One of four stakes races set to highlight a crack line-up at Caulfield this Australia Day, the 2012 Zeditave Stakes nominations are now out with 16 promising three-year-olds making up the early entries.
TJ Smith winner Benfica is set to resume racing in the 2012 Zeditave Stakes
The $100,000 Listed Zeditave Stakes (1200m), won last year by the Robert Smerdon-trained Éclair Mystic, runs alongside the Blue Diamond Previews on Thursday January 26 this year.
Incredibly there are seven last-start winners among the Zeditave Stakes 2012 nominees, the most notable of which is the Peter Snowden-trained Benfica.
Winner of the Group 1 TJ Smith (1600m) last-start at Eagle Farm back in June, the son of Lonhro Benfica is set to be the Snowden pin-up colt with star stablemates Sepoy and Helmet heading overseas later this year.
Another exciting three-year-old set to run in the Zeditave this year is Michael Moroney’s promising Johannesburg colt African Pulse.
After a Sandown win on debut overcoming a Heavy (10) track back in May, African Pulse finished a close second to Jackpot Queen at Flemington next start before a five and a half month break.
They resumed for one run in the spring beating home Neville Layt’s Magic Millions Classic winning filly Karuta Queen by one and a quarter lengths in a blistering speed display on Melbourne Cup Day and their main autumn aim is the $750,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (100m) at Flemington on February 18.
Other top 2012 Zeditave Stakes nominees include:
- The Robert Hickmott-trained Collar who is tipped to return to form when coming back in distance after failing in the Victoria Derby
- Danny O’Brien’s last-start Seymour winner Decircles
- Peter Moody’s Caulfield Guineas third placegetter Huegill
- The Mick Price-trained Instinction last seen winning the Listed Hilton Hotels Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day
- Mark Kavanagh’s undefeated Darci Brahma gelding Pakari Toa who has won both of their career starts to date
View the full 2012 Zeditave Stakes field and barriers, released on Tuesday, by bookmarking us here at Races.com.au.
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2012 Zeditave Stakes Nominations
Caulfield 26/01/2012
| # | Horse | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ADAMANTIUM (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | 80 |
| 2 | AFRICAN PULSE | Michael Moroney | 84 |
| 3 | BENFICA | Peter Snowden | - |
| 4 | COLLAR (NZ) | Robert Hickmott | 80 |
| 5 | DECIRCLES | Danny O’Brien | 72 |
| 6 | HOT SPIN | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 82 |
| 7 | HUEGILL | Peter G Moody | 86 |
| 8 | INSTINCTION | Mick Price | 78 |
| 9 | IT IS WRITTEN | Robbie Griffiths | 62 |
| 10 | MISTER MILTON | Norman Waymouth | 70 |
| 11 | NICONOISE | David Hayes | 64 |
| 12 | PAKARI TOA (NZ) | Mark Kavanagh | 68 |
| 13 | PETMAN | John Hyam | 78 |
| 14 | SPECTER | Anthony Freedman | 84 |
| 15 | TONED | Robert Hickmott | 70 |
| 16 | UNPRETENTIOUS | Nikki Burke | 66 |
