Despite talk from trainer Paul Messara yesterday that 60.5kg top weight Mic Mac would not take part in Saturday’s 2013 Winter Stakes, the last start Civic Stakes champ features in the final field of acceptors released today.

Despite their hefty weight allocation Mic Mac has been accepted into the 2013 Winter Stakes field. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Scone-based Messara was vocal over his disapproval of the hefty weight allocation for his veteran Statue Of Liberty seven-year-old who has been allocated one and a half kilos more than the 59kg they carried to victory in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at the start of the month.

Even though Messara made comments saying he thought it would be near impossible for his horse to win the $100,000 Inghams Love’Em Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on the weekend, it now looks like he will give it a shot with Mic Mac one of a capacity field accepted for the sprint showdown.

Due to run as Rosehill Race 6 at 3:20pm (AEST) this year’s Winter Stakes field features 12 starters plus the John Thompson-trained Pretty Pins as the sole emergency.

Wearing the number one saddlecloth will then be Mic Mac who may not have a favourable weight but who has drawn the inside alley with gate one, their Civic Stakes winning jockey Christian Reith retaining the ride.

Civic Stakes runner-up, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Under The Sun has also been accepted for the Winter Stakes on the weekend.

The No Excuse Needed four-year-old, who won over the 1400m at Randwick beating a number of these same rivals two back, was a length off Mic Mac in the Civic Stakes and meets them a full six kilos better in the weights for the rematch.

Under The Sun jumped from gate one last start and should get another gun go from barrier two, one outside Mic Mac, on Saturday.

Following Mic Mac in the Winter Stakes field and weights meanwhile on 58kg are two gallopers, Waterhouse’s other runner Kinnersley and the Joe Pride-trained See The World drawn in gates four and five respectively.

Waterhouse will have a total of three runners in the race with Under The Sun and Kinnersley joined by Kontiki Park in barrier seven with Hugh Bowman riding.

Thorn Park seven-year-old Kontiki Park has won a race in nearly 12 months but look in improving form after their credible fourth to Merlin Mustang in the Natski Handicap (1500m) in the wet at Rosehill on July 1.

They had 60kg for that run and will appreciate the drop back to 57.5kg here.

Other notable hopes then include the Norm Hilton-trained Bold Glance (57kg), the resuming former SA Derby winner Shadows In The Sun out wide in gate 11, and the Chris Waller-trained duo of Wazn and Coup Ay Tee.

Waller meanwhile opted not to accept for his third nominee Bayrir, the French import and US Grade 1 winner to be saved for a later Australian race debut.

See below for the full 2013 Winter Stakes field, weights, jockeys and barriers.

Betting on the Sydney feature will open shortly at our preferred online bookie bookmaker.com.au so make sure you’re ready by signing up with them today!

2013 Winter Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Rosehill Race 6 – 3:20pm (AEST) – 20/07/2013