Just ten horses will contest the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, but still shapes as an outstanding contest between some of the country’s best gallopers.
Form lines from all over the place will descend on the 2000m course, and without sounding too bullish, it tends to be one of my better races for backing winners every season.
With that in mind, I’m sure you cannot wait to read the 2020 Mackinnon Stakes tips below.
Mackinnon Stakes – Winner
No. 9 Arcadia Queen – Bet Now: $3.20
I don’t think she handled The Valley particularly well at all, but she still finished fifth in the Cox Plate, and I think that Arcadia Queen will take beating again in the Mackinnon Stakes.
The Pierro mare has returned to the races in typically excellent form this time, and tuned up with a few smart efforts in Group 2 company.
She filled the minors behind Russian Camelot in the Underwood, before returning what was easily a career-best performance in the Neds Stakes in October.
She’s rock-hard fit, gets in well under the conditions of this race, and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
Mackinnon Stakes – 2nd
No. 8 Melody Belle – Bet Now: $5.00
Clearly, the Group 1 races in New Zealand aren’t nearly as strong as the ones in Australia, but Melody Belle is still an absolute star, and I think that she can fight out the finish of the Mackinnon Stakes 2020.
Her Group 1 win tally is now into double-figures, and after several previous campaigns in Australia, she finally recorded an elusive Group 1 win over here in last year’s Empire Rose Stakes.
She ended that prep a close-up second behind Magic Wand in this race, and she has continued on her merry way over the Tasman again this year, adding another two Group 1 wins to her CV this prep.
She is at peak fitness and loves racing at Flemington.
Mackinnon Stakes – 3rd
No. 5 Mugatoo – Bet Now: $5.50
Mugatoo has returned to the races in career-best form, and would not look out of place in the Mackinnon Stakes winner’s stall.
The six-year-old son of Henrythenavigator won each of his first three starts back from a spell, all in black type company and including the Newcastle Cup, before charging home to finish second in The Metropolitan.
He was the big shock in the Cox Plate a couple of weeks ago, having loomed up and finished a very impressive fourth, and this does look a far more winnable race for him
Mackinnon Stakes – 4th
No. 1 Harlem – Bet Now: $17.00
Harlem + 2000m at Flemington = outstanding results.
The two-time Australian Cup winner is still racing as well as ever, and as he typically has done in all of his preparations previously, needed a few runs to find his best this time in.
He absolutely stormed home to finish second in the Neds Coongy Cup last time out, beaten less than half a length by Nonconformist, and I’m confident that run will have him absolutely cherry ripe for this.
Craig Williams climbs into the saddle, has options from barrier 1, and Harlem is sure to give his all.
Mackinnon Stakes Suggested Bets
- 3 Units straight out #9 Arcadia Queen
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections above