A sporting event at the MCG this Saturday will ensure that racing in Melbourne this weekend will take a back seat. But this weekend is merely the calm before the storm.
The racing action kicks off at Moonee Valley on Friday night when the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) for three-year-olds and the Listed JRA Cup (2040m) will be up for grabs.
It continues Saturday at Randwick where the G1 George Main Stakes will be the headline act on a nine-race program which also features the G2 Stan Fox Stakes and several other black type races.
The early $3 favourite (TAB Sportsbet) in the Stutt is the Mark Kavanagh-trained Whobegotyou.
Unable to get a clear run anywhere in the straight last Saturday at Caulfield over 1400m, Whobegotyou was beaten 2.6 lengths into seventh under a tight hold and will be suited by the extra furlong.
The biggest threat will come from All American, who returns to his own age after running a close-up ninth in the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the same track.
Afterwards, both trainer David Hayes and Craig Williams said All American, who was trapped wide throughout and made late ground, was hunting for the mile. He has the class edge on all of these and represents great value at $5.50.
The mile will suit Minnesota Shark, who ran the fastest closing sectionals in the Guineas Prelude last week when ridden quietly, as it will Carnero, who ran sixth in the same race. Include the Lee Freedman-trained filly Fly Higher, who won at the Valley last start over 1509m, in the multiples.
Four-year-old mare Causeway Queen can cause a surprise in the JRA Cup where she takes on seasoned gallopers such as Casual Pass, Devil Moon, Maybe Better and NZ Derby winner C'est La Guerre.
After winning over 1400m at Caulfield, Causeway Queen continued her strong form with a handy fifth to Tuesday Joy at the Valley in the Stocks Stakes over 1600m.
She meets $6 favourite Devil Moon five kilos better at the weights for being beaten less than half a length. The rise in distance is another box ticked.
Casual Pass cannot be discounted after excellent runs at WFA level at his past two. He loves the track and the distance but the wide draw and 60kg are hindrances.
Weight and a bad barrier are also against Devil Moon, who was wide all the way in the Stocks Stakes, while Maybe Better and the under-rated Baughurst have strong place claims.
C'est La Guerre will shake the Cup markets should he win and if you can forgive Lords Ransom for his Flemington flop he can't be ruled out.
Triple Honour can bounce back in the George Main Stakes. He jumped from 1200m to the mile when second in the Chelmsford but showed his liking for the 1600m earlier this year when victorious in the Doncaster after being inches from toppling the great Weekend Hussler in the Randwick Guineas.
Gallant Tess will again be competitive after winning over the same course and distance last start in the Chelmsford.
Veteran miler Niconero, who Hayes has floated north from Melbourne, is always a chance in a race like this but might be short of a run.
Duporth, who has also been nominated for the G2 Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) for three-year-olds, has a massive weight advantage with only 50.5kg after winning the Golden Rose. Six three-year-olds