GET READY FOR A HUGE DAY AT ROYAL RANDWICK. WELCOME TO DAY ONE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Matt Moore | Friday, April 9, 2021
DAY 1 – THE CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW
It’s the Grand Final of racing. Two explosive weeks ahead where we will see the best horses and jockeys fight for supremacy. Twenty races are on the cards for the next two Saturdays at Royal Randwick. Four Group 1 features headline the 10-race card tomorrow along with the Country Championships Final. Next Saturday we have another 10-race card, again with 4 Group 1 features, two Group 2’s as well as the Polytrack Provincial Championship Final.
Welcome to The Championships.
Track Conditions are currently in the heavy range. With some warm weather in Sydney today and again tomorrow, all reports are we’ll be on a Soft 7 by Race 1 with a predicted Soft 6 upgrade apparent.
RACE 1. GROUP 3 WIDDEN KINDERGARTEN STAKES OVER 1100M:
The two-year-old’s kick us off in the first with a full field of twelve. Four of these runners will see competitive racing for the first time. It’s an open one to start the day.
Speed will come from Vandoula Lass out of Gate 2 and Subterranean out of Gate 4. Best Side (Gate 10) should also cross.
The Godolphin runner in Paulele has the equal most experience in this race winning his first two career starts. His two runs this prep have been in Group 2 races in the in The Silver Slipper and the VRC Sires.
The Matty Dunn runner Subterranean has had his first three runs in Queensland resulting in one win and two placings. His last run was his most impressive where he won the BJ McLachlan at Eagle Farm at Group 3 level. On that occasion he beat home Alpine Edge but 2.75 lengths.
King Of Sparta for the Snowdens had his last run in The Silver Slipper. He comes back fresh here and this race looks nice for him.
Kalino and Best Side had debut runs on the Kenso at the midweek meeting two and a half weeks ago. That was a maiden race for the colts which Kalino won.
Ashema ran on the same day in the girl’s race which she won. Her form line read impressively with her two runs prior being in races won by Profiteer and Stay Inside.
Vandolua Lass comes in fresh off no trails. She won her first race over the 1000m at Sandown then came back to Sydney to go down narrowly to Rocket Tiger on Boxing Day.
Lovemetender attracts interest. Her two runs have been in races won by Enthaar then a 3rd place to Najmaty who won a Listed race at Caulfield last weekend.
Bahama had a nice trail at Warwick Farm in the lead up finishing the 740m under a hold.
Selections:
No 3 King Of Sparta
No 1 Paulele
No 2 Subterranean
No 8 Vandoula Lass
RACE 2. GROUP 3 CARBINE CLUB STAKES OVER THE MILE:
Look for Silent Thunder, Easy Campese and Marsannay from Gates 7-9 respectively to roll forward and be joined by Poland from Gate 12.
The top weight Poland, Embolism and The Irishman come from the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes. The Irishman finished 2nd in that run and looks to get a good map in the race.
Wheelhouse and Marsannay come from runs in the Randwick Guineas. Both found the 2000m a touch too far. The drop back to the mile suits.
Kiku has impressive form coming in winning her last two races in BM68 and BM72 grades. A big step up here, but she hasn’t missed the dividends in her 7 starts. She runs well on any track condition and the mile won’t be an issue.
Selections:
No 4 The Irishman
No 1 Poland
No 2 Wheelhouse
No 12 Kiku
RACE 3. NEWHAVEN PARK COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL OVER 1400M:
A big field here with not much speed. Jailbreak is listed as the first emergency and he’ll take them up if he gets in. Another One from Gate 12 can also roll forward.
Art Cadeau is the favourite and is joined in the market by Tara Jasmine as the only single priced runners.
Art Caduea is the one to beat. He hasn’t missed the quinella in his 10 career starts and is proven on all track surfaces. Tommy Berry will get a great sit from Gate 2.
Tara Jasmine comes in off the back of a forgive run at Doomben her last start. She’ll jump out from Gate 4 and could either sit beside or trail the favourite. That could work in her favour. A Soft 7 or better would suit her.
Selections:
No 3 Art Cadeau
No 5 Rothenburg
No 7 Tara Jasmine
No 7 Baileys
RACE 4. ADRIAN KNOX STAKES OVER 2000M
Speed here will be from Easifar who’ll jump from the pole and Darling Diamond from Gate 7. Chequerboard, Star Point and Credit Crunch to sit in behind.
