Phillip Stokes’ last start RN Irwin Stakes winner Nostradamus is among the early entries for the DC McKay Stakes 2016 where he will shoot for back-to-back wins at Morphettville Racecourse.

RN Irwin Stakes winner Nostradamus is nominated to back up into the 2016 DC McKay Stakes in Adelaide on Saturday. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

The $120,000 Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m) is a key lead-up into the $500,000 Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) back at the track on May 21 and has attracted 22 nominations this Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.

One of the top nominees for Saturday’s handicap clash is the locally-trained Medaglia D’Oro four-year-old Nostradamus who comes off a win in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at the track and distance a fortnight ago.

He carried 58.5kg to victory in that clash and will appreciate the drop back to 57kg on Saturday if accepted into the capacity 20-starter DC McKay Stakes field.

Nostradamus also features in the futures The Goodwood odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $26, a price set to shorten if he can come out and win again this weekend.

RN Irwin Stakes runner-up I Am Gypsy is also among the DC McKay Stakes nominations this season, the Gordon Richards-trained mare beaten only a long-neck in her lead-up run.

Runner-up the start before behind Daytona Grey in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m), the four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible also drops in weight from 56.5kg in the RN Irwin to the 54kg minimum on the weekend.

Heading the DC McKay Stakes weights this year with 59kg is the Wez Hunter-trained Smokin’ Joey.

A veteran eight-year-old son of Encosta De Lago, Smokin’ Joey hasn’t run top three since his Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1400m) win at Caulfield in July last year, but does have winning form at the track having won the 2014 The Goodwood in elite level company.

The next heaviest weighted for the weekend with 57.5kg is the Darren Weir-trained La Passe who hasn’t won a race since the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) on Caulfield Cup Day in Melbourne last October.

A $41 roughie in all-in The Goodwood betting, she was last past the post in the RN Irwin Stakes first-up beaten just over five lengths, but could be given the chance to atone second-up back in Adelaide on Saturday.

Weir has also nominated for Exceed And Excel gelding Thermal Current who won in Black-Type company at Mornington two back and Snitzel colt Sooboog.

Thermal Current is one of the best fancied The Goodwood hopes in Saturday’s lead-ups, the $17 hope for the Group 1 coming off a close fourth behind Miss Promiscuity in the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) from mid-April.

Also at $17 for The Goodwood and in the mix for the DC McKay Stakes is the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Sheidel.

Last start winner of Caulfield’s Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) the four-year-old has since been accepted for Saturday’s $400,000 Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).

The shortest-priced The Goodwood hope nominated for Saturday’s Group 3 meanwhile is Supido ($9) from the Cranbourne stables of Michael Kent.

A four-year-old Sebring stallion, Supido has won five of his seven starts to date and was last seen scoring a tidy win over 1200m at Flemington on Anzac Day with 60kg on his back.

He drops to 54kg on the weekend looking to make it six wins on the trot and continue his The Goodwood campaign.

Check out the full DC McKay Stakes 2016 nominations below, the field and barriers out on Wednesday followed by the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au!

2016 DC McKay Stakes Nominations & Weights

Morphettville Racecourse – 07/05/2016