in the saddle and Ken Keys’ consistent First Course.
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2011 Inglis Carbine Club Stakes Final Field & Barriers
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21X11 | GALAH | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 56kg | 84 |
| 2 | 173X343 | HIGHLY RECOMMENDED | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 3 | 55kg | 72 |
| 3 | 6X32X8122 | FIRST COURSE | Ken Keys | Ms Michelle Payne | 6 | 55kg | 72 |
| 4 | 1X4251 | MEETHAQ | Danny O’Brien | Dwayne Dunn | 1 | 55kg | 72 |
| 5 | 1254 | CROSS OF GOLD | David Hayes | Damien Oliver | 2 | 55kg | 72 |
| 6 | 21 | SAINT ETIENNE | Mick Price | Danny Nikolic | 7 | 55kg | 62 |
| 7 | 4X76 | DURNFORD | Pat Carey | Mark Zahra | 8 | 55kg | 57 |
| 8 | 762 | FLYING AQUILA | Anthony Cummings | Corey Brown | 5 | 53kg | 60 |
