In-form sprinter Inn Keeper has drawn the rails in the small eight horse field for the 2018 Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jukebox, above, has drawn barrier 6 in the 2018 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Inn Keeper is chasing his fifth win on the trot and Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde said that it was time for the four year old be tested in Stakes company following his last start win in the $100,000 Golden Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill on June 8.
“He’s a 92-rater now and he’s gone right through the ratings races and then to an open handicap last time down the bottom of the weights,” Wilde said.
“It probably is the next logical step to test him out in stakes company and just see where he is.
“We’re happy with him. He only does what he has to so it will be interesting in this sort of grade where he fits in.”
Linda Meech gets the ride again on Inn Keeper after partnering him to victory at his last four starts at Terang, Warrnambool, Caulfield and in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill.
The Ciaron Maher trained Jukebox is resuming from a spell and will be facing the starter for the first time since finishing fourteenth to Merchant Navy in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Premiership leader Craig Williams has ridden Jukebox in all of his six race starts to date, which includes three wins, and will continue his association with three year old who has drawn barrier six in the eight horse Sir John Monash Stakes field.
Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir will saddle up two runners in the Sir John Monash Stakes, Voodoo Lad with Brad Rawiller to ride from barrier five, and Ducimus who will jump from the outside gate with Dean Yendall holding the reins.
The Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained Crystal Dreamer has drawn barrier seven for Damian Lane and the five year old will be having his first run back since finishing third to Secret Agenda in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 3.
Final field for the 2018 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 257x145x00 | VOODOO LAD | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 5 | 58.5kg | 107 |
| 2 | x39621143x | CRYSTAL DREAMER | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Damian Lane | 7 | 58.5kg | 103 |
| 3 | 19x7231x65 | SUNDAY ESCAPE | Andrew Murray | Dwayne Dunn | 4 | 58.5kg | 92 |
| 4 | 77×3133221 | ASHLOR | Dan McCarthy | Jamie Mott | 2 | 58.5kg | 94 |
| 5 | 111x6x1111 | INN KEEPER | Symon Wilde | Ms Linda Meech | 1 | 58.5kg | 92 |
| 6 | 11x1220x | JUKEBOX | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 6 | 58kg | 90 |
| 7 | 12x54x4x28 | DUCIMUS | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 8 | 58kg | 73 |
| 8 | 3431322×11 | SHOWPERO | Wayne Francis & Glen Kent | Stephen Baster | 3 | 56.5kg | 85 |
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