The Sydney Autumn Carnival wraps up this Saturday at Randwick with a strong eight-race card, highlighted by a star-studded field in the $400,000 Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).
I’m really keen on Chautauqua here. His win in the TJ Smith Stakes (1400m) was arguably the win of the Championships given there was dynamite on-pace bias that afternoon, and he came from last on the turn to beat a high class field.
Don’t worry about him and 1400m because he bolted home in the Hawkesbury Guineas and had no luck in the Scone Guineas. He’s the best horse in the race and he should end the Autumn on a Group 1 winning note.
The big danger is Dissident. He hasn’t been seen since running third to Suavito in the Futurity Stakes (1400m), where a misjudgement probably cost the horse another Group 1 win. Peter Moody immediately gave him a break after that and has specifically targeted him for this race. He flies fresh, handles Randwick and is excellent in all conditions.
I was really impressed with the first-up win of Generalife in the Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m). He was heavily backed to win that afternoon, and aided by a brilliant steer the Godolphin galloper shot through near the inside and grabbed Target In Sight right on the peg.
One thing that worth mentioning about John O’Shea since joining the racing giant is that he tends to get the horses wound-up to run really well early on in a prep. Expect him to go close here with the right trip.
Selections
Chautauqua (1) on top, to beat home Dissident (2), Generalife (10) and Shooting To Win (11), who trialled in outstanding order recently.
The other Group 1 on the card is the $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m), and it’s wide open now thanks to Sires winner Pride Of Dubai going to the spelling paddock.
In saying that, there are only a couple of winning chances – Odyssey Moon and Pasadena Girl.
Leaning towards Odyssey Moon given he has hard racing under the belt. He ran very well in the Slipper behind Vancouver, then loomed to win the Sires (1400m), but just couldn’t quite get past Pride Of Dubai. That race carried more depth than here, mile should suit and he seemingly is handling the hard prep very well.
Pasadena Girl is the other winning chance. She strung together two wins against ordinary opposition at Flemington before going to the Sires and producing one of the runs of the afternoon when fourth to Pride Of Dubai. That was her first serious hard run, so either two things will happen – that run will toughen her up and she’ll come on from it, or she’ll fall in a heap and run near last. Hoping it’s the first scenario.
There is some value in the shape of Mine Two. She is on the quick back-up after racing last week in the Percy Sykes (1200m) where she wasn’t far off Ottoman in a race which had far greater depth to what she faces here. She did run well behind Takedown over 1400m prior to the Percy Sykes, so she is a chance at odds.
Selections
Pretty keen on Odyssey Moon (2), ahead of Pasadena Girl (8), Mine Two (9) and Takedown (3).
In other races on the program:
. Mohave has trialled well and should go close in the first.
. Wine Tales, back on a firmer track, should improve in the Frank Packer.
. Nancy to confirm she is a class act in the J H B Carr.
. Malice looks one of the better bets on the program in the JRA Plate.
. Craftiness to continue his path towards the Stradbroke by winning the Hall Mark.
. Lucky Lago, at value, to win the final race of the Sydney Autumn.
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