Four quality Listed races highlight the 2011 Australia Day race programme at Caulfield this Wednesday January 16, including the $100,000 John Dillon Stakes (1400m).
Following the action of the two Blue Diamond Previews and the highly anticipated return to racing of Anacheeva in the Zeditave Stakes on Wednesday, a 10-horse field will then line up to contest the 2011 John Dillon Stakes.
Top rated entry in this year’s John Dillon Stakes is eight-year-old Scenic Shot, drawn well in barrier three but allocated a heavy 61.5kg with Shane Scriven in the mount for Wednesday.
Scenic Shot, who enjoyed an elite level win during the spring of 2009 taking out the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), resumed racing after a 12 month spell on January 15 running seventh in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington, but should improve second up at Caulfield this week.
The horse that won the Chester Manifold last start, Danzylum, is also backing up in the John Dillon on Wednesday.
Trained by Robbie Griffiths, Danzero gelding Danzylum scored victory by two lengths in the Manifold on January 15 making it back-to-back wins in the event and will likely start the favourite on Australia Day at Luxbet drawing well in barrier four.
Danzylum ran second to Joku in the John Dillon Stakes last year, continuing on to finish a gallant fourth to glamour mare Typhoon Tracy in the 2010 C.F. Orr Stakes.
Other notable acceptors for the John Dillon Stakes include Tony Vasil’s local Choisir gelding Maxisun coming off a third in the Listed L.T. Cleary Stakes here and Flying Spur six-year-old Wind Shear resuming for the season after finishing second in the Listed Lord Stakes on Boxing Day.
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