Two big 1400m races are run this weekend: the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick, with star mare Winx and the versatile Hartnell just two set to face-off, while at Caulfield, the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes marks the start of the autumn season.
Group 2 Apollo Stakes
Rain dumped all across Sydney yesterday, including at Randwick, so we’re likely set for a rain-affected track for the weight-for-age Apollo, even with the city’s heat. It looks like it’ll be soft going at best, with thick grass covering.
Trainer Chris Waller has put the world’s best turf horse, wonder-mare Winx, through two trials for this and she should be firing. It’s always tough to win first-up ahead of a long campaign, but she’s the queen for a reason.
Waller should also have Endless Drama, Grand Marshal, Preferment, Sacred Master, and Libran (who missed the spring) in the race, ensuring some depth. Most of those will be tuning up for longer races, including the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) later in the year, mind you.
Godolphin will have their star in Hartnell come back through the Apollo, along with Ambience and Magic Hurricane.
It’s a fair effort to ask Hartnell, third in Melbourne Cup, to challenge Winx over 1400m first-up, but it’s a repeat of last year’s spring when the two clashed first-up in the Warwick Stakes.
Winx was over three lengths clear that day and, even with a soft track, not a lot suggests the tables will be turned.
Accordingly, all-in markets have Winx $1.20 with Hartnell at $15, and even a decent price the place. Global Glamour and Dibiyani are both good enough to ensure it’s more than a two-horse race, but you’d still have to say it’s Winx and daylight, even first up. Coming through unscathed is just as important as winning for her.
Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m)
The WFA $500,000 Orr is often full of quality horses starting their campaigns and with at least nine Group 1 winners set for this, it’s again a top race.
This year there’s a host that have already got going, with two in Black Hart Bart and Malaguerra at the top of markets, while Ecuador, Lucky Hussler, and Turn Me Loose have had a run and are all good chances.
Jameka is the big name returning. She’s likely to struggle over the 1400m first-up after the Melbourne Cup, which she found too far on her first try. Looking forward to seeing her go well on her return. She’s placed twice first-up over 1400m, including in Group 3 Vanity. Early markets with her at $13 looks unders.
Charlie Appleby sending raiders for Sydney autumn
In news sure to worry plenty of owners and trainers, Charlie Appleby is sending two horses across to ultimately compete in the Sydney Cup.
Appleby had spectacular success in the spring with his raiders. Qewy won the Geelong Cup and Sandown Cup, Oceanographer the Lexus Stakes, while Francis Of Assisi claimed the Bendigo Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In a sign of how good they were, only Scottish didn’t win a race, but still picked up a giant cheque in finishing second behind Jameka in the Caulfield Cup.
Appleby is sending Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation, who look good enough to challenge on paper, even if they have both run over the hurdles as well as flat races.
Penglai Pavilion is a seven-year-old gelding, who has won three from five over hurdles and one from seven over flat races, and was fifth behind Treve in the 2013 Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when with Andre Fabre. The gelding’s career hadn’t shown much after that until he was transferred to Appleby and won the Cesarewitch Trial over 3600m back in October.
Polarisation is a five-year-old gelding with 22 starts on the flat for five wins, and just one hurdle attempt. Appleby has only had him for his last three starts, all in 2016, for a second placing, a last, and fourth in his most recent start.
We’ll hopefully see them on the track before the Sydney Cup.
“I excited about sending our first runners to Sydney,” Appleby said on the Godolphin website. “We had a great Carnival in Melbourne, and if we could have even half as good a time in Sydney, I would be delighted.”
Appleby will also be taking Gold Trail on a mission to win the Mornington Cup for an exemption into the Caulfield Cup. All three will quarantine at Canterbury.
Haradasun
Guest
agree g1s aren't everything and there is a definite trend to retiring sprinters to stud early (maybe because they can only hold their form for a season or two at max?) but my point stands the memorable names/champions of the turf are invariably recognised as the longer distance horses. Anyway the more I think about it the more its just a moment in time. How many Lohnro colts can stand at stud before the market gets saturated? There are only so many broodmares and supply and demand fundamentals are bound to kick in eventually.
Razzar
Guest
The Oaks day meeting is fizzing. Better to make three great days, rather than the present great races and quite a few average races through the Carnival. A rejig is definately required.
