All eyes will be on the $175,000 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with an intriguing field of nine colts and geldings all vying for that all important first stakes win.
Carrying the number 1 saddlecloth is the Zoustar colt Space Rider, who resumed from a spell to win at The Valley, so has race fitness and track experience on his side.
Raced by a syndicate that includes TFI and Kia Ora, this Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained colt comes with a pedigree being a brother to Group III winner Brereton from Group III winner Fuddle Dee Duddle, who is a half-sister to the dam of Everest queen Bella Nipotina.
Unbeaten gelding Planet Red is shooting for his third win and while the son of Admire Mars (Jpn) might ultimately be better over further, he comes from the same stable as Space Rider and might give his barn mate a run for his money.
The big question mark in the race is unraced Deep Field colt Rosberg, who is touted by his trainer Clinton McDonald as something special.
McDonald won this race last year with Angel Capital, so knows what is required for victory and with a recent 10 length jump out win at Cranbourne under his belt plenty of pundits believe Rosberg can get the job done.
Rosberg was bought as a yearling for $260,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at Inglis Easter as a pinhook prospect by Shane McGrath and was then re-offered at Inglis Ready 2 Race where he was bought back by McGrath and McDonald for $750,000.
Rosberg is a full brother to stakes-placed Deep Pleasure from imported US stakes-winner Sheer Pleasure (USA), who comes from a prolific Black Type family.
