The Offer has been included in the 2014 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes field and will start his Melbourne Cup campaign in the Group 2 event at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Tommy Berry will make the trip to Melbourne to partner The Offer in the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
The Offer (barrier six) has not been seen at the races since he stormed into Melbourne Cup favoritism with a dominant four lengths win in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 19, but he has impressed with a pair of barrier trials in the lead-up to his return to racing.
The Montjeu gelding has never recorded a win in a race shorter than 2200 metres, but trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident that the impressive stayer can be competitive when he jumps from barrier six on Saturday.
A number of in-form gallopers have been included in the 2014 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes field and The Offer will need to perform at his very best to replicate the feat of former stablemate Fiorente, who won the $250,000 event before going on to win the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Star Rolling (barrier four) has been set for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and he started his spring preparation with a narrow win in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16.
The Casino Prince gelding will be having just his second race start at Moonee Valley, but impressed co-trainer Peter Morgan with the way that he handled the tight-turning circuit in trackwork on Tuesday morning.
Mourinho (barrier ten) is also taking winning form into the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes after he resumed with a smart win at Moonee Valley on August 23 and he will be joined in the race by stablemate Hvasstan (barrier three) , who finished second in the same race.
OTI Racing will also have multiple runners in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, with Mick Price-trained Pakal and Peter Moody-trained Lidari both included in the acceptances for the feature race at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Pakal (barrier five) will be returning to the races for the first time since he finished sixth in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing, while Lidari (barrier eight) resumed with a slightly disappointing fifth in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.
Arguably the most popular galloper in the 2014 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes field is Tasmanian-trained The Cleaner, who will be making his maiden appearance at Group 2 level this weekend.
The Cleaner (barrier two) has become a cult hero due to his brave front-running style and the son of Savoire Vivre is sure to take up the running when he jumps from barrier two on Saturday as he chases ballot-exempt entry into the Melbourne Cup.
The expected hot early tempo in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes should assist Chris Waller-trained Foreteller and the Dansili gelding will likely be settled at the tail of the field after drawing the outside barrier.
Foreteller resumed with a fast-finishing fourth in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and he made up plenty of ground late to finish fourth in his only previous start at Moonee Valley in the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
The 2014 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes field is rounded out by imported stayer Crackerjack King (barrier one), Jake Stephens-trained Gris Caro (barrier nine) and Lloyd Williams-owned Foundry (barrier seven).
