A field of potential spring stars will face off at Moonee Valley Racecourse this Saturday with a host of staying types engaged for the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes 2017.  

He’s Our Rokkii has been confirmed in the 2017 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes field. Photo: Steve Hart

Due to run as the penultimate event on the nine-race card, this year’s Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) has attracted an 11-starter field.  

One of the standout acceptors is the Lindsay Park-trained He’s Our Rokkii chasing his first win since success in last October’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.  

The Roc De Cambes five-year-old comes off a good fourth behind early 2017 Caulfield Cup favourite Hartnell in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) from August 19. 

Set to appreciate the step-up in distance, He’s Our Rokkii gets the rails run from barrier one on the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit and his regular rider Dwayne Dunn continues associations on the weekend.  

The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable have also accepted for Jacquinot Bay in gate nine with Regan Bayliss to ride the veteran Galileo ten-year-old. 

One of the oldest horses currently racing, Jacquinot Bay is right back up in grade for his first black-type test since a ninth in the Wagga Cup during the winter and will be at big odds.  

Coming off back-to-back wins and looking to extend that streak in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes is the Michael Moroney-trained Rhythm To Spare in gate five.  

An eight-year-old son of Pins, the gelding saluted over the mile at Flemington and Caulfield respectively in August and looks in peak form.  

New Zealand trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman have dual runners in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes field this season with Lizzie L’Amour and Bonneval both kicking off their spring bids in the weight-for-age clash. 

Damien Oliver rides Lizzie L’Amour from a nice gate three draw, the Zabeel mare having her maiden run down under.  

She was last seen racing at Ellerslie back across the Tasman in mid-March where she defeated Benzini to win the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).  

Lizzie L’Amour holds nominations for all the upcoming Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival majors including the Caulfield Cup on October 21 and the Ladbrokes Cox Plate a week later at Moonee Valley.  

Stablemate Bonneval has Damian Lane aboard on Saturday as the exciting Makfi mare makes her four-year-old debut.  

A winner of five of her eight career starts to date, she has won just shy of $1 million in prize money thanks to a stellar three-year-old season that included dual Oaks victories. 

Back home she took out the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) before travelling to Sydney and dominating the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) with her four and a half-length win over Perfect Rhyme (2nd) and last year’s Crown Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit (3rd).  

Bonneval is a key early favourite in futures Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $17 for the mile and a half classic, and will improve on whatever she does over the mile this weekend.  

Other noteworthy runners include last year’s Sydney Cup champion Gallante, the 2016 ATC Derby winner Tavago and Darren Weir’s Perth Cup hero Star Exhibit out to improve on a PB Lawrence ninth. 

Check out the official Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes 2017 field, barriers and jockeys below with betting to open shortly at Ladbrokes.com.au. 

2017 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Final Field & Barriers  

Moonee Valley Race 8 (4:50pm) – 09/09/2017