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Bletchingly Stakes unlikely to lead to spring winners

What does the Bletchingly Stakes have in store? Photo: Getty Image

The Bletchingly Stakes was added to the racing calendar as a preview to the Spring Racing Carnival, but in recent years Bletchingly Stakes success has not proven to be an indicator of a strong Carnival to come.

Second Effort (2013), Thiamandi (2014) and Smokin’ Joey (2015) won the past three editions of the Bletchingly Stakes and between the three of them they have no won another race since.

Ready To Rip (2012) and Mid Summer Music (2011) both had limited Spring Racing Carnivals following their Bletchingly Stakes victory and the last winner of the Group 3 event to really make an impact during the spring was Shoot Out in 2010.

Shoot Out went on to take out the P.B. Lawrence Stakes following his Bletchingly Stakes victory, but he did not win again during the spring – although he did finish in the placings in the Memsie Stakes, Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Turnbull Stakes before he was fourth in both the Cox Plate and the Mackinnon Stakes.

Horses the quality of Apache Cat (2007), Regal Roller (2005) and Super Elegant (2003) won the Bletchingly Stakes, but even they were unable to achieve anything during the spring and the last horse to win a Group 1 in the spring after winning the Bletchingly Stakes was Rubitano in 2002, who was freshened up for a tilt at the Salinger Stakes (now known as the Darley Classic) after finishing 14th in the Dubai Racing Club Cup (now known as the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes).

Will the 2016 edition of the Bletchingly Stakes buck the trend and prove to be a key form reference for the spring? It is unlikely yet possible.

The Cleaner has been included in the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes and if the Gelagotis stable elect to run him he will add a great deal of interest to the Group 3 event.

The Cleaner has not been seen at the races since he was controversially removed from the care of trainer Mick Burles after he failed to fire in The Conquering Weight-For-Age at Launceston on December 9, but he recorded a dominant six lengths victory in a barrier trial at Cranbourne on July 18 and he has three victories as well as four placings from his nine first-up starts.

Peter Gelagotis is hopeful that The Cleaner will be able to progress to his third Cox Plate in as many years and the cult hero is currently priced at $101 in the 2016 Cox Plate betting market.

Another horse that is capable of kicking on following the Bletchingly Stakes is Darren Weir-trained Mahuta, who recorded six straight victories before he failed to fire in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 5.

Mahuta will press on to the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and Memsie Stakes following the Bletchingly Stakes, with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield looking like an ideal target for the talented entire.

Charmed Harmony will return to the races after a freshen up in the Bletchingly Stakes and he is another horse that is likely to head to the Memsie Stakes.

Charmed Harmony missed out on a start in the Memsie Stakes last year, but he won the Hockingstuart Handicap over the same track and distance in quicker time than the winner of the Group 1 event and he has an outstanding record at Caulfield.

Whether one of these horses can replicate the feats of Rubitano is unknown, but we are still set for an exciting race this weekend!