Zardozi tops Wakeful Stakes field for VRC Oaks audition

Zardozi
Zardozi, ridden by Chad Schofield, wins the Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington. (Photo: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

The Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) for the three-year-old fillies has drawn a competitive field of 14 set to line up at Flemington on Saturday.

There’s $300,000 up for grabs, but more importantly, it’s the last chance for the girls to build their resume for the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) on November 9.

The James Cummings-trained filly Zardozi is a firm +140 favourite with online bookmakers as James McDonald makes his way to Melbourne for the ride.

She was impressive when dispatching her rivals in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and now steps up to 2000m for the first time.

Having won the Oaks Trial (1800m) on September 24, the John Sargent-trained Harlow Mist (+400) has gained early support with top betting sites.

The daughter of Contributor will be breaking from barrier one with Blake Shinn in the saddle.

Jamie Kah has landed aboard Konasana (+450) for the Chris Waller barn, with Damien Lane electing to ride in Sydney this weekend.

The daughter of Dundeel is one of the three gallopers pressing on from the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield a fortnight prior.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Amazonian Lass is the only runner to shorten from double digits, coming from +1000 into +850.

The Wakeful Stakes is the fifth race on the Flemington program, jumping at 3pm AEDT.


Wakeful Stakes 2023 field

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 Silks
Zardozi
James Cummings
James McDonald
10
57kg
2 Silks
Coco Sun
Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Mark Zahra
13
56kg
3 Silks
Konasana
Chris Waller
Jamie Kah
5
55kg
4 Silks
Harlow Mist
John Sargent
Blake Shinn
1
55kg
5 Silks
Amazonian Lass
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Tim Clark
12
55kg
6 Silks
Sentimental Flame
Travis Doudle
John Allen
7
55kg
7 Silks
Subrising
Nigel Blackiston
Jamie Spencer
8
55kg
8 Silks
Diamonds Choice
Chris Bieg
Harry Coffey
4
55kg
9 Silks
Zambezi Khan
Guy Lowry
Billy Egan
11
55kg
10 Silks
Aethelflaed
Matthew Smith
Damien Oliver
14
55kg
11 Silks
Aspenado
John McArdle
Craig Newitt
3
55kg
12 Silks
Bon Mistress
Ken & Kasey Keys
Blaike McDougall
6
55kg
13 Silks
Vieste
Benjamin Smith
Winona Costin
2
55kg
14 Silks
Easy Turn
Patrick Kearney
Madison Lloyd
9
55kg

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