The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Golden Rose hero In The Congo heads south this weekend as one of the top fancies for the Group 1 $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Golden Rose champion In The Congo heads south to Flemington for the 2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off on Saturday at HQ with Victoria Derby Day and one of the four Group 1s on the card is the 2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds.

Seventeen smart young sprinters are engaged in this year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes field and there is early money in the markets for smart Snitzel colt out of Sydney In The Congo.

The classy chestnut has firmed in from $5 to $4.80 in Coolmore Stud Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au drawn gate 12 for Craig Williams who rode last year’s winning filly September Run (2020) to victory.

There is only one horse shorter in the markets with the untapped Extreme Warrior the $4.50 favourite in gate nine with Jye McNeil to ride.

Prepared by Mick Price & Michael Kent Junior, the son of Extreme Choice has his first run down the Flemington straight off back-to-back wins in easier Victorian races.

He was a 4.25 length winner two back at Echuca before bringing that form to Caulfield on Thousand Guineas Day for an equally impressive 3.75 length victory in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Despite the size of the field just two other runners are at single-figure Coolmore Stud Stakes odds with the Godolphin-raced Paulele ($6.50) also coming down from Sydney and the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Artorius ($8.50).

Dawn Approach colt Paulele has been in flying form running top two in his five latest starts including a win in Randwick’s Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).

He has had one previous run at Flemington when finishing a mid-field seventh in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) here in March, but is much better suited back to 1200m.

The autumn’s Blue Diamond Stakes champion Artorious also brings in some strong form having run fourth under two lengths off In The Congo in the Golden Rose before his Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) third.

The Caulfield Guineas form was franked with the winner Anamoe running second in a devastatingly close Cox Plate last weekend, with Artorius now a chance to do the same coming back in distance.

Trainer Chris Waller posted his fourth Coolmore Stud Stakes victory last year with September Run (2020) joining fellow winners from the stable: Zoustar (2013), Brazen Beau (2014) and Japonisme (2015).

This year he returns saddling-up four chances with: Shaquero, Home Affairs, Ranch Hand and Minsk Moment.

Peter Moody saddles-up the sole filly taking on the colts and geldings this year with his daughter of Not A Single Doubt, Gimmie Par, coming off a fourth to Kallos in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) here on October 2 and a 40/1 outsider to win.

Kallos is also in the mix at $11 for Godolphin looking to complete the Danehill Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double for the first time since Sepoy (2011).

The 2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday with full markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au available here.

2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.