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The Sydney autumn racing carnival wraps up today with four Group 1 races. Join us on The Roar from 1.30pm AEST for coverage and a live blog of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Sydney Cup and All Aged Stakes.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes – 2.15pm
The best middle distance horses in the country gather for the 2000m classic run under weight-for-age conditions, the ultimate test for race horses.
Starting as odds-on favourite, three-year-old Triple Crown winner It’s A Dundeel is very short priced after dominating his age group all season.
He steps up to weight-for-age racing for the first time but having won by six lengths in his last two starts, he’s going to be extremely difficult to beat today.
Most of these horses have come through the Ranvet or BMW and fellow Kiwi Silent Achiever ran in both.
Although disappointing in the Ranvet, run over 2000m also, he was the strongest finisher in the BMW where he narrowly missed out while winding up.
Manighar has been in all sorts as of late but he is also the best weight-for-age horse in Australia over an extended period.
He recaptured from in the George Ryder but that was over 1500m.
Injuries have taken their toll on him and at his best he relishes 2000m but he’s also getting on in years.
In that race, French import Reliable Man did enough in his first Australian run to suggest he will be a player on Australia’s Group 1 stage over the coming years.
He wound up well enough to suggest 2000m will be better suited to him here and is a honest place chance.
Tips
1. It’s A Dundeel
2. Silent Achiever
3. Manighar
4. Reliable Man
Champagne Stakes – 2.55pm
Run over 1600m, the Champagne Stakes is probably the best form race for assessing the two year olds due to the short distance of the Golden Slipper.
Many of the Slipper runners are entered here with several also running in the Sires Produce over 1400m.
After running fourth in the Slipper before winning the Sires Produce, Guelph heads the market comfortably. By Exceed and Excel however, the mile may be right on the edge of his capabilities.
The Sires Produce is always the best form indicator of this race and runner up Scandiva comes from horse racing’s royal family as the Aunt to Black Caviar and All Too Hard.
By Fastnet Rock, Scandiva was flying home until being caught late by Guelph but has had one run less this preparation and should be a touch fresher.
Riocetto bounded away by five lengths on a wet track last week and will be the horse to beat on anything worse than a slow track.
He beat home Fuerza in that race who has returned to set weights racing after being weighted out of his last two starts but deserves more respect than the bookies are giving him here.
Tips
1. Scandiva
2. Fuerza
3. Guelph
4. Shahad
Sydney Cup – 3.35pm
The autumn equivalent of the Melbourne Cup has gathered a reasonably strong field this year with four entrants having run in the Melbourne Cup.
The field of this 3200m classic is headed by Chris Waller-trained Kelinni who carried top weight on a heavy track to win the JRA Plate last week.
He drops down in weight and steps up to a more suitable distance and deserves favouritism after winning the Lexus in the spring before backing up in the Melbourne Cup where he finished fourth.
As Australia’s ultimate staying test, any horse that has run the distance well in the past deserves respect. Maluckyday ran second in the Melbourne Cup two years ago but has failed to find that form ever since.
By Zabeel, he is bred to stay this distance and his run in the Ranvet Stakes was encouraging when he ran from last to finish third. He’s also been weighted well here.
The Chairman’s Handicap is traditionally the best form indicator for the Sydney Cup and all three place getters are entered today.
Winner Tremac is also by Zabeel and should run this distance while runner up Blood Brotha is proven over this distance, but only in New Zealand.
Others with winning chances are last year’s winner Niwot and early season favourite, Julienus.
Tips
1. Maluckyday
2. Niwot
3. Kelinni
4. Tremac
All Aged Stakes – 4.15pm
This has been the most anticipated race of the season. Early speculation suggested this was going to be Black Caviar’s final race in Australia but even without the great mare, it has two headline acts in All Too Hard and More Joyous.
This is certain to be the final run in Australia for Black Caviar’s half brother, All Too Hard, who has been lived up to his family’s billing this season.
The only factor stopping him from being the clear favourite is his record in Sydney. He has run clockwise four times and placed twice without winning compared to his Melbourne record where he has been beaten just once, in the Cox Plate.
Purchased for $20 million in December, All Too Hard has had two starts against the older horses and won them both comfortably.
Today may also be the final time we see Sydney champion More Joyous. Owner John Singleton has already booked her to be served by Frankel and if she does not win this today, there is a very high chance she will retire for breeding.
The other big chance in the race is Epaulette who ran first up in the TJ Smith Stakes and ran second, three lengths behind Black Caviar.
That is about as close as horses can get to Black Caviar so the Commands colt is in hot form.
Tips
1. All Too Hard
2. Epaulette
3. More Joyous
4. Smokin’ Joey
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