Stylish Memphis heads big Menangle night for Kiwi horses

Glamour harness racing mare Stylish Memphis (Bettor’s Delight) carries the hopes of another big night at Menangle for Kiwis on Saturday (Feb. 11).

Fresh from wins by Republican Party and B D Joe last week, Stylish Memphis continues her charge towards a possible Group 1 Ladyship Mile three-peat.

Primed after two Menangle runs back with Jack Trainor, Stylish Memphis looks hard to beat in the $50,000 Group 2 Sibelia Stakes (1609m) on Saturday night.

Trainor will stay aboard Stylish Memphis despite also training former Kiwi mare Braeview Kelly, who upstaged Stylish Memphis when they met two weeks ago.

Young gun Cam Hart will partner Braeview Kelly, who has gate two. Stylish Memphis starts wider in gate seven.

The other key runners in the feature are Fairy Tinkerbell (three), Madrid (seven) and another of Trainor’s mares B K Swy (five).

Another major focus of the night is the last of the Chariots Of Fire qualifiers, the $50,000 Group 3 Paleface Adios Stakes (1609m).

Headlining the field is buzz Victorian pacer Catch A Wave, fresh from his sparkling Mercury80 win at Melton last Saturday night.

It certainly won’t be easy for Andy Gath’s stable star from barrier 11. He’ll come into nine if the emergencies don’t get a run.

Other talented Victorians Interest Free and Heza Son Of Agun (gate three) and Interest Free (five) have also made the trip up after finishing second and third to Captain Ravishing in last Saturday night’s 4YO Bonanza at Melton.

Former Kiwi Invitation Only, who ran a distant fourth to Captain Ravishing on debut for Jason Grimson at Melton last Saturday, has drawn the pole and is sure to be improved by last week’s run.

Team McCarthy’s talented former Kiwi pacer Cantfindabettorman (six) and speedy Queenslander Tedy Disco (eight) also command respect.

The Menangle free-for-all (1609m) also has big ramifications for the Miracle Mile with the exciting Bondi Lockdown having his second run for Team McCarthy.

He smashed the clock storming home for second on debut for the barn and worked superbly at Menangle last Saturday night.

“Luke and Belinda are really happy with him,” owner Aaron Dunn said. “This run should top him off nicely for the Newcastle Mile the week after, which we’d love to win to get a spot in the Miracle Mile.”

Bondi Lockdown is better than this week’s rivals at his top, but has got gate 10 to overcome.

Trainer Andy Gath will take his talented former Kiwi trotter Chinese Whisper up to Menangle with Catch A Wave.

Chinese Whisper won two in a row before a luckless fifth in a heat of the Great Southern Star last Friday night.

The big, rangy trotter should be suited by the spacious Menangle track and has gate five in the fifth race, a 1609m free-for-all.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand