Classy mare Red Tracer will be chasing her second Group 1 victory when she takes on what is set to be a less than capacity field in the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Red Tracer was one of three Chris Waller-trained mares included in the nominations for the Group 1 Myer Classic. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Only fifteen mares were included in the Myer Classic nominations that were released this morning and Red Tracer is expected to start the race as a short-priced favourite after producing two impressive performances since returning to the races last month.
The Dane Shadow mare resumed with an unlucky second place finish behind Sharnee Rose in the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) and returned to the winners circle when she raced away and scored a dominant three lengths victory in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m).
Red Tracer will face a similar field in the Myer Classic this weekend; with Darren Weir-trained Ava’s Delight, Australian Guineas runner-up You’re So Good, Phillip Stokes-trained Molto Bene, Group 1 winning mare Xanadu and Blazer Stakes winner Fire Up Fifi all backing up from the Tristarc Stakes.
Fire Up Fifi had no luck in the Tristarc Stakes but ran home strongly to finish fifth and will clearly relish the step-up to a mile and a return to Flemington.
The six-year-olds trainer Robert Heathcote is chasing his third Group 1 victory during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival after winning the Toorak Handicap (1600m) with Solzhenitsyn earlier this month and the Manikato Stakes (1200m) with Buffering on Friday night.
Leading trainer Chris Waller has a chance to trifecta the Myer Classic at Flemington this weekend; with Arinosa and Catkins set to join Red Tracer in the final field.
Catkins is yet to miss a placing since returning to the races in August and returned to the winners circle at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she recorded a tough victory in the Group 3 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m).
Arinosa started her 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a most impressive victory in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 but failed to beat home a single runner when stepped up to Group 1 level in the Manikato Stakes.
Other interesting Myer Classic nominees include Darley mare Cameo, New Zealand-trained Zurella and Peter Moody-trained Thy.
