Charmed Harmony Heads 2016 Anniversary Vase Field & Odds

John Sadler’s widely-drawn top weight Charmed Harmony might have the gate and kilos to overcome on Saturday at Caulfield Racecourse, but the six-year-old is still co-favourite to take out this year’s Anniversary Vase 2016.

Charmed Harmony is co-favourite to win the 2016 Anniversary Vase despite a wide gate and top weight. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The sole black-type on the Melbourne race card this weekend, the $120,000 Listed TROA Anniversary Vase (1400m) features a capacity field of 15 starters plus three emergencies.

Wearing the number one saddlecloth and set to carry the 60kg from barrier 16, into 13 if the emergencies fail to gain a start, is Hussonet gelding Charmed Harmony.

The galloper has a strong Caulfield record of two wins and three seconds from eight starts at the track and was narrow runner-up defeated only a quarter length by Black Heart Bart, who runs in Sydney’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at the track and distance on March 26.

Apprentice Thomas Sadler retains the ride on Charmed Harmony in the non-claiming race, the horse current $6 co-favourite in Anniversary Vase betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Equal in the odds after firming in from $7 is Dan Zephyr for Mornington’s Pat Carey.

The Danbird gelding has won four from nine over the 1400m and was last seen crossing a very close third to Thermal Current in a blanket finish in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at his home track carrying the same 55kg he is allocated this Saturday.

Close third favourite at $7 is Yesterday’s Songs drawn better in barrier three for jockey James Winks who partners the Michael Moroney-trained five-year-old again.

The two combined for a fifth when under three lengths off the winner in the Victoria Handicap late last month, Yesterday’s Songs chasing his first win since June last year over the 1400m at Flemington.

The last of the single figure hopes at $7.50 is then Jimando who gets in on 54.5kg with Nicholas Hall booked to ride Tony McEvoy’s Commands six-year-old.

Winner of the Echuca Cup (1400m) in March last year, the gelding had a year off before returning from the lengthy let-up in February this year.

His two latest runs have produced brave fourth place finishes over the 1400m firstly to Tried And Tired in the Listed Super Saturday Stakes and then in the Victoria Handicap, beaten around two lengths in both lead-ups to the Anniversary Vase.

Outside the hopes under $10 are a number of other livewire chances at juicier odds including Precious Gem ($10) drawn wide but on the 54kg minimum second-up off a Hareeba Stakes second a fortnight back, Stratum mare Enquare ($12) and Wendy Kelly’s Charge Forward four-year-old Fast Cash ($13).

The bookies are also taking no chances with the first emergency Master Reset in gate two who is at $11 to make the line-up and win for Mornington’s Matt Laurie, the Reset four-year-old coming off the Mildura Cup second from mid-March.

See below for the full Anniversary Vase 2016 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest Fixed Win odds courtesy of our preferred online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au.