Will class or fitness have a bearing on the result of the Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace has a couple of three-year-olds representing the stable in Saturday’s 1200m contest, one that has a class edge while the other is race fit.
Generation is a previous winner in Group 3 company having claimed the Red Anchor Stakes at The Valley last October at his most recent run, while stablemate Marine One has raced over summer scoring at Pakenham in December before being a last start second at this track last month.
“I would lean towards Marine One, just with the fitness edge on top of the ground, but Generation has shown he is up to this class already,” Eustace told RSN.
“I don’t think there’s a lot between them.”
Following the scratchings of Paulele and Ranch Hand, who both run in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick, Eustace is expecting a tactical race with only six runners set to line up.
Eustace expects Marine One to go forward and Generation to sit just off, while the undefeated Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Unflinching is another that likes to lead.
“I would imagine the raced horses will not want to be too far away,” Eustace said.
“It’s one of those things where you’ve got a couple of horses that showed class in the spring that are taking on horses that are fit and have raced through summer.
“I would say it’s going to be a muddling race. I would think there is going to be two or three jockeys looking at each other.”
Portland Sky won the Manfred Stakes last year before going on to share the prize with Celebrity Queen in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate which could be on the agenda for this year’s winner.
“You would have to think it’s an opportunity for a young sprinter at Group 1 level in a handicap down in the weights,” Eustace said.