A dozen three-year-old sprinters will take to the Flemington track on Finals Day this Saturday in the A.R. Creswick Series Final 2017 field.
Chris Waller’s in-form filly Overstep is one of the standout three-year-olds in the 2017 AR Creswick Series Final field at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Due to run as Flemington Race 5 at 2:10pm (AEST), this year’s $120,000 Listed A.R. Creswick Series Final (1200m) has attracted a class line-up of youngsters including the Chris Waller-trained Overstep.
Drawn ideally in barrier two with Craig Newitt retaining the ride, the in-form Exceed And Excel filly has won two of her past three starts during a five straight assault at Flemington.
Her latest saw her narrowly hold off Invincible Al to take out an 1100m sprint down the straight on June 24 from a wide barrier 12 of 12 draw.
She will relish the better gate this weekend and should also enjoy the step-up in distance having enjoyed two previous wins over the 1200m.
The only thing working against Overstep on Saturday is the filly going up from 54kg to 56.5kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the A.R. Creswick Final.
Invincible Al ran second to Overstep last time out and is also in the mix chasing the grand final win on the weekend from barrier seven.
Luke Nolen takes over for apprentice Beau Mertens aboard the Patrick Payne-trained I Am Invincible gelding who goes up from 54.5kg to 57.5kg this weekend.
Along with Overstep, the only other last start winner in the A.R. Creswick Series Final field this winter is the flying Robbie Griffiths-trained Fast Stryke.
The ultra-consistent Stryker gelding is yet to finish worse than third over his 10 career starts to date and was last seen carting a hefty 62kg to victory over 1100m at Echuca on June 26.
Fast Stryke has had seven previous runs over 1200m for one win and half a dozen seconds and will be hard to hold out this weekend dropping right back to 56kg, the lightest weight he’s ever carried.
Also a picture of consistency this season has been the John Moloney-trained Statue Of Liberty colt Liberty Song.
It has been a long time between drinks for the Caulfield-based three-year-old who hasn’t won since October last year, but he has been in the money more often than not.
Last start Liberty Song was second behind Revolving Door over 1200m at Moonee Valley and this weekend Damien Oliver takes over in the saddle from a nice gate four draw.
Other notable hopes in the mix include the Darren Weir-trained top weight Ken’s Dream (58.5kg) who is a black-type winner and previous Group 3 performer out to improve on a fifth to Overstep last start and Lindsay Park’s Exceed And Excel colt Highland Beat.
Check out the official A.R. Creswick Series Final 2017 field, barriers and jockeys below with markets on all the Finals Day races on Saturday due out shortly at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 A.R. Creswick Series Final Field & Barrier Draw
Flemington Race 5 (2:10pm) – 08/07/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24×2212755 | KEN’S DREAM | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 11 | 58.5kg | 83 |
| 2 | 412238×512 | INVINCIBLE AL | Patrick Payne | Luke Nolen | 7 | 57.5kg | 75 |
| 3 | 33×0354141 | OVERSTEP | Chris Waller | Craig Newitt | 2 | 56.5kg | 78 |
| 4 | 20765×9803 | HIGHLAND BEAT | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Beau Mertens (a) | 9 | 56kg | 70 |
| 5 | x238434232 | LIBERTY SONG | John Moloney | Damien Oliver | 4 | 56kg | 68 |
| 6 | 123324 | SACRED SHAM (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Daniel Moor | 12 | 56kg | 66 |
| 7 | 23x21x2221 | FAST STRYKE | Robbie Griffiths | Luke Currie | 8 | 56kg | 66 |
| 8 | 310×142438 | MISTOFFELEES | Kevin Bodey | Jye McNeil | 3 | 56kg | 66 |
| 9 | 32216x5x56 | HAY BALE | Robbie Griffiths | Ben E Thompson (a) | 6 | 56kg | 62 |
| 10 | 5x215x2 | WOOMERA | Wendy Roche | James Winks | 10 | 56kg | 61 |
| 11 | 41x4060x52 | I’M TELLING YA | Amy Johnston | Noel Callow | 5 | 56kg | 61 |
| 12 | 4x411x6376 | MYSTIFIED | Ryan Balfour | Dwayne Dunn | 1 | 55kg | 71 |
