Thirteen sprinters will line up on the 1100m course at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, following the confirmation and release of the Listed Starlight Stakes final field and barrier draw today.
Shiraz has been confirmed in the Starlight Stakes final field. Photo: Steve Hart
Shiraz has been transferred to the care of Kim Waugh this time in and will have his first start for the Wyong trainer this weekend, after being confirmed in the 2016 Starlight Stakes field.
Resuming this year for fourth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m), the Zariz gelding stormed home to finish second in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) before a luckless run for tenth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) ended his campaign.
Failing to produce much through two spring starts for Tony McEvoy, Shiraz has trialled well in the lead-up to his competitive return but has been charged with overcoming a race-high 59gs in the Starlight Stakes and the outside barrier.
Tony Gollan’s presence in Sydney has grown tenfold since he was allotted stables at Rosehill Gardens, and the leading Queensland trainer will launch a two-pronged attack in the sprint feature after confirming both Didntcostalot and Whiskey Allround in the Starlight Stakes field.
Didntcostalot was a standout for Gollan during the summer of 2015; winning four of his seven starts, including in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) most notably.
Resuming in winter for second in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m), the Danerich gelding is sure to have taken plenty of benefit from a first-up run for eleventh in the Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm first-up a fortnight ago.
Whiskey Allround returned to winning form in the Listed Falvelon Handicap (1200m) on February 13th, but was also returned to the paddock after failing to fire at his next two starts.
Having finished off the pace through two starts this time in, the All Bar One gelding has been charged with carrying only 54kgs in the Starlight Stakes and should receive a good run in transit from barrier 7.
Kuro has returned to racing in typically smart form this time, but is another runner that has drawn wide into the Starlight Stakes field.
Resuming for a close second in the Ranvet BM93 (1200m) on November 5th, the Denman gelding ran on well for second in the Aba Entrance Specialists BM93 (1100m) on November 19th.
Husson Eagle carries winning form into the Starlight Stakes and will leave from barrier 6, while the Kris Lees-trained Brook Road will leave from the rails draw.
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2016 Starlight Stakes Final Field and Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36x420x70x | SHIRAZ | Kim Waugh | Brenton Avdulla | 13 | 59kg | 104 |
| 2 | 8x8314x654 | THAT’S A GOOD IDEA | Peter & Paul Snowden | – | 8 | 58.5kg | 103 |
| 3 | 113116x2x0 | DIDNTCOSTALOT | Tony Gollan | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 4 | 57kg | 100 |
| 4 | 8x531039x1 | HUSSON EAGLE | Patrick Payne | Michael Dee (a) | 6 | 56.5kg | 99 |
| 5 | x50x360x22 | KURO (NZ) | Joseph Pride | – | 11 | 55.5kg | 97 |
| 6 | 118x3586x2 | BACHMAN | Gerald Ryan | Tim Clark | 2 | 54.5kg | 95 |
| 7 | 93x27345xL | BROOK ROAD | Kris Lees | – | 1 | 54kg | 97 |
| 8 | 22326×4436 | INZ’N’OUT | Gerald Ryan | James Innes Jnr (a) | 10 | 54kg | 91 |
| 9 | 82110×1134 | SUPREME EFFORT | Kim Waugh | Tommy Berry | 3 | 54kg | 91 |
| 10 | 7x113x2x11 | MR MANHATTAN | Joseph Pride | – | 9 | 54kg | 89 |
| 11 | 5022190×86 | WHISKEY ALLROUND | Tony Gollan | Glyn Schofield | 7 | 54kg | 89 |
| 12 | x180x470x1 | PRINCEFAMOUS (NZ) | Peter & Paul Snowden | – | 5 | 54kg | 84 |
| 13 | 1030×11011 | NIETA | John P Thompson | Joshua Parr | 12 | 54kg | 81 |
