Classy filly Crack The Code is set to return to racing this Saturday at her home Caulfield track in a wide-open edition of the Group 3 $160,000 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m).
Crack The Code runs in open-age company for the first time in Saturday’s 2019 Sir John Monash Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The winter sprint features a 14-horse field and in the latest Sir John Monash Stakes odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au, six of the runners are under double-figures for the win.
Among those are three-year-old I Am Invincible filly Crack The Code ($8), the locally-trained Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr.) prepared youngster racing for the first time since February.
A winner of four of her six career starts to date, Crack The Code is best known for her Group 3 $160,000 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) success at Caulfield in early February.
She backed-up in the Group 3 $160,000 Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at The Valley but could only manage to finish 10th to Embrace Me.
Co-trainer Kent believes the rising four-year-old is ready to get back to her best when facing a test against the older horses fresh on the weekend.
Despite coming into the Sir John Monash Stakes without an official trial, Ken said Crack The Code has been in fine form including during a track gallop on the course proper at Caulfield earlier this week.
“Crack The Code is going really well,” he told AAP.
“She has had two really good jump-outs. She had a course proper gallop on Tuesday morning with our other runner in Saturday’s race, Princess Of Queens, and she was probably a length and a bit in front on the line and worked better.
“It’s a pretty even race this year so we expect her to be right in the finish, but certainly going to take improvement from the run and end up in those’ mares’ Group races during the spring.”
Crack The Code is drawn in barrier nine with Michael Walker to ride her first-up in the weight-for-age feature.
The stable’s other runner, Princess Of Queens (barrier six), is an $18 outsider in betting to improve on her lead-up eighth in the Gold Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill.
“I think she would need luck in that race,” Kent said of the run.
“Princess Of Queens’ form is fairly exposed. Crack The Code has definitely got more upside, I would think.”
Jamie Kah returns to the saddle of the five-year-old Magnus mare having ridden her to a close fourth at Morphettville in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) back on May 18.
Princess Of Queens heads to the breeding barn this spring, the two-time stakes winner having run 4.6 lengths back behind the winner Spright in this autumn’s Group 1 $600,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
Favourite in Sir John Monash Stakes betting at $4.20 is the also-returning Soothing for Godolphin who is a short-distance specialist over the 1100m (9:4-1-1).
A host of other runners are all making a charge for the punters’ pick however including Richard Laming’s last start winner at the track / distance Bandipur ($6), market mover Heart Conquered ($7.50) and the veteran wet-tracker Jungle Edge ($7.50).
The 2019 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes runs as Caulfield Race 8 at 3:30pm (local time) on Saturday.
The post Filly Out to Crack Sir John Monash Stakes Code appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
