Ciaron Maher & David Eustace’s resuming Group 1 runner-up Prague is tipped as the horse to beat first-up in the Danehill Stakes 2020 at Flemington on Saturday.

Multiple Group winner Prague is the one to beat first-up in Flemington’s 2020 Danehill Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to run as the penultimate event on the nine-race Makybe Diva Stakes Day card at HQ this weekend, the Group 2 $200,000 Seppelt Danehill Stakes (1200m) features a quality line-up of eleven three-year-old sprinters.
Heading the field in gate eight, classy Redoute’s Choice colt Prague races for the first time since his second behind King’s Legacy in Sydney’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) during April.
He has been brought on fitness-wise with back-to-back trial wins in August ahead of his return in the Danehill where he races outside of Sydney for the first time.
Despite being untested the left-handed way of racing and yet to see the famous Flemington straight, Prague sits top of the Danehill Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $4.20 and will be ridden by veteran hoop John Allen.
Outside the favourite it is an open Danehill Stakes betting market with a further six single-figure fancies including the $6 second elect Wisdom Of Water.
Drawn barrier seven for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr, the Headwater colt debuts for the stable having previously been prepared in Queensland by Toby & Trent Edmonds.
A winner of three of his six starts to date, the form Gold Coast galloper won the Group 3 Ken Russell in May before a last start fifth to Rothfire in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins over the mile at Eagle Farm in June.
Like Prague, Wisdom Of Water races in Melbourne for the first time and how he handles the straight at Flemington will be key to his chances of adding to his strong first-up record.
Premier Perth hoop William Pike will be hoping to land the spoils in the Danehill partnering untapped Not A Single Doubt colt Doubtland ($7.50) for Hawkes Racing.
Winner of the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick over the autumn, Doubtland resumed at Rosehill a fortnight back in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) finishing fifth.
He is looking to improve second-up at Flemington as he did when second-up in the Kindergarten, which he took out by four lengths.
Following closely at $8 for the Lindsay Park operation is the Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes-trained filly Personal in gate four for jockey Damien Oliver.
Oliver is after his third win in the past decade having ridden Snitzerland (2012) and Saracino (2016) to victory.
A daughter of Fastnet Rock, Personal boasts previous winning form at the track as a juvenile back in January and is best known for her Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes third to Tagaloa.
Two-time Group placed Zoustar colt Ranting ($8.50) chasing his maiden win at start number five, followed by the undefeated duo of Tydeus ($9.50) and Annavisto ($9.50) round out the hopes under double-figures.
Click here for the latest Danehill Stakes 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 Danehill Stakes Field
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 116162x | PRAGUE | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 8 | 58.5kg | 91 | |
2 | 4x14x115x | WISDOM OF WATER | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Mark Zahra | 7 | 58.5kg | 81 | |
3 | 1x0x10 | HARD LANDING | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Luke Nolen | 3 | 58.5kg | 80 | |
4 | 11×5 | DOUBTLAND | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | William Pike | 9 | 58.5kg | 80 | |
5 | 2x271x84 | EXTRA TIME | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Craig Williams | 2 | 58.5kg | 72 | |
6 | 35413x | AMISH BOY | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Mott | 1 | 57kg | 69 | |
7 | 23×25 | RANTING (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | Ben Melham | 5 | 57kg | 70 | |
8 | 35×112 | ON THE LEAD | Richard & Michael Freedman | Luke Currie | 10 | 57kg | 68 | |
9 | 11 | TYDEUS![]() |
Lindsey Smith | Michael Rodd | 11 | 57kg | 68 | |
10 | 2130x | PERSONAL | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Damien Oliver | 4 | 55kg | 82 | |
11 | 1 | ANNAVISTO (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jye McNeil | 6 | 55kg | 64 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.