The top weight Salto Angel comes into this off the back of a third place in the St Leger Trial at Bendigo and a second at Ballarat her run prior over the mile. She hasn’t won a race but has placed 6 times from her 9 runs.
The Lindsay Park runner Chequerboard was a last start winner taking out the Tassie Oaks. Her run before that she ran 2nd to Hela who remains unbeaten. The ever in-form James McDonald takes the ride.
Tommy Berry will climb aboard the Godolphin runner Flexible who has been impressive in Benchmark grade.
Duais and Darling Diamond come through a BM72 at Warwick Farm running the quinella. These two are up to this.
Selections:
No 3 Flexible
No 2 Chequerboard
No 1 Salto Angel
No 5 Duais
RACE 5. GROUP 2 CHAIRMAN’S QUALITY OVER 2600M
A field of 13 where the speed will come from Quick Thinker, Sacramento and Hush Writer.
Mirage Dancer is on the seven-day backup after a disappointing result in the Tancred. Looks to get a good map from Gate 7. Blinkers go on the first time.
Concert Hall comes across the ditch from his last race which was the Group 1 Bonecrusher at Ellerslie. That race was won by Melody Belle. Her last prep featured wins in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic and Group 2 Tauranga Stakes with a second place in the Group 2 Captain Cook the run between those 2. G Boss on board who is in form this carnival.
The main form reference is the Group 3 Manion Cup where Quick Thinker, Hush Writer, Sacramento, Dadoozdart, Collide and Selino featured. Dadoozdart will have the visors off for the first time and blinkers go back on.
Miss Sentimental and Rondinella ran in the Group 3 Epona Stakes.
Paths Of Glory recorded the quickest last 200m of the day last week in the Group 3 Sellwood.
Selections:
No 2 Concert Hall
No 6 Sacramento
No 11 Selino
No 5 Hush Writer
RACE 6. GROUP 1 INGLIS’ SIRES OVER 1400M
The first of our Group 1’s for the day is for the two-year-old’s $1 million Inglis Sires.
Lightsaber should barrel out of the gates with Four Moves Ahead taking the sit in behind him.
The Golden Slipper looks like the clear form reference here.
Anamoe starts the odds-on favourite and deservedly so. His form coming in is super with a second in that Golden Slipper. He powered home after Rachel King found him room from the back of the field. James McDonald replaces King here.
Captivant recorded the best last 600m of that race with Four Moves Ahead and Queen Of Wizardry also coming out of that race. Four Moves Ahead was also one to impress. Tim Clark replaces the suspended Nash Rawiller on Four Moves Ahead with Jamie Kah to partner up the Annabel Neasham runner in Queen of Wizardry.
Lightsaber has been impressive winning his last three races including the Group 2 VRC Sires. He led from start to finish on that occasion. The only query is how he’ll handle a rain affected track. All his four runs have been on Good 4’s.
Tiger Of Milay and Hilal come from the Pago Pago with Tiger Of Milay finishing second and Hilal fifth. Tiger of Milay had to overcome a wide gate in that run, but since then has gone back to the trials and won. Hilal went to the back of the field in that race and rattled off some impressive times over the 400m and 200m sectionals when still last on the turn. Both have drawn the two widest alleys in this race, but we only have a field of 10.
Selections:
No 1 Anamoe
No 8 Four Moves Ahead
No 6 Hilal
No 4 Tiger Of Malay
RACE 7. GROUP 1 AUSTRALIAN DERBY 2400M:
Yaletown will do his thing and set the tempo.
The two form references here are the Rosehill Guineas and The Tulloch.
Lion’s Roar, Sky Lab, Milford, Khoekhoe and Montefilia come out of the Guineas with The Frontman, Yaletown, Young Werther, Prompt Prodigy, Favreau. Rondino and Zakspeed from The Tulloch.
Blinkers go on for the first on Young Werther.
The impressive runners from both races were Sky Lab and Montefilia from the Rosehill Guineas and Yaletown, Prompt Prodigy and Young Werther from The Tulloch.
