The Championships have come and gone, but the Group 1 action continues with the Champagne Stakes for two-year-olds, and the weight-for-age All Aged Stakes, bringing the curtain down on the Sydney autumn carnival.
Sydney
Thankfully the weather gods have been smiling on Sydney and it looks like we’ll be playing on a Dead 5 or Slow 6 on Saturday.
Let’s sink our teeth in to these features and try and come up with a winner.
Champagne Stakes preview
Not a vintage renewal, but a very good one, nonetheless.
Traditionally, juveniles that contest the Champagne Stakes have come through the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and/or Golden Slipper.
Five of the 10 runners went around in the Sires (won by Peggy Jean), but surprisingly, none were there when Mossfun won the Slipper – which indicates they’ve been set for this.
Peggy Jean can become the 41st horse to complete the ATC Sires’ – Champagne double, and fourth in as many years, after Guelph (2013), Pierro (2012) and Helmet (2011).
Gerald Ryan has a three-pronged attack in Bachman, Peggy Jean and Lucky Raquie. And they’re all in the mix.
Bachman (Hugh Bowman) has won two on the bounce, is drawn the best of the trio in gate three and should get a lovely run in transit.
Peggy Jean, will become the only two-year-old to win twice at Group 1 level this season if she wins here. She was very good behind Bring Me The Maid (third in the Slipper), before an impressive win in the Sires’. That’s terrific form.
Interesting to note that Nash Rawiller rode both Bachman and Peggy Jean to victory last time and has opted for the latter. He expects her to be better on top of the ground.
Lucky Raquie, who won the Black Opal in Canberra last month, was a solid fifth, beaten two lengths behind Earthquake and Mossfun in the Reisling, before failing on the heavy track (eighth of 11) in the Sires.
I reckon Lucky Raquie will be much better next campaign and I’m prepared to leave her out.
David Hayes set Zululand, his $1.5 million colt, for this after he won the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes last month at Flemington – his only victory. He did a fair bit wrong that day and still won in good fashion.
He should be forgiven for his failure on the bog track two weeks ago behind Peggy Jean and he’ll relish the firmer surface here.
I’ve got no doubt the son of Fastnet Rock, who jumps from gate seven under Stephen Baster, will blossom in the spring. But, if he’s on his best behaviour, and that’s a big if, he’s capable of causing a boil over.
Can Veuvelicious provide young trainer, former top hoop, Brent Stanley, with his first Group 1?
The Northern Meteor filly, a two-time winner from her five starts, faces her stiffest test, but has stacks of ability.
She meets Bachman and Scratch Me Lucky again here having finished behind that pair in the Baillieu two starts back.
Veuvelicious has come on since then and her dominant win last week in the Fernhill, where she streeted her rivals by three lengths, was impressive.
Importantly, she’s the only runner to have run over, and won at, the trip.
Of the rest, Scratch Me Lucky has been knocking on the door, but do you want to be backing a two-year-old having its ninth start? Kumaon from the Peter Snowden yard, is very talented, but looks a preparation away for mine, while Go Indy Go can’t be ruled out.
She bolted in the Sires’ Produce at Morphetville last time and the training combination of Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas wouldn’t be taking her to Sydney for a holiday. Proxy and Unknown Destiny look outclassed.
Selections: 1. Zululand, 2. Peggy Jean, 3. Veuvelicious, 4. Go Indy Go
All Aged Stakes preview
The last four winners of this Group 1 affair – All Too Hard (2013), Atlantic Jewel (2012), Hay List (2011), and Hot Danish (2010) – are all superstars, and the honour roll is ladened with champions.
Unfortunately, I reckon the 2014 running of the All Aged is a bit weak and I see just three winning chances.
Rebel Dane will start favourite and deservedly do. He was enormous behind Lankan Rupee in the TJ Smith at his most recent appearance and you’d have to think any form around Australia’s new sprint sensation is good form.
The four-year-old is drawn out in 10, but there’s plenty of ticks. He’s won one of three second-up, is yet to miss a place at the 1400m (winning twice) and will appreciate not having to plough through the mud. He has a brilliant turn of foot, and if Steps In Time makes the running and sets a solid tempo, which I assume she will, he’ll be finishing over the top of them.
Weary drops back from 1600m to 1400m. He was terrific in the Doncaster Mile, running third behind stablemates Sacred Falls and Royal Descent.
If any trainer can successfully bring a horse back in trip in the space of two weeks it’s Chris Waller.
The import has excellent form behind Olympic Glory and Moonlight Cloud in Europe, and was beaten a length by the former in last year’s Greenham Stakes (1400m) at Newbury. Olympic Glory was a devastating winner of the Group 1, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October – a hot race.
Weary also has the benefit of having the services of young gun, Tommy Berry, fresh from a winning treble last Saturday.
