STRAP YOURSELVES IN. THE SYDNEY AUTUMN RACING CARNIVAL IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF

By Matt Moore | Friday, March 12, 2021

MATT MOORE’S COOLMORE CLASSIC DAY PREVIEW

The time is finally here. For the next 6 weeks, strap in yourselves in for some of the best thoroughbred racing the world has to offer. Two tracks, 45 Group races including a massive 18 Group 1’s and over $33m in prizemoney.

Welcome to the 2021 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Weeks 1-3 sees action at Rosehill Gardens. This Saturday offers a nine-race program with the Group 1 Coolmore Classic the headline feature. The track surface is currently rated a Good 4 with the rail in the true position the entire circuit. Rain is predicted and the track should be in the soft range come race 1. Form is done for a Soft 5/6 track rating.

RACE 1. BM78 CATANACHS HANDICAP OVER 1900M FOR THE 3YO’S

Miss Redoble is a dual acceptor for this race as he was in Race 4 on the Gold Coast. She has been scratched here in favour of a Gold Coast run. Avion Fury was also a dual acceptor but has been scratched from this race already as he’s running in Race 4 here.

Dylan’s Romance from Gate 7 should punch forward from the gates to set the speed. The 8yo gelding boasts 5 wins from 19 runs at the 1900. Toscanini should join the speed along with Welsh Legend.

Toscanini has the form on this board coming into this race winning 3 of his last 5 runs. The last of those was a BM72 on the Kenso track over 1800. Tom Marquand takes the ride here for the Maher/Eustace camp from the outside gate.

Crimson Ace comes up from Victoria after a forgive run first up at The Valley. She has a good 2nd up record with 2 wins from 3 campaigns and could run a good race at a nice price.

Welsh Legend was pipped on the post in her last start at Canterbury Park after looking the winner. JMac sticks, but she’s only won 2 of her last 22 runs.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 4 Great House. He’s the best horse in the field and has plenty of upside. One win and 2 placings from his 3 runs this prep. He’s dropping in grade here and gains 5kg from that run and with the blinkers going on the first time, looks the one to beat. Gate 6 is a plus too.
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RACE 2. GROUP 3 MAGIC NIGHT STAKES OVER 1200M FOR THE 2YO FILLIES AT SET WEIGHTS

A small field of 9 for the first Group race of the carnival. There’s looks no real speed so expect Robodira to dictate the terms with Girl Mania from Gate 8 to cross over. Arcaded and Jamaea could also roll forward.

Queen Of Wizardry is fresh after running 4th in the Magic Millions Classic taken out by Shaquero.

Arcaded comes through Melbourne form starting her career with 2 wins. The 2nd of those in the Blue Diamond Prelude. She drew the inside gate in the Blue Diamond which did her no favours finishing 9 lengths behind the winner in Artorious.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 3 Mallory has been racing well in her 3 runs with a win in the Group 3 Widden and 2 placings in her other runs at Group level. Those races were won by Enthaar in the Gimcrack and Four Moves Ahead in the Embrace.
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RACE 3. GROUP 3 PAGO PAGO STAKES OVER 1200M FOR THE 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS AT SET WEIGHTS

Some of the most exciting 2YO’s take to the track for this race.

Expect the speed to be set from Mazu, Converge and The Bullring. Shaquero and Tristate can also roll forward to join.

Shaquero had 2 impressive runs across the Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival and took out the 2YO Classic. He’ll need drier ground to win here.

All of Ingratiating 5 runs have been at black-type level. He’s never missed the quinella in his 5 career starts and ran 2nd to Artorious last start in the Blue Diamond. The blinkers come off for the first time here.

Tiger of Malay was forced to stop and go wide at the 200m in his last start in the The Silver Slipper. Josh Parr got him back into stride and he powered through the line.

Hilal finished 2nd in the Skyline running some impressive sectionals. He heads into his 3rd career race fit, but needs to overcome a sticky gate and map.

Capitvant and Tristate come through the Skyline where they finished 2nd and 5th respectively.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 2 Ingratiating.
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RACE 4. GROUP 3 SKY HIGH STAKES OVER 2000M FOR THE 3YO’S AT SET WEIGHTS AND PENALTIES

Speed to be set by Spirit Ridge from Gate 5 with race favourite Colette sitting off the speed.

