Trainer John Sadler has confirmed that Charmed Harmony will contest the 2015 Sandown Stakes rather than the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.
Charmed Harmony (inside) has the chance to record a maiden win at black-type level in the 2015 Sandown Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Charmed Harmony started his campaign with a win in the Sandown Park Handicap (1200m) on April 6 and he failed to fire in the Hill Stakes (1400m) at Geelong on April 29 before he ran well in the Carlton Draught Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on May 16 and the PSC Insurance Brokers Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley on May 30.
The Hussonet gelding returned to winning form in the Wilson Medi One Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on July 4 and he went on to take out the Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on July 18, the Louis Polgar & Jason Vance Handicap (1400m) at the same venue on August 8 and the Hockingstuart Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Charmed Harmony made his Group 1 debut in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26 and he finished a more than credible fifth before he toughed it out for fourth in the Group 3 Guvera Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 31 at Flemington.
Sadler included Charmed Harmony in the nominations for both the Kevin Heffernan Stakes and the Sandown Stakes that were released yesterday, but Sadler confirmed that the six-year-old will contest the Sandown Stakes and he believes that the gelding is well-placed in what will be the final start of what has been a lengthy campaign.
“The 1500 I think that will be his swansong for this time in,” Sadler said.
“He has been in for 12 months.
“I think he gets the 1500 ok, he struggles a wee bit at the mile, but 1500 should be good.
“All his runs have been really good and he didn’t get any peace at all in that race at Flemington and I thought he was probably entitled to put up the white flag at the 200, but he really battled it out to run fourth.
“It was a really good effort and he is showing me no signs of having had enough, so we thought we would have one more throw at the stumps on Saturday.”
Charmed Harmony has recorded 14 wins from his 27 race starts, but he is still yet to record a victory at group level and will receive that opportunity in the 2015 Sandown Stakes.
