Australia: Ashford Street steps up in Sir John Monash Stakes

A two-race winning streak since late May from Ashford Street has led to the gelding’s stakes debut in Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.

Ashford Street may need even better form to beat two group stakes runners in Oxley Road and Mileva, who are returning from layoffs in the $136,700 Monash Stakes, run at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Ashford Street has won three of his last four starts since early May, with the only loss a second by three-quarters of a length in a lucrative handicap at five furlongs at Flemington on May 14. In his last two starts, Ashford Street won a five-furlong handicap at Caulfield by two lengths on May 28 and a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse by 3 1/4 lengths on June 11.

Trained by Ken Elford, Ashford Street tends to run near the front, a style that has led to seven wins in 18 starts.

In the Monash Stakes, Ashford Street drew post 9 in a field of 11, with Oxley Road and Mileva to the inside.

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Oxley Road, who is expected to be favored, won the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint at five furlongs last October, but is winless in his last four starts. He was a respectable third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at 5 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 26 at Caulfield, but last of 17 in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington on March 12.

Mileva, a 4-year-old filly, has won three minor sprint stakes in her career since March 2021. The Monash Stakes is Mileva’s third start of 2022, but first since a seventh-place finish by length in the minor Bob Hoysted Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington on March 5.

Mileva has won following layoffs in the past, notably last October in the Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield in her first race since May 2021.

Caulfield has a nine-race program, beginning at 9:50 p.m. Eastern, or 6:50 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.