Gary Kennewell’s in-form local three-year-old Conservatorium is one of 11 gallopers set to face off in the $115,000 Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday, the Royal Academy gelding heading towards a start in the prestigious Goodwood Handicap.

Conservatorium boasts an excellent 57% Win Rate having won four of their seven career runs including their last-start success in the Listed Manihi Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on March 26.

“He’s always shown us plenty of ability and he’s won four of seven now,” trainer Gary Kennewell said after the Manihi.

On Saturday Conservatorium must overcome a wide barrier 11 draw for the DC McKay Stakes with Kennewell naming the $350,000 Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on Sunday May 8 as their main aim this prep.

“The Don McKay looks a nice race for him,” said Kennewell.

“But if he didn’t make the Goodwood we wouldn’t stress – he’s only a three-year-old.”

Another last-start winner running in the DC McKay Stakes on Saturday is the Peter Snowden-trained Pinwheel.

Draw ideally in barrier three and due to be ridden by Mark Zahra, Lonhro five-year-old Pinwheel scored a gritty final-stride victory in the Pink Ribbon Cup (1200m) at Caulfield on March 26 before which they ran a game fourth to this Saturday’s Doncaster Mile hopeful Triple Elegance in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).

Pinwheel is also being aimed at the Goodwood Handicap after the ultra consistent sprinter’s courageous performance in the Pink Ribbon Cup where they carried a hefty 60kg to victory.

“He’s a typical Peter (Snowden) horse – tough,” Snowden’s Melbourne stable representative Brett Conlon said after the Pink Ribbon Cup.

“He just tries every time and I would say he would go to Adelaide now for The Goodwood.

“I think he will love it over there.”

Also among the acceptors for this year’s DC McKay Stakes are the Mark Kavanagh-trained Catapulted (barrier 10) looking to improve on their last start failure in the Oakleigh Plate, Diplomatic Force (barrier seven) coming off a second to Avenue in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m), David Jolly’s progressive Blevic four-year-old Streetcar Magic (barrier eight) and the Stuart Gower-trained Morgan Dollar coming up trumps with barrier one.

If Saturday’s DC McKay Stakes winner continues on to run in The Goodwood next month, they will likely face off against John McNair’s boom sprinter Hay List.

Hay List, who ran the race of his life finishing second behind the freak Black Caviar in the TJ Smith Stakes last Saturday, will next contest the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 23 before possibly heading to Adelaide.

“Black Caviar is going to Brisbane and the smart thing to do is to stay away from her for a little while,” McNair said after the TJ Smith Stakes.

“We’re giving consideration for the Goodwood in Adelaide providing suitable travelling arrangements can be organised.

“It’s a Group 1 race and Hay List has only won the one Group 1 race (the Manikato Stakes).

“It would be nice to get a couple more next to his name and then maybe have another crack at the champ (Black Caviar) next year.”

The 2011 Evright.Com DC McKay Stakes will run as Morphettville Race 6 on Saturday one event before the day’s feature showdown, the $175,000 Group 2 Queen of the South Stakes (1600m).

2011 DC McKay Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

#	Form (Last 10)	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Hcp. Rating
1	110X229X10	CATAPULTED	Mark Kavanagh	Simon Price	10	59kg	110
2	21265X1241	PINWHEEL	Peter Snowden	Mark Zahra	3	58kg	107
3	24355X115X	TRAMUNTANA	David Jolly	Paul Gatt	4	57.5kg	105
4	8384X02612	DIPLOMATIC FORCE	Wayne Nichols	Craig Robertson	7	56.5kg	102
5	4632X28X23	MORGAN DOLLAR	Stuart Gower	Michael Hoppo	1	54.5kg	96
6	X21111X5X1	STREETCAR MAGIC	David Jolly	Justin Potter	8	54.5kg	96
7	1161X641	CONSERVATORIUM	Gary Kennewell	Craig Newitt	11	53.5kg	98
8	9273661680	KEANO (NZ)	Shane Nichols	–	9	53.5kg	94
9	24X7153X24	VALENTINE MISS	Mark Kavanagh	Ben Melham	2	53kg	96
10	0X1116525X	TOO MANY REDS	Tony McEvoy	–	5	53kg	88
11	13120X1352	OBSIDIAN DRAGON	David Balfour	Ms Clare Lindop	6	53kg	87