G’day Roarers! There was some fantastic racing last Saturday in both Sydney and Melbourne and that should be repeated this weekend, highlighted of course by Winx in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Winx is $1.10 with most betting agencies. She just doesn’t look like getting beat.
If you’re worried about the potential of a wet track, then don’t. Last time she was faced with that was here at this track/distance in the Doncaster Mile where she gave 6kgs and 6.5kgs respectively to Happy Clapper and Azkadellia and spanked them. She’ll do the same here.
Hartnell produced a ripping return in the Warwick Stakes (1400m) behind Winx. He chased hard the entire straight and was really good through the line. He has the early speed, perhaps, to lead, but given he is being aimed towards Melbourne, I’m not sure if they’ll push him, especially if we get a heavy track.
Really interested to see how Preferment returns. Showed his class in the Autumn with a couple of feature wins before being really poor on the wet track in the Queen Elizabeth. He has had three trials leading up to his return, and the last trial was run in fast time, so he’ll be forward enough to challenge for a place.
The other race at Randwick I’m keen to look at is the Tramway Stakes (1400m).
It is riddled with potential Epsom contenders, namely Happy Clapper. In this race though I’m with the Hayes/Dabernig runner Dibayani. Loved his return down the straight in the Auries Star behind Sooboog, closing off nicely late.
He does tend to save his best racing for clockwise, and last time he was in Sydney, he made Winx work for her wins, something she hasn’t done for a while. $8 all-in on Monday was a steal and he seems his right price at around the $5 mark.
Huge, huge fan of Happy Clapper and he is my early Epsom pick. The boy became a man in the Autumn without winning a race. Caught the eye in the weight-for-age lead ups to the Doncaster where he beat all bar the best middle distance mare since Sunline in the shape of Winx. His trials have been outstanding and though he does have bigger fish to fry in a few weeks, it wouldn’t surprise me if he blew them away.
The old boy Messene resumed in the Show County and was very good in defeat I thought behind Tycoon Tara given he got back to near last in the run in a race where on speed runners were advantaged yet he made up really good ground late. He can certainly roll forward here without doing too much, and with natural improvement from the fresh run, he could run a very cheeky race.
The feature race at Moonee Valley this Saturday is the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m), with a Cox Plate start the prize for the victor. It is a race I am finding it hard to look at as a betting opposition given the two favourites, Tosen Stardom and The United States, haven’t trialled publicly.
I’ve landed with Jameka. Loved her fresh run in the P.B. Lawrence (1400m) where she got a long way back in the run before finishing off with purpose. She does have tactical speed, and I hope Williams will use it, because he could get a dream sit off a hot speed and get a head start on several key runners.
A potential sharp improver is The Cleaner. I thought he was disappointing in the P.B. Lawrence even though he did cop serious heat on speed, but he dropped out sooner than expected for me. But the facts are that he has won the past two editions of this race, he loves the Valley and the stable have stated that this is the race they want to win with this horse. Any hint of bias, like there has been at this track at this meeting the past few years, and he comes right into the mix.
The horse I am keen to watch is Excess Knowledge. Had a relatively light Autumn with an eye towards another crack at the Melbourne Cup, which he ran a super race in last year. Resumes here off the back of encouraging efforts at the trials and in trackwork on Tuesday morning, where he looked pretty impressive to my eye, and is certainly forward enough to run well here.
The other feature on the card is the McEwen Stakes (1000m). I can really see Heatherly being heavily backed here. The first up win in the Carlyon was enormous given she pulled her head off on speed and was left exposed in front a long way out. Had every right to turn it up but she kept finding to win. Should take good benefit from that outing and the wide gate, I don’t think, will be an issue. She has the speed to carve over.
Wild Rain could get the suck run behind Heatherly. Super first up win in the Monash when ridden a treat by Oliver on speed but hasn’t raced since then, which is a worry in terms of fitness, but as I said, gate two and the dream sit off a hot speed will offset that I suspect. Definite threat.
The interesting one is Sheidel, who resumes for the Hayes/Dabernig yard. Nearly got her Group l win last prep in the Robert Sangster but was nabbed on the peg by Precious Gem. Loved her trial win at Tatura, but I was even more impressed with her jump out win last Thursday at Flemington where she led and cruised to the line under a big hold, running smart time. She is set to perhaps snare a feature race this Spring.
If you want a multi anchor, look no further than The Virginian, who resumes in the fifth at Eagle Farm. Last start placegetter in the Stradbroke behind Under The Louvre and Black Heart Bart, and now is racing in a Class 3. Barring any bias, who knows with Eagle Farm, he will be trotting up and should add extra to your bets.
Good luck and good punting!
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