The Chosen One will find this race easier after running in 3 Group 1s last campaign including the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup. A good return in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke under WFA conditions at Te Rapa. Kerrin McEvoy on board. Gate 8. Good maps. Big ticks everywhere.

Spirit Ridge is building an impressive career – five wins and four 2nds from 13 starts. Mark Newnham has worked him nicely through the grades and he comes off back-to-back wins to round out last prep in the Summer Cup and the January Cup. Both of those runs were at Randwick over the 2000m. Resuming here and his 1st up record is good with one win and two 2nds from 5. Robbie Dolan sticks from Gate 5. Unbeaten 3 from 3 on soft.
Mustajeer will relish any sting out the track. Resumed here finishing 4L behind Sacramento in the Listed Parramatta Cup. He carried 60.5kgs in that run. Drops to 55kg here and JMac takes the ride.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 4 Colette. She’s flying. Six wins and three 2nds from her 13 career starts. Took out the Golden Eagle last run last prep then resumed to win the Apollo Stakes by 2L on a Soft 7 in impressive style. In her last run she was involved in one of the best finishes you’ll see finishing 2nd in the Chipping Norton Stakes on a soft 5. That race was won by Verry Elleegant. A genuine wet tracker and is one of my best bets on the program.
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RACE 5. GROUP 3 MAURICE MCCARTEN STAKES OVER 1100M FOR THE 3YO’S

The speed should come from the outside gates with Albium, Jungle Edge and Prime Candidate to cross over from gates 7, 8 and 9 respectively. That will leave Order of Command, Easy Eddie and California Zimbol vying for the box seat.

Order of Command comes up from Melbourne and resumes here with an impressive a 1st up record. He finished 2nd in both the Linlithgow and the Heffernan to round out last prep.

Easy Eddie is another one who loves the wet tracks. Another runner resuming here but has no wins when resuming. He loves the 1100m distance with 5 wins and four 3rds from 12 starts at the trip with 2 wins and 3 placings at this track and trip.

California Zimbol is another who’ll relish the soft track. She carried 59kgs to win the Alinghi at Listed Level. She drops to 54kgs here and has been trialling well coming into this run.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 9 Wandabaa. This mare is a superstar. Resumes here and is unbeaten from her 3 runs upon resumption. Her last 3 races were runs won by Savatiano, Positive Peace and All Saints Eve. That form jumps out. From 18 career starts, she’s boasting a record of 7 wins and 8 placings and will run extremely well on the rain affected ground. Gate 4 is perfect, and she will coming storming home from the back of the field.
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RACE 6. GROUP 3 PHAR LAP STAKES OVER 1500M FOR THE 3YO’S AT SET WEIGHTS

A number of dual acceptors here for today’s meeting at Kembla Grange. Elizabeel, Thermospehere, Miravalle, Darling Diamond and Pappali are those runners.

Speed can come from a few dependent on the scratchings. Yaletown is the obvious runner to roll forward from Gate 11 with Darling Diamond from the 12 to go with him. Poland draws the pole and should roll forward also.

With so many dual acceptances and uncertainty, I’ve got it down to 2.

Poland comes through a 1st up win in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield. He’s drawn the pole. Kerrin McEvoy should give him a lovely spot from the pole.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 9 Impecunious. She stepped into her first black-type race after 2 wins and a 3rd from her first 3 races. In her last start (the Armanasco), she should have won and finished 4th to eventual winner Yes Baby Yes by 0.5L. Bossy remains on board and drops 1.5kg from that last start.
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RACE 7. GROUP 1 COOLMORE CLASSIC OVER 1500M FOR THE 3YO FILLIES AND MARES

What a field for the first Group 1 of the carnival.

Sovereign Award will cross from the widest gate to join Sweet Deal, Forbidden Love and Vangelic from the inside running. Mizzy from Gate 15 will also cross over.

Mizzy finished 2nd in the Canterbury Stakes. She gains a kilo from that run as a result.

Krone comes into this race of the back of 2 successive wins. The first was Fillies and Mares race at the Gold Coast during the Magic Millions where she weaved her way through traffic to pip race favourite Athiri on the line. Then freshened up to take out the Guy Walter at Randwick over the 1400m. The wet track form is good.

