Options for Stylish Memphis

by Adam Hamilton

Star Kiwi mare Stylish Memphis has options galore in Sydney.

Mark Jones’ NSW Oaks winner booked a spot in the $200,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire when she finished second to Zeuss Bromac in last Saturday’s Group 2 Hondo Grattan at Menangle.

She backs up again this week in the Group 2 Sibelia Stakes for mares where she can book a spot in the $200,000 Group 1 Ladyship Mile for mares.

The great news for connections is the two features are a week apart – the Chariots on February 20 and the Ladyship on February 27.

Clearly it’s been an inspired move by Jones and connections to send Stylish Memphis to Sydney.

It won’t be easy from a wide draw (gate 10) for Stylish Memphis this week, but she is a $2.90 second favourite behind polemarker Rocknroll Angel ($2.50) with slick beginner No Win No Feed (gate two, $5) next elect.

The other Menangle feature is the $50,000 Group 2 Paleface Adios, the las qualifier for the Chariots Of Fire.

It’s drawn together a strong and even line-up, headed by Expensive Ego (gate two, $2.30), former Kiwi and now Queensland-based One Change (four, $4.20), Victorian pair Pacifico Dream (11, $6) and Kowalski Analysis (one, $7.50) along with last season’s dual Derby runner-up Perfect Stride (six, $10).

The other key Menangle race is the free-for-all where star speedster Cash N Flow returns from a break over his favourite mile trip, but from the outside draw. He’s $1.33 favourite.

The interesting runner is former superstar youngster Ignatius, who found form again back in Tasmania and now returns for another Menangle campaign. He’s been $9 into $7.50 from gate nine.

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Australia’s most exciting pacer Magnificent Storm faces by far his biggest challenge yet since moving across from NZ.

His unbeaten 13-race streak for trainer Ray Williams in WA will be seriously tested from an outside front row draw (gate nine) in the $200,000 Group 1 Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park.

Three of his main dangers – Team Bond trio Howard Hughes (gate four), Patronus Star (six) and Minstrel (eight) – have all drawn inside him.

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Star Kiwi trotter Majestic Man is on the quick back-up again as he chases another Group 1 win at Melton on Saturday night.

So brave in his Great Southern Star heat and final placings last weekend, Majestic Man drops in grade slightly but has a back row draw (gate nine) to overcome in the $50,000 Knight Pistol (2240m).

Andy Gath’s emerging star Majestuoso returns from a minor setback and gets an important front row draw (gate six), while young gun mare Pink Galahs also backs up from a ripper fourth in the Great Southern Star final (gate eight).

The other key runner is multiple Group 1 winner Tough Monarch, who will try for the lead from gate five.