The Lindsay Park operation is set to be well represented in Saturday’s Flemington feature race after confirming three classy runners in the Listed VRC Winter Championship Final field.
Mihany, Petrology and Sovereign Nation have all performed well at black type level previously and will step out in a capacity VRC Winter Championship Final Field of sixteen on Saturday afternoon, seeking a share in the lucrative $150,000 prize pool.
Posting nine wins and a further eight minors through his bust racing career, Mihany is yet to find peak condition through two starts this time, but is sure to relish a step up to a mile in the Winter Championship Final.
Petrology has been something of an Enigma for Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig through recent season, but has found terrific condition this time and should prove extremely difficult to beat.
Third in the Ladbrokes Handicap (1600m) on May 13th, the Fastnet Rock gelding progressed to second in another Ladbrokes Handicap over a mile on May 27th, before returning to winning form in the Travis Harrison Cup (1600m) on June 17th.
Drawn ideally in barrier 3, Petrology will again be partnered by Corey Parish in the VRC Winter Championship Final.
Sovereign Nation failed to justify his race favouritism when fifth in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1400m) last time out on June 10th, but is more than up to the quality of this field and will enjoy a return to his pet distance.
A Group 2 winner having taken out the Stutt Stakes (1600m) in late 2015, Sovereign Nation resumed for a smart win in the Lloyd Williams Hall Of Fame Trophy (1400m) on May 20th, in what was his only other start this time.
Amovatio has been a strong and consistent performer for Chris Waller through recent seasons, but will require luck on Saturday after being charged with carrying a 60kg topweight and drawing into the VRC Winter Championship Final field in the potentially sticky barrier 10.
Sixth in the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) first-up in May, Amovatio placed fifth in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) in Brisbane, before returning to Sydney for a luckless tenth in the Travis Harrison Cup.
Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir will also be represented in the feature race after confirming veteran Kenjorwood in the VRC Winter Championship Final field.
The Snippestson gelding has been a strong and largely consistent performer throughout his racing career, but went amiss last start and will have to improve greatly if he is to return to winning form on Saturday.
Having finished fifth in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) and fourth in the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1400m), Kenjorwood weathered a tough run in transit in the Ladbrokes Handicap on May 13th, before being caught wide in the Travis Harrison Cup last time out.