Sacred Eye Heads 2016 Adrian Knox Stakes Field

The David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Sacred Eye is the top-rated filly in the mix for the last on Doncaster Mile Day this Saturday heading a full field in the Adrian Knox Stakes 2016.

Sacred Eye carries top weight in the 2016 Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon in Sydney. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Closing the bumper 10-race card for Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick, this year’s $200,000 Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) features a final field of 16 hopefuls.

Wearing the number one saddlecloth and giving the weight away with 59kg in the handicap clash is the Lindsay Park-raced Sacred Eye drawn a treat in barrier three with Hugh Bowman to ride.

She carries a minimum of 4.5kg more than any of her rivals, the daughter of High Chaparral chasing her first win since Caulfield’s Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) in the spring.

While yet to race at Randwick, she finished a credible fifth beaten only 2.3 lengths when up against the boys at Rosehill last start in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and back against her own kind with the extra metres on Saturday looks a big hope.

The only other runner allocated above the 54kg minimum is Alaskan Rose (54.5kg) who has suffered an early blow drawing out in gate 14 for her hoop Blake Shinn.

Michael Moroney prepares the daughter of Encosta De Lago who also runs at Randwick for the first time, Alaskan Rose last seen finishing third to Felicienne at Flemington on March 12 in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) over the mile.

Backing up off a Group 1 run looking to improve with just a week between starts is the Kerry Parker-trained Heartlings who failed to beat home all but two runners when 12^th in last weekend’s Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

She gets the same metres this Saturday and drops two kilos from 56kg and should find Saturday’s Group 3 field easier to handle even from her wide barrier 15 of 16 draw with Tommy Berry booked for the ride.

Heartlings is still officially nominated for the $1 million Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) back at Randwick on April 9 and pays $41 in pre-field markets for the mile and a half classic through Ladbrokes.com.au.

On Tuesday speaking with The Punt Parker was still weighing up whether or not to run Heartlings in the Adrian Knox Stakes before paying the final acceptance on Wednesday morning.

“I am considering it,” he said.

“I think last start on the firm track, she just got out of her ground.

“She just felt the track and I think she will benefit just getting to Randwick on a different track.

“That’s where she will work out if she does stay because she might be bred for it but last start left a few questions unanswered so to speak.”

Coming off a Wyong win in the wet from March 20, the Anthony Cummings-trained Aurora’s Star makes her black-type debut at start number six and is the other most notable Adrian Knox Stakes acceptor.

She has winning form up to 2100m and has come up trumps with a mid-field barrier eight draw for Jason Collett.

See below for the full Adrian Knox Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and weights and then head to our No. 1 recommended bookie Ladbrokes.com.au to enjoy up to $500 in bonuses as a new depositing player when you quote the code BETBONUS!

2016 Adrian Knox Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Randwick Race 10 (5:50pm) – 02/04/2016