The Cantala Stakes is always both an exciting and terrific contest, and a typically strong field of milers will step out at Flemington on Saturday.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has already saddled several Group 1 winners this season, and he’ll launch a multi-pronged attack in the 2020 Cantala Stakes; a race that he most recently won with Shillelagh in 2017.
Kennedy Cantala Stakes – Winner
No. 9 Rock – Bet Now: $9.50
Rock simply had too much work to do when they turned for home in the Epsom Handicap, but he was eye-catching late and looks a winning chance in the Cantala Stakes.
The Pierro gelding needed the run when he finished fifth in the Tramway when resuming, but his performance and win in the Cameron Handicap was utterly dominant and in my opinion, still one of the standout runs of the entire season to date.
I think he’ll enjoy racing at Flemington, he has drawn well in barrier 2 and will carry just 54kgs.
Kennedy Cantala Stakes – 2nd
No. 16 King’s Legacy – Bet Now: $19.00
Three-year-old King’s Legacy is a Group 1 winner over a mile, and I think that there are a lot of things to like about his chances in the Cantala Stakes.
The Redoute’s Choice colt was obviously a standout two-year-old and ended his prep with consecutive wins in the highest level in the Inglis Sires and the Champagne Stakes.
He needed the run when he finished at the rail of the field when resuming in the Run To The Rose, but was an eye-catching third in the Golden Rose, and never really got into the race in the Neds Caulfield Guineas.
He’s drawn ideally in barrier 6, will carry just 51kgs and has the right jockey aboard in Glen Boss. Tick, Tick, TICK!
Kennedy Cantala Stakes – 3rd
No. 5 Yulong Prince – Bet Now: $12.00
Yulong Prince is one of Waller’s leading chances in this race, and I’m going to put him on top of my Cantala Stakes tips.
Group 1 winner in his native South Africa, Yulong Prince needed a couple of preps to find his best when arriving in Australia, but has so far finished second in the Chelmsford Stakes and fourth in the Epsom Handicap this prep – the latter just a length behind Probabeel.
Fitter third-up, he’ll just need some luck from barrier 14 to be in the finish again, and he is over the Cantala Stakes odds at his current price.
Kennedy Cantala Stakes – 4th
No. 13 Buffalo River – Bet Now: $6.50
Buffalo River couldn’t have gone closer without winner a race this preparation and third-up on Saturday, he rates as a key winning chance in the Cantala Stakes.
The five-year-old son of Noble Mission ended his autumn prep with consecutive wins in decent city races over 1400m, and resumed for a close-up second behind Windstorm in a Handicap race.
He was well beaten by Mr Quickie but still an impressive second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap last time out, and any improvement on that effort would see him into the finish of this race.
Kennedy Cantala Stakes Suggested Bets
- 2 Units E/W #9 Rock
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections above