MACKINNON STAKES 2020 PREVIEW
FLEMINGTON RACE 8 – 17:00 AEDT
3YO+ OPEN
2000m
$2,000,000
GOOD 4
Rail OUT 7m entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | x7682 | HARLEM | T DABERNIG & B HAYES | C WILLIAMS (1) | 59.0 | $17 |
| 2 | 1x835 | FIFTY STARS | T DABERNIG & B HAYES | J ALLEN (8) | 59.0 | $10 |
| 3 | x2710 | MR QUICKIE | P STOKES | L NOLEN (3) | 59.0 | $11 |
| 4 | x7410 | MIRAGE DANCER | T B & N YOUNG | M J DEE (7) | 59.0 | $34 |
| 5 | 11124 | MUGATOO | K LEES | H BOWMAN (9) | 59.0 | $5 |
| 6 | 45145 | SKYWARD | T B & N YOUNG | G BOSS (4) | 59.0 | $29 |
| 7 | 23540 | DALASAN | LEON MACDONALD & ANDREW GLUYAS | JAMIE KAH (2) | 58.5 | $14 |
| 8 | x6011 | MELODY BELLE | JAMIE RICHARDS | J M NEIL (6) | 57.0 | $4.40 |
| 9 | 52315 | ARCADIA QUEEN | G & A WILLIAMS | L CURRIE (5) | 57.0 | $2.75 |
| 10 | x0601 | SHOUT THE BAR | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT | D OLIVER (10) | 56.5 | $15 |
OVERVIEW
The Mackinnon Stakes is the last race of the 2020 Flemington Carnival and it certainly doesn’t miss a beat. A quality field lines up with many chances and it’s certain to garner interest from the punters. Arcadia Queen lines up as favourite after clipping heels in the Cox Plate, but faces stiff competition from Mugatoo (among others) who was also unlucky during the Cox Plate.
SPEED MAP
There doesn’t look to be many frontrunners engaged here, but we might still see a genuine tempo with Shout The Bar likely to cross from barrier 10. Skyward should be next from Harlem, with the latter drawing gate 1. The top three in the market; Arcadia Queen, Melody Belle and Mugatoo should all settle midfield. Mr Quickie looks to be the backmarker.
KEY RUNNERS
- HARLEM ($18)
Has been a bit of a silent achiever so far this prep. He settled at the back of the field first up and hit the line strongly, putting the writing on the wall for a big prep. He fought hard in his next two but was just outpaced late by some quality horses. Last start settled midfield against his normal racing pattern and hit the line strongly again.
- MUGATOO ($5)
Mugatoo went enormous last start in the Cox Plate, sitting wide throughout the run and still holding on for fourth. With a better run in transit there, he finished much closer and almost wins. He just missed the start prior in the Group 1 Metropolitan where he jumped a $3 favourite. He’s shown he can measure up to the top grade now and looks right in this.
- ARCADIA QUEEN ($2.75)
Had been racing in brilliant form this prep, defeating Russian Camelot two starts back in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes with a blistering sprint. She then went to Group 1 Cox Plate and was terribly unlucky, clipping heels at the 1000m mark. Despite that, she finished the race off bravely and was able to manage fifth, just 3.8 lengths from the winner. She’s in top form and looks a deserving favourite.
BLUEY’S PICK
- HARLEM ($18)
The dual Australian Cup winner has flown under the radar this prep, finishing no worse than 3.6L away in each of his four starts. He hasn’t won since 2019 which is slightly concerning, but he’s been up against the best fields for the most part. This is another good field, but he certainly gets his chance here and looks a great chance at the odds.
