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
Alfred Chan
Expert
Correction. Royal Descent is actually owned by Gerry Harvey, Singleton's good friend.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Vision shows Waterhouse and Singleton in a heated discussion in front of Nash Rawiller about how to ride More Joyous in the All Aged. It's difficult to hear what they were saying exactly. Waterhouse was giving Nash instructions. Singleton was repeatedly saying "NO" very loudly. The only full sentence I could hear was, "No, you did that with Pierro last week. No"
Alfred Chan
Expert
Well this concludes our live coverage of the Sydney racing carnival. It's been a huge eight weeks and we've had the pleasure of bringing you the best live blog coverage available on the internet, here at The Roar. We hope you've backed a few winners. I'll post a full wrap up of today's racing and summerise the John Singleton-Gai Waterhouse saga. That's it from us at The Roar. Thanks for joining us.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Reports surfacing that Singleton and Waterhouse were seen having a heated conversation before the race. Singleton has had some time to gather his thoughts and was asked again to confirm his earlier comments. He confirmed that all of his horses will be pulled form Gai Waterhouse's trainership tomorrow. WOW!
Alfred Chan
Expert
So Roarers, Let's just quickly sum up today's races. Reliable Man won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes beating hot favourite It's A Dundeel. Reliable Man then pulled up lame and was later diagnosed with a sprained off-fore. This could be the end of the French imports racing career. Guelph then won the Champagne Stakes with a last ditch dive. In the feature race, Mourayan pulled off an upset to win the 3200m classic. In the final race of the day, All Too Hard made it three wins in a row against the older horse in his final jump on Australian soil.
Alfred Chan
Expert
The key word here are, "conflict of interest".
Alfred Chan
Expert
There could a be a big law suit pending here. Singleton's comments could be strewed as libelous the Waterhouse's believe those comments have affected the commercial interests of the stable and Tom's business.
Alfred Chan
Expert
John Singleton and Gai Waterhouse are now having a very heated discussion. They're doing it in public. Lot's of journos around them.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Wayne Hawkes was asked what the future for All Too Hard is. He remained tight lipped with a smile. "Leave it to the owners."
Alfred Chan
Expert
Gai Waterhouse has just been told of John Singleton's comments. Waterhouse refused to comment.
Alfred Chan
Expert
I didn't mean to take anything away from All Too Hard who has had a great career in Australia and run for the last time in his home country. It was a great ride by Dwayne Dunn. But the big story of the day is John Singleton who has crippled Gai Waterhouse.
Alfred Chan
Expert
We've just had a response from Tom Waterhouse who has denied any publication of inside knowledge. "I never said the horse has problems I never knew the horse had problems." "He says that kind of stuff to cause a bit of controversy." "They always kiss and make up so hopefully they will tomorrow."
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Angry Singo. He's made threats before...
Alfred Chan
Expert
More importantly, how about that for a conflict of interest? Tom Waterhouse was running his mouth and it has cost his mother her biggest client. Wow. I looking forward to hearing Justin Cinque and Andrew Hawkins thoughts on this.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Last week, Royal Descent won the Oaks by ten lengths. Royal Descent is owned by Singleton and trained by Chris Waller. It was one of the rare ones he didn't assign to Waterhouse.
Alfred Chan
Expert
John Singleton declared he did not have another trainer in mind but I am 90% sure he will be sending his horses to Chris Waller.
Alfred Chan
Expert
This is a massive blow to Gai Waterhouse because John Singleton is one of the largest owners in Australia.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Singo was asked about the future of More Joyous. Here are his comments. "She won’t be running again with Gai Waterhouse as trainer." "When Gai’s son knows last night what the result will be today. There’s a conflict of interest." " I told her last night if she doesn’t win, she’ll be leaving. " "I heard from her son that she’s got problems I don’t know about" "All my horses are leaving Gai’s tomorrow."
Alfred Chan
Expert
Wow. Huge explosive interview just now with John Singleton, the owner of All Too Hard.
Alfred Chan
Expert
It was a great ride by Dwayne Dunn who just slowed down a bit when they came around the bend. It had been trouble for All Too Hard before but he handled it great today. And then found the turn of foot just in time to win by half a length from Rain Affair who ran a super super race out front.