The Danehill Stakes has undergone a shake up this year to make it the perfect lead up race to a Group 1 race for three-year-old sprinters.
Previously run over 1200m at the Victoria Racing Club’s September meeting, the Danehill Stakes on Saturday has been shortened 100m and swaps places with the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) on the calendar.
The Danehill Stakes has a rich history and amongst its winners are Fastnet Rock, Black Caviar, Catchy and Dalasan.
As a springboard with Group 2 status, it is now positioned four weeks from the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and in its perfect spot.
The James Cummings and Godolphin team also think it is well positioned as they will be represented by Ingratiating and Kallos in the 1100m scamper.
After a stunning first-up win at Caulfield, Ingratiating was run down late by Ranch Hand in the Poseidon Stakes and Cummings has elected to put blinkers back on the son of Frosted.
“We think that he is suited up the straight and the Coolmore is the perfect grand final for him,” Cummings said.
“He’s going to run another good race. You would notice that we have put the blinkers back on him and he will be ready to really savage the line on Saturday and this is potentially his final lead-up to the Coolmore.”
Stablemate Kallos, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, does not have the same profile as Ingratiating but may as a three-year-old be ready to show his true colours.
Kallos finished fourth behind General Beau and Anamoe in a Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield last February and ran second to Tycoon Humma up the straight at Flemington in March.
He returned from a break to record a soft win in a Hawkesbury maiden last month.
“He was competitive with some of the Blue Diamond horses like Anamoe and General Beau last campaign and only narrowly went down up the straight at Flemington,” Cummings said.
“Now he has returned with a win under his belt, and he’s got that fitness and confidence about him.
“He is a quick horse, and he can run well in this race.”