Last weekend we saw star colt Anamoe destroy his rivals in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse, which kicked off the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival for 2022. This weekend Melbourne takes centre stage with the running of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
The 1400m feature has long been a starting point for Spring contenders and the $1m weight-for-age contest has attracted some very prominent names this year. Last year’s Memsie was taken out by Adelaide-trained galloper, Behemoth, who also won the race in 2020.
Looking at the market, Dabble currently has Stradbroke Handicap winner, Alligator Blood, and former WA gelding, Western Empire, equal favourites at $5.50, with unbeaten entire, Illation, right on their heels at $6.00. Old timers, Cascadian and Tofane, are next best at $7.50 and I’m Thunderstruck and Snapdancer are also in commission.
If the market is anything to go by, this year’s Memsie looks anyone’s race. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Memsie Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. I’m Thunderstruck (9) – $8.50
Jockey – Mark Zahra 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Finished runner up last prep in both the All Star Mile and G1 Doncaster Hcp. Has a brilliant fresh record and is a G1 winner at this track/trip. Will get back from the gate but if the pace is genuine he’ll be finishing hard.
I’m Thunderstruck 🤝 Mark Zahra
Who can’t wait to see these two in Saturday’s Memsie Stakes? 🙋♂️ pic.twitter.com/nVYQqOkeA4
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 24, 2022
2. Cascadian (7) – $7.50
Jockey – Blake Shinn 59kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Returns as an 8YO this prep but seems to be going as well as ever. Liked his recent trial behind stablemate Anamoe, where he hammered the line late. Although on paper he doesn’t have the best record here at Caulfield his runs, especially over 1400m, have been very good. Gives Blake Shinn a golden opportunity to bag an early Spring feature and his first G1 winner since returning from Hong Kong.
3. Alligator Blood (1) – $5.50EF
Jockey – Damien Oliver 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Controversial former-Qld trained galloper who was a brilliant winner of the Stradbroke Hcp last start. Has a good fresh record and is a winner over 1400m here at Caulfield. Will need some luck from the inside draw but gets the services of D Oliver which is a big tick. Has been well found in the market but has to be respected.
4. Nonconformist (4) – $34
Jockey – Jordan Childs 59kg
Trainer – Grahame Begg
Stamped himself as a genuine G1 stayer last prep after finishing runner up in both the Caulfield Stakes and Caulfield Cup. No doubt will have bigger fish to fry later in the prep as the trips get longer, but is capable of running a race fresh at big odds.
5. Western Empire (12) – $5.50EF
Jockey – Damian Lane 59kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
G1 winner in WA who has an excellent record and the ability to run time. We’ve seen time and time again the Perth form stands up and this bloke is a genuine top liner. The gate doesn’t make his task any easier and will need to be close to 100% to win this off a 9 month break, but is certainly good enough to measure up.
6. Callsign Mav (14) – $21
Jockey – Jamie Mott 59kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
Former Kiwi who’s best run in Australia was here at Caulfield. Will roll forward from the outside gate but may find a few of these a bit sharp first up.
7. Elephant (11) – $51
Jockey – Daniel Moor 59kg
Trainer – Emma-Lee & David Browne
Resumed here a fortnight ago behind Mr Brightside where he got back and struggled to make any headway. Should be improved by that run but this race certainly isn’t any easier.
8. Zeyrek (8) – $71
Jockey – Damien Thornton 59kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Listed Randwick winner last prep. Has trialled well leading into this but is on a Cups path and will most likely find them a bit slick for him here.
Who do you think takes out the G1 Memsie Stakes this Saturday? ✍ pic.twitter.com/5EUVbcq6ta
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 25, 2022
9. Dragon Leap (2) – $34
Jockey – Michael Dee 59kg
Trainer – Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
Trans Tasman visitor who resumed with a good effort at Ruakaka first up over 1100m. Will improve with the step up in trip and must be going well to be lining up here. Not sure he’s good enough to win but a forward showing wouldn’t shock.
10. Lightsaber (6) – $41
Jockey – Luke Nolen 58.5kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Almost caused a boil over in the Australian Guineas last prep only to be nabbed late by Hitotsu. Had a solid hit out at the trials leading into this and will enjoy a cosy run from the good gate. Shouldn’t be far away when the whips are cracking.
11. Illation (13) – $6.50
Jockey – Jamie Kah 58.5kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Star 3YO who resumes here in what will be his toughest test to date. Made mincemeat of his rivals in a Pakenham maiden before two Listed wins in Adelaide last prep. Faces a tough ask first up from the wide draw but oozes ability and has a lethal turn of foot. Keep safe.
12. Tofane (3) – $7.50
Jockey – Jye McNeil 57kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Iron mare who returns here after adding another G1 to her CV last prep. Drawn to get a gun run from the low draw and 1400m is her pet trip. Hard to knock her and there looks to be no reason she can’t do what she did fresh last prep in the CF Orr.
Looking ahead to the #Memsie stakes the 3 I like here plus 1 value runners and reasons why
Tofane rated $5.5 ran to a winning standard at this track first up last prep, she’s a year older sure but receives quality jock and maps a treat and very backable at $7#rawratings
— R. (@shatinsteph) August 24, 2022
13. Duais (10) – $23
Jockey – Joshua Parr 57kg
Trainer – Edward Cummings
Dual G1 winner last prep who was scratched from last weekend’s Winx Stakes in Sydney. She looks a key player in this year’s Cup races and connections will be happy to see her hitting the line here, and perhaps take home some minor prize money.
14. Snapdancer (5) – $10
Jockey – Ethan Brown 57kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Speedy mare who ran them into the ground to claim her first G1 victory last prep in the Sangster. Has trialled well leading into this and finally draws a decent alley. Will be in it for a long way.
Final Word
A host of top class gallopers return here in what looks to be one of the stronger Memsie Stakes of recent times. There looks decent speed on paper which should ensure a genuine tempo and grant every horse an opportunity to win providing no major track bias.
Although he’s come up with an outside gate and faces a star-studded G1 field for the first time here, I can’t go past Illation. He was breathtaking in his first preparation and should have improved after a break. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t measure up in this and go on to have a triumphant Spring carnival.
Evergreen mare, Tofane, should get every chance from the low draw first up. She blew her rivals away fresh last prep in the G1 CF Orr this track/trip and should get similar conditions again.
Godolphin warhorse, Cascadian, and Illation’s stablemate, I’m Thunderstruck, will be out the back early but both tick a lot of boxes here first up. With any amount of luck it won’t be a surprise to see either of them take out the race.
Happy to go around the well fancied duo in Alligator Blood and Western Empire. Alligator Blood will need luck from the inside draw and the former-Perthian resumes here after a lengthy stint on the sidelines, and will find it tricky from the wide gate first up.
Memsie Stakes Tip
11. Illation – Win ($6.50)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Memsie Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
