Tomorrow night's $20,000 Herald Sun Sapling Stakes at Moonee Valley may be low on numbers, but it is high on quality with some exceptional young talent engaged.
A field of seven Vicbred fillies has gathered for the time honoured classic which serves as a prelude to the upcoming Vicbred Super Series for two-year-old fillies.
Tatlow Stakes winner Fususi (pictured) headlines the showdown, but it will be far from a one-sided contest with Batavia Hotwire, Cullens Ace and Dolcezza all strongly fancied.
The Jayne Davies-trained Fususi has suffered just one defeat in five starts and that was a luckless second to Amongst Royalty in the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Tiara.
With regular pilot Chris Alford suspended, Sydney's premier reinsman Greg Bennett will hit town to steer the $2.50 pre-post favourite from barrier five.
Western Australian visitor Batavia Hotwire ($2.70) creates plenty of interest at her eastern states debut for astute father-and-son combination Graeme and Gavin Lang.
She too has suffered just one defeat in her career - a second on debut - and bookmakers will be guarded against a possible punter onslaught despite her facing barrier six.
The Ted and Craig Demmler-trained Cullens Ace ($4.20) is the widest of the seven runners in the 2100-metre feature, but she cannot be underestimated.
The daughter of Christian Cullen is yet to finish further back than second in five starts and did beat home all bar Amongst Royalty in the Group 1 Australian Pacing Gold.
The X-factor is the Peter Manning-trained Dolcezza who impressed winning her only start at Ballarat a fortnight ago and draws inside her main rivals in barrier four.
The Herald Sun Sapling Stakes is one of many highlights on a night when the Victorian harness racing industry honours the Herald Sun for their on-going support.