George
Guest
My thoughts on Sheek's comments: 1. The Melbourne spring Carnival is rapidly loosing it's mojo IMO. The reality of Australian racing is that we breed the best sprinter/milers in the world so when your signature Carnival is focused on races 2000 m plus in this country you have a problem! It's easy to complain about the emphasis on sprinters but it's simply what the yearling buyers want to buy. If the breeders could make money breeding stayers they would be doing it. The holy grail for yearling buyers these days is the Golden Slipper not the Melbourne Cup. So the breeders churn out fast maturing sprinter types to fill the demand. Personally I can't get excited about watching B grade Irish hurdlers competing in our races or third grade Japanese horses. 2: The Championships has been great for NSW racing and is slowly working it's way into the psyche of the general Sydney public. Wonderful Winx will help a lot this year. 3: The Everest is very much a wait and see thing. If it works out the way they want it will be spectacular! 4: The Jericho Cup is an odd one. People do realise that the Australian Light Horse had nothing to do with the Thoroughbred don't they? 5: Brilliant! 6: I think people complaining about colts going to stud after their 3 year old season don't know much about horses or the history of our sport. A Spring 4 year old stallion has a good chance of being much more interested in other things and not that keen on running really fast around a race track! If they're worth as much as a Sepoy or a Pierro why bother? 7: There should be more sprinting Group Ones to represent the reality of our racing stock.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Looking forward to your columns now we're back in gear mate!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
G'day sheek. I owe you a big response so here goes. First of all, loving the positives - great to see you leaning forward with racing again :) 1. Couldn't agree more. Next! 2. The only knock on The Championships from a purely racing perspective is that Easter has unfortunately meant rain, and not just a few drops... I do hope it's not the case this year for crowds and for the spectacle. Ps it's in its fourth year now! 3. I think "well, mostly" sums it up. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. One to follow all year which is good for racing. 4. Too right! 5. Yes this has been a real winner for Racing NSW, probably surpassing their expectations. It's everything The Everest isn't - one for the battlers, but not everything in racing has to be that way so that's where I can't quite be sure where I stand on The Everest. I do hope the ATC buys a slot or two and helps someone out that way, that'll be great. 6. Couldn't agree more again. Cam Rose has a good piece today that points out that if we had a megabucks offer for our 20% in a horse we'd be very hard pressed not to take it. The money is just out of control - will it last? Should it be capped? 7. Too true, and nice from Haradasun in response - but it's not all about Group 1s!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Yep Divine Prophet is worth a mention - I do have him below the likes of Bart but he's more than handy.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
If he's back to his best, the odds are worth a nibble. If he's not (see: most of 2016) he'll be looking for milk well before the whips are cracking!
Razzar
Guest
Winx wouldn't run if it's heavy, but there's time for the track to improve. Had Malaguerra drawn a good alley in the Orr, he'd be a $2.50 chance, not the $3.80 about. With that Alley it's made it a tougher race.
Haradasun
Guest
Just on point 7.. or part 2 point 2. I agree Aus racing seems to be weighted towards sprints, but as some food for thought, out of the 72 Group 1s on the calendar, 27 are 1400m or less, 16 are over the mile and 29 are over a mile. So you think there are too many sprints and on the surface it can be viewed that way but the reality isnt so ethereal and potentially quite shocking. sheek. what a nuisance.
sheek
Roar Guru
Tristan, There's a couple of things I want to say about Australian racing, & guess what - it's mostly good & supportive! 1. IMHO, the Victorian spring carnival is the best five weeks of racing anywhere in the world. It has been so for a very long time. I actually enjoy seeing the internationals come here although I wish we could re-energise our once prolific stayers. 2. The Championship looks a great concept coming into its second year. I have a couple of minor beefs, like the Golden Slipper being considered a superior race (more valuable) than the Derby or Oaks, or Doncaster Mile, or TJ Smith Stakes. This carnival still requires tweaking, but mostly good. 3. Having had some time to think about it, I like the concept of The Everest. Well, mostly. My one beef is it might become elitist, which cuts across the grain of being Australian. But otherwise, I think it is a great idea, especially if we can get the European & Asian horses here. Visit Sydney, then Melbounre - win our races, take our money! 4. I love the idea behind reviving the Jericho Cup. This is where history & tradition has been preserved, respected & ressurrected. Although the distance of 4600m is a killer, as much as I love our staying races. But I also love the concept of giving both flats & jumps horses equal opportunity to shine. A great concept. 5. Tying in with points 3 & 4, I also like the Country Championship at the Sydney autumn carnival. It's a terrific concept to give owners, trainers & jockeys from the rural areas an opportunity to race at Royal Randwick via a qualification process. I have two beefs thatconitune to irritate me. 1. I still think racing fans are short-changed by champion horses retiring to stud too early. Of course its always happened but now seems to be happening more often. I can see it from the owners perspective but it still sucks. Someone suggested giving more prize money, but that's only a short-term filler.Track prize money can't compete with stud fees. 2. I would like to see a return to the balance between staying races & sprints. Variety used to be one of the strengths of Australian racing. But I would suggest sprints are becoming too common place. Let's find a balance that used to exist between staying, middling & sprinting distances, as well as handicaps & wfa.
Jack
Guest
Gee 31s for Turn Me Loose looks overs to me. Fantastic 2nd up record, may be a bit speculative but at that price I'm happy to have a small crack on him.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Will Winx run if it's heavy?
Scuba
Guest
Still not right.
Haradasun
Guest
because of the heavy track or he still isnt right?
Scuba
Guest
Omei Sword won't run according to Waller this morning
Haradasun
Guest
Yes here we go again. No mention of Divine Prophet in the ORR? Its a pretty hot field and I feel he is just below the top 3yos but he has a big chance. Big donny watch saturday, with lots of hopefuls running. Omei sword the big one, Le Romaine, Rokki, even going to be watching dixie blossoms keenly.
Cameron Rose
Expert
The eve of the first Group 1 in any season is always a special time, and the support races in both states are worthy too. Can't wait.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Great stuff Tristan,it's certainly a great time of year-hope Winx brains em!