A particularly talented field of 12 sprinters has been confirmed for this weekend’s Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington Racecourse, undoubtedly highlighted by the inclusion of several previous winners at the highest level of Australian racing.
A Time For Julia has been confirmed in the 2014 Salinger Stakes final field. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Having returned to racing in smart form this time in, trainer Jason Warren has accepted a position in the Salinger Stakes final field for classy short distance specialist Bel Sprinter, who is offered an excellent chance of maintaining his unbeaten 2013 spring record from the ideal barrier 5.
A Group 1 champion having taken out the 2013 edition of The Galaxy (1100m), Bel Sprinter was unable to find peak condition over a disappointing autumn campaign this year; finishing ninth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up and while appearing to be finding his feet when fourth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m), returned to the paddock after running eighth in his Galaxy title defence and fourteenth in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m).
Producing a scintillating final straight sprint to tie first with Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) first-up on October 18th, the Bel Esprit gelding has been charged with lugging a race-high 59kgs but is sure to be boosted by jockey Ben Melham retaining the ride.
Breaking through for a maiden Group 1 victory in the Robert Sangster Classic (1200m) at Morphettville in April, trainer Gai Waterhouse has accepted a position in the Salinger Stakes field for Driefontein.
Claiming eight race wins and a further 6 minor places from her thirty competitive appearances on course so far, Driefontein steadily built to the task on her way to Robert Sangster Classic glory; placing sixth in the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) and finishing a credible fifth amongst classy competition in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) before comfortably taking out the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m) on April 12th.
Travelling to Brisbane for seventh in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) and second in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) most notably, the Fastnet Rock mare ran sixth in the Caulfield Sprint first-up and will have to overcome the somewhat wide barrier 9 if to return to the winner’s circle this weekend.
Confirmed to target the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on November 8th, classy sprinter Deep Field will use the Salinger Stakes as a final tune-up on Saturday, but will have to find an extra gear if to win from the outside barrier 12.
Yet to taste anything but success in his short four race career to date, the Northern Meteor entire comfortably won three minors over 1100m before successfully making the transition to black type racing when taking out the Listed Tattersall’s Club Lightning Stakes (1100m) on October 18th.
A strong and largely consistent performer for trainer Peter Moody this year, A Time For Julia will carry just 53.5kgs in the 2014 Salinger Stakes and will leave from the ideal barrier 4.
Unlucky not to break through for a race win this spring, the daughter of Redoute’s Choice finished second in both the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) most notably before a luckless run for 12th in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last time out.
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2014 Salinger Stakes Final Field and Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68x94800x1 | BEL SPRINTER | Jason Warren | Ben Melham | 5 | 59kg | 109 |
| 2 | 65110720×6 | DRIEFONTEIN | Gai Waterhouse | Vlad Duric | 9 | 56kg | 107 |
| 3 | 9x1x9034x6 | AERONAUTICAL | Lionel Cohen | Jeff Lloyd | 3 | 55.5kg | 102 |
| 4 | x1213x2321 | IN CAHOOTS | Phillip Atkins | Damien Oliver | 6 | 55.5kg | 102 |
| 5 | 22x11211x4 | BIG MONEY | Rodney Northam | Robert Thompson | 2 | 54kg | 99 |
| 6 | 11×11 | DEEP FIELD | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 12 | 54kg | 99 |
| 7 | x12147x220 | A TIME FOR JULIA | Peter G Moody | Glen Boss | 4 | 53.5kg | 102 |
| 8 | 67x147x023 | CHARLIE BOY | Gerald Ryan | Tommy Berry | 8 | 53.5kg | 98 |
| 9 | 1x43394x12 | THAT’S A GOOD IDEA | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 10 | 53.5kg | 98 |
| 10 | 8x71020x92 | ADAMANTIUM (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | James Winks | 11 | 53kg | 97 |
| 11 | 236314213x | NEAREST TO PIN | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Chad Schofield | 7 | 53kg | 96 |
| 12 | 3108x44x13 | ECLAIR BIG BANG (NZ) | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | 1 | 53kg | 92 |
