Six last start winners will line up in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in what is shaping up to be a quality contest between the three-year-old’s on Saturday.
Horses at double-figure odds have a strong record in this race recently and it would not be the least bit surprising to watch an upset unfold down the famous Flemington straight.
The Leon Macdonald and Ciaron Maher team have a strong hand in the race with Anders, Holyfield and Muntaseera lining up, while the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Farnan will be looking to make his presence felt in his return from injury.
We’ve analysed all 14 runners in our 2020 Coolmore Stud Stakes Preview and our thoughts and tips can be found below!
Farnan
Farnan will make his long-awaited return to the races on Saturday hoping to cap off a rollercoaster Spring with a Group 1 win.
The son of Not A Single Doubt was the victim of a controversial ride from Hugh Bowman in the Group 2 Run to the Rose last month before suffering some setbacks off the track that saw him ruled out of The Everest and Roman Consul Stakes.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained three-year-old won the Group 1 Golden Slipper over the same distance at Rosehill back in March and looks one of the top chances under last week’s Cox Plate winner, Glen Boss.
Wild Ruler
Wild Ruler hasn’t missed a beat since returning to the races winning both the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) and the Group 2 Roman Consul (1200m) in Sydney.
The colt by Snitzel is following a similar lead-up to Cosmic Force, who won last year’s Roman Consul before running sixth in the Coolmore.
Peter Snowden won this race in 2011 with Sepoy and the team appears to have another decent chance with Wild Ruler, who is looking to improve on his Group 1 debut when eighth in the J.J. Atkins (1400m) at Eagle Farm back in June.
The wide barrier looks to be only the real knock.
Mamargan
Mamaragan gets the blinkers on for the first time after failing to fire in his Melbourne debut running second last in the Caulfield Guineas.
Hugh Bowman won his first and only Coolmore four years ago aboard Flying Artie, but he looks to have his work cut out here.
Glenfiddich
Peter Moody can claim his second Coolmore on Saturday with Glenfiddich after winning the race way back in 2009 with Headway.
The son of Fastnet Rock was scratched from the Caulfield Guineas earlier in the month due to a respiratory issue but does look a realistic hope after placing in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) two starts back.
He’s since gone on to win the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley, and by all accounts, has pulled up well from his recent surgery.
Ranting
The Corstens team look to double their chances with Ranting, who joins fellow stablemate Swats That on Saturday.
The colt out of Zoustar broke through for his maiden in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire beating home Hanseatic and Anders in the small field of three, the same race Flying Artie won in 2016 on his way to winning the Coolmore.
The three-year-old has had only one run at Flemington finishing third two starts back in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) behind Saturday’s rival Doubtland.
Ben Melham has a good feel for this horse now after riding him in his previous two starts and the pair look to be a factor.
Doubtland
Doubtland won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes over the track and distance last month and wasn’t far off Wild Ruler when third in the Roman Consul last start at Randwick.
The Hawkes-trained son of Not A Single Doubt tends to do his best racing with some sting out of the track and could be worth a shout in the minors here with any rain about.
Anders
Anders won back-to-back starts in his return to the races claiming the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill before a memorable three-length win in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) against quality opposition.
The Maher and Eustace-trained gelding was the beaten favourite in the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) last Caulfield last start, although it’s difficult to read too much into a race that featured only three runners.
This is no doubt Anders’ toughest test yet, but he does look up to it based on recent form.
Holyfield
Holyfield won the Group 3 Ming Dynasty at Rosehill back in August and wasn’t far off Glenfiddich when third in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes last start.
He tends to do his best racing with a gap between runs and it would not be surprising to watch him sneak a place on a potentially wet track.
Extra Time
Extra Time has been up since August and was rewarded with a win last start in the $100,000 Rebel Raider Series Final at Morphettville.
The son of Shooting To Win showed plenty of merit in three runs across Caulfield and Flemington earlier this prep and is warrants plenty of respect with two wins to his name over the trip.
Barrier four is a perfect spot to be and the booking of Kerrin McEvoy can only be seen as a plus.
Our Playboy
Our Playboy is resuming from a spell after finding no real luck when second last in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes back in August at Caulfield.
This is a much harder race for the son of Sebring and he’s unlikely to factor in from the wide gate.
Flying Award
Trainer Danny O’Brien is looking to win his third Coolmore with talented colt Flying Award on Saturday.
The son of Shamus Award won the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington back in April and wasn’t far off Immortal Love in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) in his return to the races.
He failed to produce that same effort when last in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude before a back injury was detected that kept him out of the Guineas entirely.
Definite improver and could be worth a look in the minors with the blinkers on for the first time.
Swats That
Swats That has won back-to-back starts at Group 3 level against her own sex and wasn’t far away first-up at Flemington behind September Run in the D’Antibes Stakes.
The three-year-old filly by Shamus Award turned in an eye-catching final 600m in her trial at Flemington last week and looks a great chance each-way bet to earn the Corstens team their first Coolmore win.
Muntaseera
Muntaseera has been a consistent customer of late and makes up one of three entries from the Maher and Eustace team.
She’ll head into Saturday’s Coolmore fresh after running second to Swats That in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield and looks capable of giving a good show based on recent form.
September Run
September Run is having her fourth run back from a spell after winning back-to-back starts at Listed level in the D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) and the Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
The lightly raced daughter of Exceed and Excel has won four from her seven starts under trainer Chris Waller and follows a similar pattern into her Group 1 debut coming off a three week freshen up.
She wasn’t disgraced in the Group 2 Silver Shadow first-up from a spell back in August and looks a serious contender here with rain about.
Coolmore Stud Stakes Tip
7 Anders at $9.50