Subpoenaed was a last start winner in the in the Millie Fox upon resumption. She may need the drier ground.

Icebath creates interest on a wet track with two 3rds placings in her last 2 races … The Triscay and the Guy Walter.

All Saints Eve comes though Colette form last prep and ran 3rd on return last start in a Group 3.

Tricky Gal loves the wet and her last 4 runs have been all 2nd placings. She chased home red hot favourite Tallieur in the Triscay missing by just under half a length. Then was beaten by Krone in that Guy Walter by just under 2 lengths.

Challiot comes up from Melbourne after an impressive win in the Tressady at Flemington 2 weeks ago. Four wins from 7 starts.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 9 Forbidden Love. What a win last start to take out the Surround Stakes putting the field away by 3L lengths. Two runs prior she beat home a runner I’m following and will be a star in The Face to win the Gosford Guineas. Nash takes the ride here again dropping 1.5kg from the Surround ride and will go around at 54.5kg.
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RACE 8. GROUP 2 AJAX STAKES OVER 1500M FOR THE 3YO’S

Greyworm and Buffalo River should set a quickish tempo here. Think It Over should get the box seat from the gate 3.

Mister Sea Wolf resumes with a super first up record of 4 wins and 5 placings from 12 runs. He loves the 1500m journey having 3 wins and 3 placings from his 6 starts at the distance. Back that up with his record at Rosehill over the trip (3 wins and two 2 placings from 5) as well as the fact he loves rain affected tracks, he may surprise here.

Plumatic creates interests with his European form. The 1500m trip maybe a touch short for him but he’s another with good first up stats and wet track from.

Think It Over won his last start in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup to beat Criaderas. A good record on soft tracks creates interest once again,

Rock resumes here after some good trial form. He won the Group 3 Cameron Hcp at Newcastle last prep. His record 1st up and form on wet tracks is good and he’s 2 wins from 3 at the 1500m

Buffalo River comes through races this prep won by Regardsmaree, who will know is something special, and Star Of The Seas in the Blamey. Buffalo River led too eagerly in that run so the tempo he sets is the key. Back on a rain affected track here will suit him better than the Good 4’s he found himself in both runs at Flemington.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 11 Criaderas. The Godolphin gelding has a super career record and recorded the quickest last 600/400/200m splits in the meeting 2 weeks ago at Randwick. In that race he ran 2nd to Think It Over in that Liverpool City Cup, but gave him too much of a start. It will be dependant on the tempo set by Buffalo River up front will dictate where Rachel King puts this favourite in the race.
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RACE 9 BM88 CELLABRATIONS HANDICAP OVER 1350M FOR THE 3YO’S

Speed comes from Holyfield from Gate 12 with Bullfinch and Yoa Dash and crossing from gates 14 and 15 respectively. Impi can also take the sit from Gate 6.

Yoa Dash comes in off the back of 2 wins from his last 3 runs. The last was a BM100 James Ruse at this track over the 1400 where he was a touch disappointing. Carries a big weight here.

Holyfield resumes after after winning his trail last week. He won the Ming Dynasty last prep. A record of 3 wins from 5 at the 1350m and is unbeaten at the track and distance.

Starspangled Rodeo jumps up to BM88 grade after a 2nd place and a last start win in BM78 grade. Another runner who loves this distance and the soft tracks. He led in that last start win, but I’m expecting him to settle midfield from Gate 8.

Zakat was disappointing last start to finish 4th in the same grade as here. He had his chances. That was at the 1200m. Stepping out here to a distance he loves and a wider gate could do the trick this time around.

ON TOP SELECTION

No 14 Bound To Win. The last prep was in races taken out by Athiri, Criaderas and Hilo … all in Benchmark 88 grade. He had to overcome a wide gate on his resumption to finish 2nd behind Liberty Sun. He draws the pole and is 2 from 3 when 2nd up.
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QUADDIE NUMBERS

Race 6: 1, 3, 7, 9
Race 7: 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14
Race 8: 6, 7, 11
Race 9: 5, 6, 12, 14

Check out my Facebook pages (Mooreys Mail) after the 7.30am scratchings on Saturday for any late changes due to track conditions or scratchings.

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