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A look at the Spring Stakes

A sensational edition of the Group 3 Spring Stakes will be headlined by the former 'world's best sprinter' Lankan Rupee. The five-time Group 1 winner is a confirmed starter for Saturday's feature with Mick Price electing to bring Lankan Rupee to Adelaide over a run in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence at Caulfield. The $1.80 favourite has a great record over the 1200m winning three of his five Group 1s over the distance. 

The other Group 1 winner in the field is the Hayes' and Dabernig trained Risque who won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas in 2015. She has a great record over the 1200m with two wins and a second from three starts including the 2016 Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield.

Risque is one of three dual acceptors in the race with the Darren Weir trained Chocolate Holic and the Lee & Anthony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane. They are also accepted to run at Caulfield on Saturday with their final destination likely to be known later today.

Santa Ana Lane was last seen here in the $1 Million Group 1 Darley Goodwood in May where he ran fifth behind Vega Magic in his only start at the track. Mark Pegus has been booked for the ride again on Santa Ana Lane. 

One horse who ran exceptionally in the Group 1 Darley Goodwood was locally trained Casino Wizard, who ran third in the feature. The Goodwood was his last outing and he will be a big contender on Saturday on the back of that form. He also has a solid first up record and regains the services of Jason Holder who rode him in the Goodwood and also has three Spring Stakes victories to his name.

Last year's Metropolitan Premiership winning team of Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas will have Daytona Grey in the race on Saturday. Leon will be chasing his fifth Spring Stakes win, while jockey Clare Lindop will be chasing her fourth. They last combined for a Spring Stakes win in 2010 when Rebel Raider took out the feature.

Phillip Stokes will have the second favourite in the race, I Am Zelady step out for him for the first time in a race after moving from the Joe Pride stable. I Am Zelady was impressive in her trial win last week and has already seen this track, running seventh in the $1 Million Group 1 UBET Classic in May.  

Previous Spring Stakes Winners  

Year Horse Starting Price Last Run Race 
2016 Beirut $4.10F 1st Caulfied 1200m HCP
2015 Red Eclipse $31.50 1st Morphettville Parks 1250m BM82 
2014 Riziz $2.50F 3rd Caulfield 1100m G3 John Monash Stakes
2013 Just Discreet $8.90 2nd (1st Up) Morphettville 1200m Listed Proud Miss Stakes
2012 Happy Trails $3.60 6th (1st Up) Randwick 1600m G1 Doncaster 
2011 Uxorious $7.80 6th Caulfield 1100m G3 John Monash Stakes

Looking back on previous editions of the race, winning form has proven to be good form over the last two years and surprisingly, Karlovasi is the only runner in the field to come off a win. His win came two weeks ago at Morphettville Parks where he defeated One More Daisy and Cashed.

Two of the last six winners have also come off runs in the Group 3 John Monash Stakes at Caulfield and Daytona Grey is the only runner to have contested that race this year. However, with the scheduling of races, he has also had an extra run in Adelaide between that run and Saturday's running fourth behind Karlovasi two weeks ago.

Six runners on Saturday will be first up from a spell and Just Discreet and Happy Trails took out the Spring Stakes fresh in 2012 and 2013.

UBET Spring Stakes Market

$1.80 - Lankan Rupee

$10 - Chocolate Holic, I Am Zelady

$12 - Risque

$13 - Lord Aspen

$14 - Santa Ana Lane

$15+ - Others

Click here to view the market

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