OPEN Group 2
1600m
$250,000.00
Good 3
Rail true entire
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight (kg) | Barrier | Current Price |
| 1. Hartnell | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 59.0 | 9 | $3.60 |
| 2. Ambitious | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 59.0 | 2 | $9.50 |
| 3. Magic Consol | P A Preusker | Jordan Childs | 59.0 | 7 | $23.00 |
| 4. Odeon | M Ellerton & S Zahra | Damien Thornton | 59.0 | 1 | $15.00 |
| 5. Red Cardinal | Darren Weir | Harry Coffey | 59.0 | 4 | $126 |
| 6. Homesman | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 59.0 | 3 | $13.00 |
| 7. Night’s Watch | Darren Weir | John Allen | 59.0 | 5 | $3.70 |
| 8. Mighty Boss | Mick Price | Noel Callow | 58.5 | 11 | $16.00 |
| 9. Bonneval | M Baker & A Forsman | Regan Bayliss | 57.0 | 8 | $7.00 |
| 10. Spanish Reef | K M Keys | Dwayne Dunn | 57.0 | 6 | $14.00 |
| 11. Hiyaam | Mick Price | Michael Dee | 56.5 | 10 | $9.50 |
Race Overview
Looks to be a competitive edition of the Dato’ Chin Nam Stakes this year, with many runners using this race as a launch pad into other staying races throughout the Spring Carnival. The winner of this race will automatically gain ballot exemption into this year’s Group 1 Cox Plate. Last year’s winner Bonneval is first up and will be looking to go back to back.
Race Speed
Pace in the race looks to be strong with Spanish Reef set to take up the running from the middle barrier. Expecting Hiyaam to push forward from the wide barrier and Odeon could push forward from barrier 1 to hold others out. If there’s a rail bias other runners may also elect to go forward. Either way, it will be a genuinely run renewal.
Key Runners
1. HARTNELL ($3.60)
Hartnell is the class horse of the race – a proven G1 star who is extremely versatile. Found one better first up but the return was excellent from the 8yo gelding. He beat home Humidor & Kings Will Dream who went on to finish 1, 2 in the Memsie Stakes last week.
7. NIGHT’S WATCH ($3.70)
On the quick backup after a huge win last week when got an absolute peach of a ride and outclassed all of his rivals at Caulfield! This is no doubt harder, but the way he loomed up & quickened last week was impressive.
9. BONNEVAL ($7.00)
Last year’s winner of this race who is looking to go back to back. Couldn’t have been more impressive last year when winning this race ahead of Abbey Marie and then went on to beat Hartnell over 1800m in the Underwood Stakes.
Bluey's Best
9. BONNEVAL ($7.00)
Loved the way this mare won this race last year and with the rail back in true and the predicted tempo we could well see a similar result to last year. Night’s Watch will be hard to beat, but the jump up in class will test. Hartnell won’t be far away, but maps awkwardly. Bonneval looks to be a great value bet.
