Only five rivals stand between Written By (Written Tycoon) and the top colt maintaining his unbeaten record at Caulfield on Wednesday.
He will make his second appearance for the season in the G3 Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire S., as a stepping stone to the G1 Coolmore Stud S., at Flemington on November 3.
Trained by Grahame Begg, Written By won the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude on the course last term before overcoming the outside gate but one to claim the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Beaten for the first time
He then suffered the first defeat of his career when fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper S., and was turned out.
Written By returned on a positive note at Caulfield last month and did all he needed to under regular rider Jordan Childs to give weight and a beating to a field of 3-year-olds.
His opposition on Wednesday is a step up and includes James Cummings’ last-start G3 Danehill S.,winner Encryption (Lonhro) and last season’s G3 Canonbury S., winner Performer (Exceed And Excel) from Chris Waller’s barn.
Dual representation
David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have two in the event, including the G3 Vain S., winner Tony Nicconi (Nicconi) and Smart Elissim (Smart Missile), who will appreciate a better track after failing to place on heavy going in the G2 Run to the Rose.
A strong midweek card will also see the running of the G3 Ted Baker Ladies’ Day Vase at set weights and penalties.
Under those conditions, Shane Nicholls’ I Am A Star (I Am Invincible) gives weight to all bar Oregon’s Day (Domesday) and these 5-year-olds will still take some holding out.
I Am A Star, who won the G1 Myer Classic in 2016, comes to Caulfield in tip top form with victory two runs back in the G2 Let’s Elope S., and she then successfully retained her G2 Stocks S., title.
Drop in grade
The Ladies’ Day Vase will also present Oregon’s Day with a tidy opportunity as she is stepping back in class.
The Mick Price-trained mare was beaten less than a length when fifth behind Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {IRE}) in the G1 Memsie S., before she finished eighth in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., but only two and a-half lengths off the winner Jungle Cat (IRE) (Iffraaj {GB}).
La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) is also a live chance for the Hayes and Dabernig combination. A G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner at three, she will appreciate the step up to 1600 metres after a most recent fifth in the G2 Blazer S., over 1400m.
Weir’s newcomer
Black type racing continues on Wednesday in the Listed Ladbrokes Village S., which will mark the first appearance from Darren Weir’s stable of last season’s G1 Levin Classic winner Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock).
His stablemate Man From Uncle (Uncle Mo {USA}) is a talent whose manners have let him down at times, but on his best behaviour he can provide some value.
The form runner is Godolphin’s Trekking (Street Cry {IRE}), who opened his black type account last time out with a smooth performance to win the G3 Testa Rossa S., on the course.
