Australia: Viridine back at best for Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield

The four-time stakes winner Viridine ended a four-race losing streak when he successfully carried top weight in the $69,600 Winter Dash, a handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia on June 20.

The win has made Viridine a strong favorite in Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse. In the $89,088 Monash, Viridine and his eight rivals are racing in weight-for-age conditions.

A 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Viridine was a Group 2 winner in 2017. After winning the Doveton Stakes at five furlongs last November, Viridine was beaten in four consecutive group stakes for sprinters before the win in the Winter Dash at six furlongs.

Viridine, trained by James Cummings, drew post 2 in the Monash and should race from a stalking position. Damien Oliver has the mount.

The field includes Jungle Edge, who won the Group 3 D.C. McKay Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse on May 2, and I Am Someone, who makes a quick turnaround following a fifth-place finish in a handicap at six furlongs at Flemington on July 4.

The nine-race card at Caulfield starts at 9:35 p.m., Eastern, or 6:35 p.m., Pacific, on Friday.

There are two Group 3 races in Australia on Saturday.

The Group 3 Winx Stakes for 3-year-old milers at Sunshine Coast Racecourse is led by Star of Michelin, a gelding who will have his stakes debut after a win in a seven-furlong handicap against older horses at Eagle Farm on July 4.

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The New Zealand-bred Knight Mariner will also have his stakes debut in the $87,000 Winx Stakes. Knight Mariner has won his last two starts - a maiden race at Doomben Racecourse on June 3 and a minor handicap at Ipswich on June 24.

The Sunshine Coast program begins at 10:18 p.m., Eastern, or 7:18 p.m., Pacific.

The richest stakes in Australia on Saturday is a competitive running of the $104,400 Winter Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens.

Trumbull, a New Zealand-bred gelding, will be favored on the strength of a win in Civic Stakes at 6 3/4 furlongs at Rosehill on June 27, which ended a six-race losing streak. In the Civic, Trumbull beat Order Again and Dealmaker, who were second and third and start in the Winter Stakes.

Racing begins at Rosehill Gardens at 9:35 p.m., Eastern, or 6:35 p.m., Pacific.