Reigning Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed is set to resume racing next Thursday at Caulfield’s Australia Day races, the Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained champion headlining the early entries for the John Dillon Stakes 2012.
Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed will resume racing in the 2012 John Dillon Stakes next Thursday
There were 23 nominations taken for this year’s edition of the $100,000 John Dillon Stakes (1400m), Southern Speed the highest-rated of the hopefuls.
The multiple Group 1 performer hit the big time in the spring with her upset victory in the Caulfield Cup, Southern Speed last seen finishing fourth to Glass Harmonium in the Mackinnon Stakes on Derby Day.
While looking forward to her return and the upcoming autumn carnival, co-trainer Macdonald has warned the punters not to expect too much from Southern Speed in her first-up assignment.
“Being a handicap she will get a lot of weight,” Macdonald explained.
“And her first-up record is not conclusive but she’s got to start somewhere and it fits in with her campaign.
“Everything is going along nicely, she looks a million dollars and has dappled right up.
“After the Dillon all her races will be at weight-for-age.”
Robert Hickmott also has a number of highly-credentialed gallopers featuring in the John Dillon Stakes 2012 nominations including At First Sight, Caulfield Cup runner-up Green Moon and Bendigo Cup winner Tanby.
Other notable hopefuls include defending John Dillon Stakes winner Danzylum who hasn’t won a race since, last-start Doveton Stakes winner at the track Chasm, Mark Kavanagh’s resuming Danewin gelding King Diamond and Danny O’Brien’s Hussonet stallion At The Heads coming off a smart win over the previously undefeated Pied A Terre in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last Saturday.
The 2012 John Dillon Stakes final field, as well as those for the three other Listed features running at Caulfield on Australia Day, are due for release next Tuesday.
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2012 John Dillon Stakes Nominations
Caulfield – 26/01/2012
| # | Horse | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AT FIRST SIGHT (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 106 |
| 2 | AT THE HEADS (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | 93 |
| 3 | CHASM | Brendan McCarthy | 98 |
| 4 | DANZYLUM | Robbie Griffiths | 97 |
| 5 | EXCLUDED (NZ) | Robert Hickmott | 84 |
| 6 | FAWKNER | Robert Hickmott | 86 |
| 7 | GREEN MOON (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 103 |
| 8 | JOSIMAR | Colin & Cindy Alderson | 71 |
| 9 | KING DIAMOND | Peter G Moody | 99 |
| 10 | LARGO LAD | David Hayes | 101 |
| 11 | LONDON STRIPE (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 78 |
| 12 | MR MAKE BELIEVE | Peter G Moody | 96 |
| 13 | PRINCESS NARINE | Mick Price | 80 |
| 14 | ROYAL RAMBLER | Michael Drew | 65 |
| 15 | SADDLER’S STORY | Robert Smerdon | 93 |
| 16 | SANDHILL PRINCE | Sam Turner | 94 |
| 17 | SHADOWFAX (NZ) | Mark Kavanagh | 96 |
| 18 | SHOUT OUT LOUD | Peter G Moody | 96 |
| 19 | SOUND JOURNEY | Darren Magro | 102 |
| 20 | SOUTHERN SPEED | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 111 |
| 21 | TANBY | Robert Hickmott | 102 |
| 22 | VEEWAP | Tony Vasil | 93 |
| 23 | VIVID VIXEN (NZ) | Mick Price | 101 |
