3 minute read
Keen Array is expected to keep on winning when contesting the Listed Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained gelding has been superb this campaign, winning three of his four starts this campaign with his lone defeat coming when second to Bassett who has since franked form out of the race.
Gelded in his last spell, Keen Array has retuned a more complete racehorse and the son of Bel Esprit appears well suited in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m).
It shapes as a nice progression for the three-year-old who rates on top amongst the small field of six which has lost two runners with scratchings, namely Kinglike.
The three-year-old comes into this off a soft 2.5 length success at Moonee Valley where he ran to a Timeform rating of 113p.
That is a serious sprinting performance and one suggestive of a gelding who will take a power of beating in this field.
Jockey Damian Lane will have the gelding prominent, ideally staking what will be a strong tempo.
From there he should be peeling off heels into the clear around the turn before again showcasing that impressive turn of foot in the straight.
The Blue Sapphire possesses a number of talented three-year-olds.
On disclosed form however it is Haptic who shapes as the main danger.
The gelding has placed in each of his two runs this campaign, behind Japonisme in the San Domenico Stakes and also Counterattack in the Heritage Stakes.
It reads well for the son of Exceed And Excel who should be somewhere around his peak third run from a spell.
Mogador ventures south after saluting against the older horses on resuming at Warwick Farm three weeks ago.
While beating a field of questionable quality, it was a strong display where he settled back before being held up for a run in the straight.
Once clear he powered to the line for a slender win.
While the performance didn’t rate highly, the colt has shown an abundance of raw talent and has the potential to take another step here.
Raphael’s Cat was a first up winner at Canterbury and then not far off making all in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes behind Kinglike.
The colt will strip fitter again third up and the Gai Waterhouse/Blake Shinn combination always warrants plenty of respect.
In a small field, we’re siding with Keen Array to take out the Listed Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.