The Listed Recognition Stakes (1630m) is one of two black-type races running at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane this Saturday, offering a total of $100,000 in prize money.
Brave Ali will jump from barrier four when he contests the Recognition Stakes this Saturday. Photo by Daniel Costello.
14 horses featured accepted for the race on Wednesday, ready to tackle to mile. Headlining the final field is the Tony McEvoy-trained Mouro.
Mouro has dually accepted for the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) running at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse the same day. The trainer said earlier in the week that the decision on which race to run in would come down to the strength of the field and ground conditions.
The five-year-old gelding has lucked out in the 2014 Festival Stakes, scoring a start from barrier three with champion hoop Kerrin McEvoy on board to ride. However he faces tougher competition in the Sydney race, with the likes of Group 3 Heffernan Stakes (1300m) runner-up Generalife and Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) runner Estonian Princess declaring for the race.
Meanwhile should he run in the 2014 Recognition Stakes, Mouro will carry the top weight of 61kg (two kilos more than in the Festival) and jump wide from barrier 13. However ground condition is a big factor in McEvoy’s decision and Brisbane got its share of rainfall early Wednesday morning which could make the ground perfect on Saturday, not too firm.
If Mouro is withdrawn from the Recognition Stakes, Brave Ali will become the top rated runner. The eight-year-old gelding will jump from barrier four with apprentice jockey Bridget Grylls in the saddle.
Brave Ali had a great winter carnival in Brisbane, finishing third in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) before winning the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) and finishing runner-up in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).
The gelding has proven to be a successful stayer but his form over the mile is not as certain. He finished runner-up in the Quirindi Cup (1600m) but that was back in February – nine races ago.
The Brian Wakefield-trained Grayson Square has scored the inside run from barrier one and will also carry the minimum weight of 54kg. The five-year-old enjoyed three consecutive wins in October from inside barriers which signals good things for his 2014 Recognition Stakes chances on Saturday.
Trainer Pat Duff is set to deliver a dual-pronged attack on the race, saddling both Steel Zip and Abu Ben Adam in the race.
Robert Heathcote’s Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) winner Hopfgarten will jump from barrier 10 with Damian Browne while Darci Be Good will vie for his third straight win from barrier three.
Check out the full 2014 Recognition Stakes final field below to get a full understanding of the weekend race.
Ladbrokes.com.au will open its betting market for the race shortly, make sure your is open and ready to go.
2014 Recognition Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 011x1707x2 | MOURO (USA) | Tony McEvoy | Michael Cahill | 13 | 61kg | 106 |
| 2 | 5111312×40 | BRAVE ALI (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Bridget Grylls (a) | 4 | 57kg | 98 |
| 3 | 7583433311 | DARCI BE GOOD (NZ) | Andrew Williamson | Travis Wolfgram (a) | 3 | 56.5kg | 97 |
| 4 | 1111041×19 | HOPFGARTEN | Robert Heathcote | Damian Browne | 10 | 56kg | 96 |
| 5 | 056653×994 | STEEL ZIP | Pat Duff | Justin P Stanley | 2 | 54.5kg | 93 |
| 6 | 522227×107 | LADY ECHELON | Natalie McCall | Jeff Lloyd | 7 | 54kg | 93 |
| 7 | 4112x7x736 | DOUBLE IMPACT | Jackie Crompton | Eddie Wilkinson | 6 | 54kg | 91 |
| 8 | 58862137×0 | NOISY OCEAN | Bryan Guy | – | 8 | 54kg | 90 |
| 9 | 00211×7572 | ALDINI | David Kelly | – | 5 | 54kg | 89.5 |
| 10 | x113530x22 | RUDY | Helen Page | Luke Tarrant (a) | 9 | 54kg | 89 |
| 11 | 263×241115 | GRAYSON SQUARE (NZ) | Brian Wakefield | Chris Munce | 1 | 54kg | 88 |
| 12 | x486597x84 | GOLDSLICK | Liam Birchley | – | 12 | 54kg | 86 |
| 13 | x207647x21 | IMPERIL | Stuart Kendrick | – | 14 | 54kg | 80 |
| 14 | 613230×011 | ABU BEN ADAM | Pat Duff | Jim Byrne | 11 | 54kg | 77.5 |
