Chris Waller’s returning Group 1 All Aged Stakes champ Kolding headlines a small field of spring hopefuls in Saturday’s Missile Stakes 2021 at Royal Randwick.

Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winner Kolding returns in Saturday’s 2021 Missile Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 2 $200,000 Heineken Missile Stakes (1200m), moved from Rosehill to Randwick due to COVID, originally drew eight final acceptors but the field is down to seven following the early withdrawal of Hellenism (7).

Ocean Park six-year-old Kolding is the highest-rated runner in the mix, the $6.38 million earner looking to add to his excellent Randwick record (14:6-2-0) first-up from the outside alley with James McDonald aboard.

The latest Missile Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au list Kolding at $4.40 for the win as the horse races for the first time since his narrow victory over Savatiano in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) here in late April.

Kolding boasts wins in the Group 2 Hill Stakes, Group 1 George Main Stakes and Group 1 Epsom Handicap among others at Randwick.

While the 1200m is a little short of his preferred, fresh in a small field he shapes-up as a genuine winning chance.

Leading Missile Stakes betting this season at a short $2.60 and firming meanwhile is the Joe Pride-trained Fasika drawn the rails with Brenton Avdulla to ride the six-year-old daughter of So You Think.

Unlike Kolding, Fasika has an outstanding record first-up (5:3-1-0) and is a four-time winner from nine starts over the 1200m distance.

In April she was impressive taking out the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at the track and distance before her close third in Eagle Farm’s Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) behind Niccanova last start in May.

She has been brought-on fitness wise with two subsequent trials, the latest a 900m winning hit-out over Quick Thinker at Warwick Farm on July 23 making her a hard to beat favourite this weekend.

In an open market a further three of the Missile Stakes hopefuls are under $10 for the win with the Godolphin-raced Viridine ($5), the Michael Costa-trained Phobetor ($6.50) coming off a Listed Ramornie Handicap second at Grafton in early July and John Thompson’s last-start July Sprint winner at Rosehill Chat ($9.50).

It has been a while between drinks for James Cummings’ Poet’s Voice seven-year-old Viridine, the million-dollar earner chasing his first win since the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) when carting 62kg to victory at Caulfield last August.

He has been competitive in plenty since however and was far from disgraced last time out when under length back fifth in his failed title defence in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on July 24.

The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Hightail ($14) to be ridden by Hugh Bowman second-up and Riodini ($14) for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott round out the Missile Stakes field and odds.

The Missile Stakes 2021 is set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 2:55pm (AEST) and the latest betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au can be accessed here.

2021 Missile Stakes Field & Barrierss

Table Credit: Racing Australia.