Viridine, Jungle Edge renew acquaintances in Bletchingly at Caulfield

Jungle Edge and Viridine, the first two finishers of the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes on July 11, meet for the fourth time this year in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at six furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse in Australia.

In the Monash Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield, Jungle Edge, the 5-2 favorite, beat 3-1 Viridine by three-quarters of a length. Jungle Edge was within a length of the lead throughout and had first run on Viridine, who closed steadily but was held.

This time, the 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding Viridine will be favored to beat his 9-year-old counterpart in Jungle Edge.

In May, Jungle Edge won the Group 3 D.C. McKay Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Morphettville, with Viridine in fifth, beaten four lengths. In the June Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Royal Randwick on June 6, Viridine finished fourth, while Jungle Edge faded from the front to finish fifth.

Viridine, who races as a stalker, later won the Winter Dash at six furlongs at Royal Randwick on June 20, a race Jungle Edge missed.

In the $90,880 Bletchingly Stakes, Jungle Edge starts from the outside post in a field of nine. A winner of 19 of 82 starts, Jungle Edge is not reliant on the lead, which is vital since Streets of Avalon could set the pace in his first start since a 12th-place finish in a field of 15 in the $3.26 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 14.

The Bletchingly will be the first start of the year for the multiple stakes winner Widgee Turf, who has shown to be more effective at longer distances.

First post time for the Caulfield program is 10 p.m. Eastern, or 7 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Saturday’s program at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney includes the $106,500 Winter Challenge at 7 1/2 furlongs. Mugatoo, sixth in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at a mile at Rosehill Gardens on March 28 in his last start, is expected to be favored.

The Winter Challenge will be the second start of July for Order Again, who closed steadily to finish third behind Noble Boy in the Winter Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens. Order Again could benefit from the longer distance of the Winter Challenge, but must hold off a threat from Noble Boy, who races as closer.