Adelaide’s Autumn Carnival is beginning to heat up with Saturday’s Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes a key lead up to feature Group 1 sprints.
Moved back from March in 2012 to act as a key lead up into both the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and The Goodwood, the decision has proven a masterstroke with the likes of Platelet and Driefontein winning the Robert Sangster Stakes coming out of the race.
The Darren Weir-trained Platelet claimed the Robert Sangster Classic – Goodwood double in 2013 after finishing second to Kulgrinda in the R N Irwin Stakes of that year.
Darren Weir returns in 2016 with a strong dual-pronged attach who each come in well under the Weight for Age conditions of the Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Spearheading his charge is Tuscan Sling who contests the event off a freshen up following some strong form amongst Melbourne Stakes company.
The mare won the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day before returning to the course and distance and taking out the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m).
Tuscan Sling then stepped up to 1400m when second in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes, also at Caulfield.
During her two runs in a short Melbourne campaign through the month of February, Tuscan Sling fought out the finish with subsequent Group 1 winner Azkadellia.
Azkedellia following the Mannerism Stakes ventured north to Sydney where she ran second in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill to Peeping before holding her own when finishing third to Winx in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
The mare then moved out of their shadows when a strong winner of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 9.
To have mixed it with Azkadellia is a real feather in the cap for Tuscan Sling who ran to a new master Timeform rating of 110 for her Mannerism Stakes second.
On weight adjusted ratings, this sees the mare shaping as mighty hard to beat in the Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m).
The daughter of Danehill Dancer has a perfect first up record from three prior attempts.
She technically isn’t first up on Saturday coming off a 56 day break between runs however it highlights the mares’ ability to fire fresh.
The five-year-old is drawn to receive all of the favours in transit from barrier 1 and possesses an excellent record when partnered with jockey Harry Coffey.
The pair together boasts a 75% winning strike rate from four starts having placed on the other occasion.
Overall, a rather watertight winning case can be made for Tuscan Sling, justifying her current even money quote.
On weight adjusted 12 month Timeform Ratings with a master figure of 115, stablemate La Passe profiles as the main danger.
The dual Group 2 winner has an official handicap rating of 104.
She would be giving her opposition substantial weight under handicap conditions however appears pitchforked into this contest under weight for age conditions.
The mare returns off a lengthy campaign which commenced 12 months ago in a fillies and mares 1100m Benchmark 64 at Kyneton.
La Passe then went about progressing through her grades with wins amongst Benchmark opposition at Cranbourne, Flemington and Sandown.
The five-year-old reached new heights during the spring when causing boilover results in winning both the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Like her more fancied stablemate, the mare is proven fresh and at the trip.
The planets have well and truly aligned for the Darren Weir-trained duo with La Passe drawing immediately outside of stablemate Tuscan Sling in barrier 2.
Runway Star shapes as the best of the local hopes in her stable debut for Phillip Stokes.
The mare successfully defended her 2015 Matrice Stakes (1200m) in her final run for Peter Moody when taking out the 2016 renewal at this course on March 14 with a performance returning a Timeform rating of 98.
It was an encouraging start to her time in Adelaide this autumn although if Weir has his duo anywhere near their best, Runway Star will have to find on her latest showing.
This can be done though with the mare possessing a master Timeform rating of 102 returned during her 2015 Matrice Stakes success.
Daytona Grey profiles as one of the better value chances, last seen taking out the Listed Manihi Classic at this course and distance on resuming a fortnight ago.
It was something of a surprise win by the son of Artie Schiller however he must be considered again considering the eye catching nature of it with the benefit of added race fitness second up.
The Leon McDonald and Andrew Gluyas runner fits into the same mould as Runway Star though in the fact he will need to lift on that display if he were to match it with the Weir pair.
Daytona Grey ran to a Timeform rating of 98 first up, eight pounds shy of a master Timeform figure of 106 he ran to when winning the 2015 renewal of today’s R N Irwin Stakes (1100m).
He could be ready to peak second up in a bid to defend his 2015 R N Irwin Stakes crown and the disparity between his first up and master rating suggests Daytona Grey has the potential to produce a spirited defence of his title.
The other value runners lining up in Saturday’s R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) also come out of the Manihi Classic.
I Am Gypsy was only just collared late by Daytona Grey in the Manihi Classic where they each carried 54kg.
She now enjoys a two kilo weight swing over Daytona Grey a fortnight later.
The daughter of I Am Invincible is deeper into her latest preparation than Daytona Grey however it must be noted she has improved with each of her four starts this time in.
Nostradamus has proven something of an enigma through his career to date with the four-year-old having chalked up two Group wins despite struggles with consistency.
His stable debut for Phillip Stokes in the Manihi Classic was fair, running a 2.5 length sixth to Daytona Grey.
Some career highlights as a younger horse though include victories in the 2014 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, a second in the Group 2 Roman Consul (1200m) behind Brazen Beau and a success in the 2015 Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) late in his three-year-old season.
The ability is certainly there, the question is whether the half brother to dual Group 1 winner Star Witness can showcase it.
Doubts can be cast over a number of runners contesting the Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) but certainly not Tuscan Sling who looks set to take some beating in Saturday’s feature event at Morphettville.
