Veteran gelding Conservatorium has been included in the nominations for the 2014 City Of Marion Stakes that will be held at Morphettville this weekend.
Conservatorium is set to return to black type racing in the 2014 City Of Marion Stakes in Adelaide this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Conservatorium was sent to the spelling paddock after he beat just a single runner home in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7, but he returned to the races with a promising third behind Brimarvi Prince and Thiamandi in the Roadside Service And Solutions Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville Parks on November 22.
The Royal Academy gelding has campaigned in Perth during the past two summers and took out the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) and Group 3 Scahill Stakes (1400m) last year, but connections opted to keep the seven-year-old at home this summer.
Brimarvi Prince defeated Conservatorium in the Roadside Service And Solutions Handicap and will be having his first start at Listed level after recording three straight wins since returning to the races in October.
Another horse that will be backing up from the Roadside Service And Solutions Handicap in the City Of Marion Stakes is Lloyd Kennewell-trained Thiamandi, who finished a close second in the $50,000 event.
Thiamandi stamped herself as a horse to watch when she scored an upset win over Lord Of The Sky in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 26 and finished fourth in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 16 before she was sent to the spelling paddock after she finished at the tail of the field in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on August 30.
Nearest To Pin is set to return to racing in Adelaide after having his past six race starts in Melbourne.
The Golden Lake gelding was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished third behind Thiamandi in the Bletchingly Stakes and he returned to racing with credible performances in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1 and the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on November 15.
One of the most interesting horses in the 2014 City Of Marion Stakes nominations is progressive gelding Tildy Lad, who will be making his racing debut at Listed level.
Tildy Lad recorded four straight race wins before he finished second behind the talented Nite Rocker in the Adelaide Galvanising Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville on November 1 and was far from disgraced when third in the City Of Ballarat Tonks Plate (1200m) at Ballarat on November 22.
Alpha Man, Dubawi Gold, Exodus, Holy Heart, Kosciuszko’s Side, Meadows Jim, Our Exchange, Remagen Bridge and Whitlam have also been included in the City Of Marion Stakes nominations.
