The Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) is set to have one of its strongest fields in recent memory when it is contested at Newcastle tomorrow.
The 2012 edition of the Spring Stakes, won by Proisir, was a key form race for the remainder of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
A number of classy colts that have been competitive at the highest level of racing were included in the final field for the race, with Group 1 Champagne Stakes placegetters Equator and Fuerza the headliners.
Equator started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a disappointing ninth place finish in the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) but Waterhouse clearly has a big opinion of the Northern Meteor colt and has included him in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
The promising colt was very impressive as a two-year-old, winning at Kembla Grange and Canterbury before finishing third in the Champagne Stakes (1600m), and will appreciate the step back up to a mile at Newcastle tomorrow.
Fuerza finally broke his maiden with a victory at Newcastle last weekend after producing disappointing performances in the Big Sports Breakfast Plate (1100m) at Canterbury and the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Warwick Farm.
The Snippetson colt raced inconsistently as a juvenile but looked to be at his best over a mile, finishing second in the Listed Adina Hotels Fernhill Quality (1600m) and the Champagne Stakes.
Another horse coming out of the Up And Coming Stakes is Chris Waller-trained Vilanova who finished third in the race before finishing tenth in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
The three-year-old is still chasing his first victory in Australia after finishing second in both the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) and Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce (1200m) during the 2013 Brisbane Winter Carnival – form that was franked when Zoustar won the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Other interesting runners include Peter Moody-trained Stamina, undefeated Rockabill and Patinack Farm-owned Hooked.
The 2012 edition of the Spring Stakes was won in dominant fashion by Proisir who went on to finish second in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and eighth in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
