The 2016 Memsie Stakes nominations have been released and leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has four horses in the initial entries for the Group 1 event.
Black Heart Bart is one of four Darren Weir-trained horses in the 2016 Memsie Stakes nominations. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
The Memsie Stakes has always been the major 2016 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Mahuta and he will head into the $500,000 race with two runs under his belt.
Mahuta returned to the races with a credible third in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 30, but he was slightly disappointing in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at the same venue a fortnight ago.
The other Weir runner that will head into the Memsie Stakes with a run under his belt is Australian Guineas winner Palentino.
Palentino carried a big weight in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 13 and produced an eye-catching effort that is sure to bring him on for the Memsie Stakes.
Black Heart Bart will head into the Memsie Stakes first-up, but he will still have a great deal of residual fitness under his belt following his autumn campaign that concluded with a very close second behind Under The Louvre in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Rounding out the four Darren Weir-trained gallopers is Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance – who will be ridden by young hoop Harry Coffey.
Prince Of Penzance has only had the one race start since his famous victory in the Melbourne Cup and he showed that he is in for a big spring with a fast-finishing second behind Tonopah in the Group 3 R A Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 21.
Another stable with multiple runners in the Memsie Stakes nominations is the Lindsay Park team, who have included He Or She, Rising Romance and Tashbeeh in the initial entries.
Blamey Stakes winner He Or She and talented mare Rising Romance will both go into the Memsie Stakes first-up, while Tashbeeh finished a more than credible third in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on August 6.
P.B. Lawrence Stakes winner Miss Rose De Lago has not been included in the Memsie Stakes nominations, but Entirely Platinum, Awesome Rock and Lord Of The Sky are set to back-up this weekend.
There are a host of talented horses that will start their spring preparations in the Memsie Stakes as they build towards big races later in the Carnival.
Sofia Rosa and Tavago will make their first appearances at the races since they took out the Australian Oaks and Australian Derby respectively in the autumn, while the likes of Alpine Eagle, Ayers Rock, Hi World, Tally and Tarzino are also set to return to the races this weekend.
The Memsie Stakes field will be released on Wednesday and you can find all the odds with Ladbrokes.com.au.
