BIG GUNS READY TO FIRE AT CAULFIELD

By Taron Clarke | Friday, September 17, 2010

The Melbourne Spring Carnival gathers full momentum this Saturday at Caulfield with two feature Group One events set down for decision.

The time honoured Group One Underwood Stakes run over 1800 metres under Weight for Age conditions, has brought together a crack field of gallopers including last year's winner Heart of Dreams who will be ridden by Damien Oliver.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup hero Shocking, will continue his journey to make it back to back cups with a start in the Underwood. Shocking to be ridden by stable jockey Michael Rodd, will jump from barrier six in the final field of twelve runners.

Bart Cummings is left with two runners in the event following the scratching of Moatize who suffered a tendon injury which will rule him out of the Spring campaign. Moatize in fact could be off the scene for up to twelve months.

The Cummings challenge is led by first up victor of the Group Two Memsie Stakes, So You Think. Cummings elected to bypass last weeks Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes in favour of the Underwood Stakes enroute to a defence of the Cox Plate to be run at Moonee Valley on October 23.

Cumming's other runner is another Cup hopeful Dariana. The Queensland Derby heroine will start from barrier eight and will be piloted for the first time by Luke Nolen.

Sydney Weight for Age star Metal Bender will have his first run the Melbourne way of going, but the horse appears to be racing in career best form this campaign with a first up victory in the Group Two Warwick Stakes on August 21 and a solid second placing behind Theseo in the Chelmsford Stakes over the tough Randwick mile. Jockey Hugh Bowman makes the journey to ride the son of Danasinga and the duo will jump from barrier seven.

As always with Weight for Age racing, the speed of the race will most likely determine the outcome of the event and on paper the feature looks to be devoid of any real pace.

It looks a race in two between last year’s victor Heart of Dreams and the up and coming superstar of the Australasian turf, So You Think.

Drawn barriers one and two respectively, both riders will have their mounts in prominent positions from the get go and both will be there when the whips are cracking over the concluding stages.

The other Group One feature on the nine race card is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes to be run over 1400 metres.

In a race that lacks a proven Group One performer, the up and coming Doubtful Jack holds the key to the race.

Already proven on rain affected going, the question remains whether the son of Not a Single Doubt can replicate his explosive form on top of the ground. Stable rider Luke Nolen retains the mount and the four-year-old will jump from barrier ten.

Mick Price's galloper Rightfully Yours gets his chance to break through in the top grade. At three previous attempts in Group One company, the brother to Heart of Dreams has been unplaced in all starts.

After an impressive first up victory over consistent sprinter Stanzout, Rightfully Yours, who will jump from barrier four, will get a beautiful run in transit from jockey Glen Boss, who incidentally took out last years running of the event aboard the Anthony Cumming's trained entire Turffontein.

The Mark Riley trained Gold Salute returned to racing over an unsuitable 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on August 21. In his previous campaign, the son of Testa Rossa ran consecutive placings at the top level in the Toorak Handicap and Emirates Stakes. This looks a suitable race for Gold Salute to break his maiden Group One status.

One of the better weighted horses in the race appears to be the Craig Williams mount Response.

The veteran of only seven career lifetime starts, the Charge Forward mare has proven to be a model of consistency finishing out of the placings only once which was in the Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes.

Williams should be able give the mare a beautiful run and there should be sufficient speed generated up front for the Flemington trained mare to get home hard.

The running rail returns to the true position for Underwood Stakes day, after being out ten metres for the Memsie Stakes program held on August 28.

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