Black Caviar’s quest for her 20th consecutive win headlines a star-studded afternoon of racing that also features Atlantic Jewel, Americain, More Joyous Pierro. Join us for live updates from 2.45pm AEST.
Robert Sangster Stakes: Race 7, Morphettville (1200m) – 4.23pm AEST
Australia’s love affair with the fairytale horse of our generation continues this afternoon, with Peter Moody’s peerless mare B;ack Caviar turning out for a two-race preparation in Adelaide before her much-anticipated Northern Hemisphere at Royal Ascot in June.
Unsurprisingly, she has been sent out at $1.04 or 25-to-1 on in the old scale and for good reason too.
There is no Hay List amongst this field and there is not even the slimmest chance that she will lose this afternoon.
It will be 20 on the bounce this afternoon for Black Caviar, with Sistine Angel, Lone Rock and Power Princess chances to come within five lengths of the champion.
All Aged Stakes: Race 5, Randwick (1400m) – 2.55pm AEST
The second of four group 1 races gets underway just before three o’clock this afternoon with the ‘other’ Australian champion well-placed to continue her own unbeaten streak.
Mark Kavanagh’s Atlantic Jewel has been nothing but impressive throughout her six-race career and the Black Caviar-esque price of $1.20 suggests nothing will change this afternoon.
Still, small fields can sometimes be tactical minefields for short-priced favourites and with only six horses lining up in this race, Michael Rodd will need to be alert.
With the scratching of King Mufhasa this morning, only Albert The Fat and Rain Affair look realistic chances.
Sydney Cup: Race 6, Randwick (3200m ) – 3.35pm AEST
The feature race of the afternoon. Niwot has been solidly supported in pre-post betting and with an ideal preparation looks a worthy favourite for the two-mile race.
The Team Hawkes-trained galloper was the first local horse home in last year’s Melbourne Cup and should settle midfield with Permit and Drunken Sailor. There should be a handy speed through the likes of Once Were Wild and Precedence from out wide and Solid Billing should go forward as well.
But with a good run in transit it should be Niwot and Permit fighting this one out at the finish. Each-way claims arise through Drunken Sailor, Efficent and Precedence.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) – 4.15pm AEST
Probably the most fascinating race of the afternoon. After being set for – and triumphantly claiming – the Doncaster Handicap last Saturday, the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Joyous will be out for back-to-back wins.
The mare will face stiff competition from the one-two finishers of the BMW earlier in the month.
Manighar has been one of the horses of the autumn carnival, while 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain has looked threatening this prep and would have won the BMW had Gerard Mosse not absolutely butchered the ride.
The key here will be the mile-and-a-quarter distance. Will it be too far for More Joyous, who has been set for races over the mile? Can Americain find enough room to get out into the clear at the top of the straight?
But the eight-horse field is full of chances such as Rekindled Interest, Secret Admirer and crack Kiwi gallopers Jimmy Choux and Rangirangdoo. The winner could come from just about anywhere.
Jason Cave
Guest
I've seen some good horses in my time watching races-Kingston Town, Better Loosen Up, Sunline, Makybe Diva among them-but never have I known a horse to get the general public and the racing franternity together as one as much as Black Caviar has done. The problem is that Black Caviar-as well as More Joyous-underlines a lack of a geniune two-miler to take on the Europeans in the Melbourne Cup. While Niwot's win in the Sydney Cup was good, question is, could Niwot-as well as Drunken Sailor and Laser Hawk-compete with the best European racing has to offer in the Melbourne Cup later this year?
nan
Guest
Well we have just witnessed the 3 best race horses in Australia win and win easy, the best is easy BC , i cant wait till 2013 when they start stretching BC over 1600 and we have the other 2 mares in it at WFA lets hope they all stay sound and bring frankel so they can spank his a s s.
Hospital
Guest
Fantastic! I'm in the USA and it was reasonably well covered here. People love a winner!
Hackett98
Guest
Thanks for joining us at the Roar for a fabulous day of racing. Truly special performances from Pierro, More Joyous and Black Caviar. Hope you backed a winner.
Hackett98
Guest
Black Caviar is cantering Nolen gives her a couple at the end and she wins by 4 lengths. She is something else. 20 in a row!
Hackett98
Guest
Nolen comes off the pace and lets Just Sybil got past the great mare
Hackett98
Guest
Black Caviar starts well and is leading
Hackett98
Guest
Looks like they had it pretty spot on. Very impressive performance.
Hackett98
Guest
Nash Rawiller says he will attempt to ride her in the same way in the Cox Plate. Can Gai convince Singo to take More Joyous to Ascot?
Hackett98
Guest
More Joyous in a sensational performance. What a star I'm sorry for ever doubting her. Manighar ran on well for 2nd while Secret Admirer was 3rd. Americain was very disappointing. May be past his best. More Joyous will firm significantly in Cox Plate betting.
Hackett98
Guest
Americain is making an early move around the outside
Hackett98
Guest
More Joyous leads from Rekindled Interest , Americain is being ridden closer to the pace than it has been recently.
Hackett98
Guest
Rekindled Interest looks great and will be carrying my money.
Cowcorner
Guest
One of my raters has her at $2.60 and Manighar at $2.90--hope he is right.
Hackett98
Guest
Picking between Manighar and Americain has been troublesome for me this campaign. Americain has gotten close twice but not won. Manighar has been the horse of the Autumn and despite rarely starting favorite keeps on winning. Craig Williams is on board Americian and surely will give him a better ride than he had at his last start.
Cowcorner
Guest
I think Power Princess and All Friared Up will be in the mix. I cannot see them beating the champ but at their odds, I'll be tempted to have a few dollars on them!
Hackett98
Guest
The Queen Elizabeth is possibly the race of the carnival and an incredibly tough race to judge. More Joyous is unproven over 2000m. The horse is a champion but there is no way I'd be taking anything less than $5 for her in this tough a 2000m race.
Hackett98
Guest
Permit will be fine.
Hackett98
Guest
I don't generally rate Dwayne Dunn as a jockey but that was a great ride. Great training performance from Lloyd Williams team to get Efficient back to it's best when it looked well past it.
Hackett98
Guest
While there is not much value to be had on Black Caviar there may be some value to be found elsewhere in the race. I'm expecting Lone Rock and Valentine Miss to followed the great mare home. Lone Rock should get good run in transit and will attempt to follow Black Caviar. I think Lone Rock represents good value at $2.70 for the race without Black Caviar. Just Sybil is another quality horse who should be running on late and represents good value at anything longer than $4 for the place. I don't generally like betting on the winning margin as you never know how quickly Luke Nolen will shut her down. I'm expecting something between 3 and 3.5 lengths. You get $3.10 for 2.26 to 4 lengths on Sportingbet. I wouldn't put the house on it though.