Melbourne Cup winning horseman Darren Weir has his Group 2 winning mare La Passe nominated for a first-up run this weekend in Adelaide’s RN Irwin Stakes 2016 at Morphettville Racecourse.

Group 2 winning Melbourne mare La Passe is nominated for Adelaide’s 2016 RN Irwin Stakes this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

One of two Group 3 features at Morphettville on Saturday, this year’s $120,000 Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) has attracted 18 nominations including two for Victorian trainer Weir.

Weir has nominated for his five-year-old mares La Passe and Tuscan Sling, both with Group winning form in Melbourne.

A daughter of Street Sense, La Passe won the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) last October before her 12^th to Politeness when beaten only four and a half-lengths in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m).

She hasn’t raced since that Victoria Derby Day showdown and goes well fresh with a win and a second from two previous first-up wins to date, the same record she has over Saturday’s distance of 1100m.

Stablemate Tuscan Sling is by Danehill Dancer and after a Christmas Stakes victory on Boxing Day, she defeated this autumn’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Azkadellia in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m).

Azkadellia turned the tables next time out, Tuscan Sling last seen running a brave second to her in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in late February ahead of her possible first run in Adelaide on the weekend.

Last year’s RN Irwin Stakes winner Daytona Grey is back looking to defend his title, the now six-year-old Artie Schiller grey out to be the first back-to-back winner since Scorn Bold (1996-97).

The Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained sprinter won on the back of a sixth in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) last Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, a sprint feature the gelding won this year.

Daytona Grey had only a short half-head to spare over I Am Gypsy in the lead-up win and will be out to continue that winning form this weekend leading up to the $500,000 Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 21.

Manihi Classic runner-up I Am Gypsy is also nominated for the rematch on Saturday, Gordon Richards’ I Am Invincible mare out to turn the tables after the brave black-type placing from the four-year-old as a $41 roughie last time out.

Another Melbourne stable with dual nominees along with Weir for the RN Irwin Stakes this year meanwhile is Lee & Anthony Freedman who have entered Nozomi and Super One.

Street Cry four-year-old Nozomi won the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) defeating Preferment last September before his third to that horse in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) last time out.

He is yet to win over less than 1875m however, so if accepted for a return this weekend is an unlikely placegetter.

The stable’s other entry is spruik I Am Invincible colt Super One, the three-year-old having had two runs down under included the failed 11^th to Japonisme in Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) in the spring.

Super One is also nominated for the $100,000 Listed Redelva Stakes (1100m) on Saturday’s race card.

Other notable RN Irwin Stakes nominees include the Danny O’Brien-trained Bullpit, the local Lloyd Kennewell-trained Heart Of A Lion, David Hayes & Tom Dabernig’s Summer Scorcher winner in Perth Sheidel and the Phillip Stokes-trained Northern Meteor mare Runway Star who comes off a Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m) win at the track from March 14.

See below for the full RN Irwin Stakes 2016 nominations, the final field and barriers out on Wednesday.

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2016 RN Irwin Stakes Nominations

Morphettville Racecourse – 23/04/2016