Ninth Legion has been scratched from the Group 1 $400,000 Anthea Crawford Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday paving the way for Petrology to take his place in the field.

Ninth Legion is out of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and will run in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Team Hawkes trained Ninth Legion will go around in the easier Group 2 $175,000 Leonay Plumbing Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill while first emergency Petrology gains a run in the Group 1 Handicap.

The inclusion of Petrology will give the Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig three runners with Fast ‘N’ Rocking and Gregers already in the main field.

Team Hawkes won’t be without a runner with Leebaz to represent the stable in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Ninth Legion ran an honest race when a first up second to the Chris Waller trained Winx in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12 and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes believes the six year old is well suited in the Shannon Stakes.

“He has a great form and there is no doubting his ability, but it just depends on which Ninth Legion turns up,’ Hawkes said.

“The Winx form is pretty fat form in Sydney at the moment.”

Leebaz might be at the long odds of $41 with Ladbrokes.com.au but Hawkes is expecting the Group 1 placegetter to be right in the thick of it at the end of the 1400m.

“Leebaz is great. He went too hard the other day at Flemington and fell in a hole but his work’s been great and I think he’ll run better than what people might expect on Saturday,” Hawkes told Racing.com’s Racing Ahead on RSN.

With noted front runner Charmed Harmony certain to put plenty of pace into the race, Hayes is confident that Petrology will be running on strongly at the finish.

“A hard run race, which is predicted, might suit him and he will be finishing off strongly,” Hayes said.

“His work this week has been as good as it’s been. Handicap conditions is preferred to weight for age.”

All of Hayes’ and Dabernig runners are at big odds with Fat ‘N’ Rocking at $21 while Gregers is at $26 and Petrology at $34.

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Disposition, $6 Under The Louvre, $7 Stratum Star, $11 Lucky Hussler, Charmed Harmony, $13 Cosmic Endeavour, $15 Amicus, $16 Rich Enuff, $21 Strawberry Boy, Fast ‘N’ Rocking, $26 Amorino, Gregers, Yesterday’s Song, $31 Abidewithme, Bull Point, $34 Petrology, $41 Leebaz, Worthy Cause, Hopfgarten, $51 Moonovermanhattan, $201 We’re Gonna Rock.