Strong band of G1 winners in Memsie field

The battle for places into the first Group One race of the season will not eventuate with 18 nominations for the $1 million Memsie Stakes at Caulfield

The 1400m event on Saturday has a field limit of 16, with four emergencies, and it was initially thought the Group One race would require a ballot to determine the field.

Of the nominations, 11 are previous winners at the highest level.

The Darren Weir stable and Lindsay Park each have four nominations with Chris Waller entering Foxplay, a last-start second to Winx in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 19.

Interestingly a 1400m handicap at Caulfield on Saturday has 39 nominations with Memsie entries Charmed Harmony, Grand Rosso, Hardham, He Or She and Seaburge holding dual nominations.

Suspensions in the past week on Victorian tracks have resulted in a number of rider changes.

John Allen replaces Damian Lane on the Weir-trained Humidor while Stephen Baster has been booked for ATC Australian Derby winner Jon Snow following the suspension of Beau Mertens at Cranbourne on Sunday.

Leading Sydney jockey Blake Shinn partners Tosen Stardom with Craig Williams back aboard Vega Magic after Damien Oliver lost an appeal last week on a careless riding charge.

Newcastle-trained Le Romain and Queensland visitor Yankee Rose will get a look at the Caulfield track on Tuesday morning with a work-out on the course proper while Canberra mare Single Gaze has been entered for an 800m-jump-out on the steeple grass.

Vega Magic has opened the $3.60 Memsie favourite ahead of last year’s winner Black Heart Bart who shares the second line at $7 with Hey Doc and Yankee Rose.