Australian Racing: Storm Boy can rock the boat

There’s plenty of racing action for punters on Saturday including Group 1 action in Melbourne with Flemington set to host a 10-race card.

Race 8 Flemington

Via Sistina @ 2.40

Race 8 Rosehill

Storm Boy @ 2.10

Race 7 Flemington

Quintessa @ 6.00

Via Sistina for Makybe Diva glory

The feature Group 1 contest on the Flemington card is the eighth race of the day, the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m.

A small but selected field of eight has been declared for the 1600m weight-for-age contest, with Mr Brightside expected to have his supporters.

The seven-year-old had a productive time of it last season, winning four times at the highest level, including by one-and-a-half-lengths in this contest.

The gelding prepped for this race 12 months ago with a victory in the 1400m Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

The son of Bullbars could finish only second in that race this time around however and he looks opposable, with preference for the ex-European-trained galloper VIA SISTINA.

The mare has made just three starts since switching hemispheres, including when impressing in taking out the 2000m Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill in March.

This seven-year-old followed that effort up with a good six-and-a-half-length to runaway winner Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Via Sistina was spelled following that effort and, following a couple of fair efforts in barrier trials, she returned to action at Randwick last month.

Chris Waller’s representative dropped markedly in distance for the 1400m Winx Stakes, held on a good 4 track that day and she recorded a narrow-margin victory.

The step up to 1600m is a positive here and, jumping from next to the rail, James McDonald’s mount looks capable of completing a double.

Storm Boy for Run To The Rose success

There are three Group 2 races set to take place at Rosehill with the three-year-old sprinters in action in the second of those, the Group 2 Run To The Rose Stakes.

The 1200m contest has attracted 10 runners, including the highly-promising Bustling who demonstrated good form in Perth at two.

This son of Frosted is the winner of four of his five starts to date, ending last season with a short-priced success in the Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes at Ascot.

Bustling raced over 1400m on a wet track that day and has joined the Mick Price & Michael Kent team since then.

While he rates highly here, he meets a couple of classy individuals in STORM BOY and Switzerland.

The latter lost his unbeaten record when eighth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper over this course and distance in March.

However, it’s Storm Boy who is preferred here, with the son of Justify also losing his unbeaten record when third in the previously mentioned Group 1 Golden Slipper.

The pick went on to finish fourth in the 1400m Inglis Sires’, a Group 1 event held over 1400m at Randwick the following month.

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s representative delivered a couple of barrier trial wins at Randwick prior to resuming this season.

The youngster returned to winning ways when dropped back to 1100m for the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes at this venue at the end of last month.

Storm Boy came home three lengths clear of his rivals on that occasion and, with a good barrier in five here, he is taken to complete a double.

Quintessa to claim Let’s Elope

On the Makybe Diva undercard the seventh race of the day is the 1400m Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes.

Te Akau Racing have had plenty of success with Imperatriz in recent seasons and QUINTESSA carries their colours in this contest.

The four-year-old won in Group 1 company over 1600m in the Levin Classic at Trentham in January and has shown up well since crossing the Tasman Sea.

Quintessa’s first Australian start saw her finish a good fourth when jumping at $21 for the Group 1 Australian Guineas over 1600m at Flemington in March.

Mark Walker’s filly acquitted herself well in two subsequent starts last prep, including when filling the same position in the 2400m Group 1 Australasian Oaks at Randwick.

The daughter of Shamus Award was spelled following that effort and is selected to complete a double following a first up win in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.