Can the Victor Harbor-based Jake Stephens team do it again and carve a path from Balaklava to the Melbourne Cup?
Stephens saddles up Gris Caro tonight at Moonee Valley in the JRA Cup, just as he did four years ago with his star Alcopop.
In 2009 Alcopop won the Balaklava Cup, then the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley followed by the Herbert Power to start favourite in the Melbourne Cup ahead of a creditable sixth in the race that stops a nation.
This time it’s Gris Caro, a grey that hails from Europe and won first up for Stephens on September 4 in the Balaklava Cup.
Gris Caro has good form with four wins in Europe won including the Group Three Prix Andre Baboin.
The grey also has a mountain of owners in several syndicates so the local interest will be high.
Stephens said he will use tonight’s race as a guide to determine the rest of Gris Caro’s spring campaign.
The horse is rated $9.00 in pre-race markets and will be ridden by Dom Tourneur.
A run in the Melbourne Cup is a tough dream to try and repeat, but a win tonight will see the path carved out by Alcopop looking a lot smoother.
Another local hope, Miracles of Life returns to the track in the Champagne Stakes, the fourth race on tonight’s Valley card.
The three year old filly ran fourth in its first run this preparation and will start favourite tonight.
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Dom Tourneur will be on the early flight back to Adelaide for racing Saturday at Morphettville where he takes the ride on the well-performed My Ex Mate in the feature race, the Sportingbet Handicap.
My Ex Mate is coming off a three and a half length last start fourth and carries top weight of 59kg.
Saturday’s entry fee for punters is $10 with Commonwealth Concession or DVA Card Holders (Department of Veteran Affairs) $5.
The SAJC said it will have plenty of TVs tuned into the AFL Grand Final.
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