Japanese raider, Hana’s Goal, is another who comes out of the Doncaster. It was the first time the five-year-old had seen a wet track and despite her huge price, she ran a blinder, coming from the tail of the field to finish sixth.
Five wins and two minor placings from 21 starts tells you she’s not the most consistent mare, however, there’s much to like about her here.
Admittedly, it might just be a touch short for her, but with Nash Rawiller taking over from Kyosuke Maruta (a significant riding change), and a firmer surface, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her winning assuming she’s come on since her super effort in the 1600m Classic.
Snitzerland is as honest as the day is long but will she run out the 1400m? I’m prepared to say she won’t and am happy to take her on.
Of the rest, Tiger Tees won the Group 1, The Galaxy two starts back, but he’s a better 1200m horse. He was good behind Lankan Rupee (fourth, beaten 3.5 lengths) in the TJ Smith and definitely rates a place chance. Shamexpress is drawn to get a lovely run from gate two, but he’s a bit of an enigma.
I can never catch him and until he finds the winners’ stall again, I can’t have him. Steps In Time, a Group 1 winner of the Coolmore at her penultimate start, is a four-time winner at 1400m, and has won one of two at the track.
There’s nothing wrong with those credentials and she’ll be in it for a long way, but I can’t see her winning.
Prepared to say the three-year-old’s aren’t good enough to beat the top-quality, seasoned campaigners, even with the pull in the weights.
Selections: 1. Rebel Dane, 2. Weary, 3. Hana’s Goal, 4. Steps In Time
Adelaide
Group 1 Racing returns to Morphetville on Saturday with the running of the Schweppes Oaks (2000m) set weights for three-year-old fillies, and the weight for age Sportingbet Classic (1200m) for fillies and mares.
Schweppes Oaks preview
A tremendously competitive race with a host of chances.
I’ve been a Star Fashion fan since her debut. She’s only won one of nine, and that’s a concern, but her form around the likes of Arabian Gold, Solicit and Kirramosa, is solid. Her fourth behind Gamblin’ Guru in the Port Adelaide Guineas, was fair and I’m prepared to give her one more chance.
Peter Moody has four runners; In Masquerade, Quayside, Lady Tatia and Akagera, with the former appearing his best chance. Luke Nolen has chosen her, she was game in defeat behind Girl In Flight in the Auraria last time, and her breeding (Pentire x Cuphill) suggests she’ll enjoy the step up to 2000 metres.
Robbie Griffiths has Girl In Flight is flying. She’s won four of seven, including her most recent start at this track, however, gate 13 does concern me a little. If she has a good run there’s no doubt she’s the one to beat.
Of the rest, May’s Dream is talented and always a chance in this class, as is Scratchy Bottom. Rezoned could be the blowout.
Selections: 1. Star Fashion, 2. Girl In Flight, 3. May’s Dream, 4. In Masquerade
Sportingbet Classic preview
Sensational race with plenty of winning hopes.
Going with A Time For Julia. She’s three out of five at the trip and is flying this prep. At her most recent outing she was fourth in the Group 1 Coolmore, beaten less than three lengths by Steps In Time.
Villa Verde might be the hardest to beat. Her effort in the TJ Smith behind Lankan Rupee, on an unsuitable heavy track, was very good. Her record at the trip (six starts for one minor placing) is a worry, but Michael Rodd should give her every chance to run it out from gate six.
Platelet is a star and always commands respect whenever she goes around. She was a beaten odds-on favourite behind Driefontein, who she meets again here, last time out, but her effort was good.
The ultra-talented Shamal Wind, Molto Bene, Miracles Of Life, and Gregers, are all winning hopes.
Molto Bene will be a massive price and although she was second last behind Driefontein in the Irwin, her second-up form is excellent (four starts, two wins and a third) and she has a devastating turn of foot.
Selections: 1. A Time For Julia, 2. Villa Verde, 3. Shamal Wind, 4. Platelet
Have you ever tried your skills in a Racing daily fantasy competition? Put your best picks to the test for one day and see if you can scoop the pot with Draftstars. Looking for great odds on racing and sport? PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Without a Fight completed the rare Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday as star jockey Mark Zahra went back-to-back in the big one after…
The race that stops the nation is upon us again. Every horse in the Melbourne Cup has reasons they can win, and reasons they…
Those who want to have a really big collect on Australia’s greatest race, without risking too much, have to look at the exotic bets.
While most of the attention is on Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Gold Trip, there's no reason why stablemate Future History cannot upstage him.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is quietly confident his Melbourne Cup mount Alenquer will be passed fit to give him a farewell ride in the…
Melbourne Cup day is here again, and it’s never anything less than exciting. The Cup itself will of course be full of drama and…