Selections:
No 3 Sky Lab
No 16 Montefilia
No 7 Young Werther
No 1 Yaletown
RACE 8. GROUP 1 TJ SMITH STAKES OVER 1200M:
It’s THE highlight race of every Derby Day. The world’s best sprinters take the turf here and this year’s edition is going to be another brilliant race.
Nature Strip and Eduardo to set a reasonably hot tempo. Masked Crusader and Order Of Command to take the sit in behind the leading pair.
Bivouac comes in here 3rd up where he tends to do his best work. He hasn’t fired a shot in his two runs this prep. Those were in the Lightning and the Canterbury Stakes. The prep prior was impressive where he finished that off with his third run and blitzed the field by 3.25 lengths in taking out the VRC Classic over the trip. Hugh Bowman jumps back on board.
Nature Strip will want to replicate that 1st up win in the Lightning and make up for that narrow defeat in the Challenge Stakes last start when pipped on the line by Eduardo. His 3rd up record is also impressive winning four from six when 3rd up. James McDonald sticks with his old mate.
Eduardo is looking to make it three wins from three this prep after winning The Challenge Stakes and then a dominant win in The Galaxy two weeks ago. Brendan Avdulla replaces Nash Rawiller.
Then then rest:
Zoutori. A last start winner in the Newmarket.
Masked Crusader. Winner of the William Reid Stakes at The Valley three weeks ago.
Dirty Work and Order Of Command from The Galaxy.
Eleven Eleven resuming after winning his last three runs last prep.
Libertini and September Run coming from the William Reid.
Selections:
No 1 Bivouac
No 2 Nature Strip
No 3 Eduardo
No 5 Masked Crusader
RACE 9. GROUP 1 DONCASTER MILE:
Yao Dash to set the speed with Samadoubt.
The equal top weight in Mugatoo is our race favourite after an impressive last start win to take out The All Star Mile.
Avilius is a wet tracker and comes through two thitrd placings this prep in the Chipping Norton and the George Ryder.
Aegon came into his last start in the Randwick Guineas unbeaten. All his runs prior was on soft tracks and on that occasion, the Good 4 didn’t suit. He’s back on a rain affected track here, drops nicely to 53kgs and K McEvoy takes the sit from Gate 7.
Another runner who gets in well at the weights is Cascadian. He’s coming from the George Ryder where he recorded the fastest last 200m of the day on a Soft 7. Jamie Kah takes the rides and comes in at 53kg also.
Glen Boss stays aboard Think It Over who is a last start winner in the George Ryder. We’ve got some nice odds in his runs this prep and he does appeal at $12. He’ll need to overcome a tough gate, but he does drop to 52kg.
Funstar returns to Randwick where she tends to race best. She’s finished in the quinella 7 times from 10 races at Royal Randwick. Another who will need to overcome a tough draw but gets in nicely at the weights.
Mo’unga. Everything ticks boxes. Four wins from seven. Last start winner in the Rosehill Guineas and that barnstorming run home in the Randwick Guineas before that. 49.5kgs here. Four of his wins have been when dropping back from 2000m to a mile. Then Gate 21. That gate is the issue.
Selections:
No 1 Mugatoo
No 2 Avilius
No 9 Aegon
No 12 Think It Over
RACE 10. GROUP 3 PJ BELL STAKES OVER THE 1200M:
A great way to finish off a monster day with a sprint race.
Plenty of speed here with Barossa Rosa and Najmah to be joined by Calgary Queen. Perfect Radiance, Selbrouse and Supreme Idea will sit in behind them.
Every Rose took out the Group 2 Lightfinger to kick off this campaign. She then went to the Surround and her last run was in the Birthday Card Stakes. She comes back against her own sex here.
Macroura. He’s building a stellar career. He took out the Typhoon Tracy Stakes at The Valley. It’s a similar spell here between that run and his last run last prep. He’s won 2nd up and will handle the wet track.
Marboosha comes from the Darby Munro where she finished fourth in a hotly contested race. She began this prep winning the Incognitus Stakes. We can also tie her form around Written Beauty and Macroura.
Never Talk creates a lot of interest with his last two runs being at Group level. A great effort to run fourth in the Surround Stakes last start then a second in the Lightfinger. She’s won five from nine starts.
Selections:
No 6 Never Talk
No 2 Macroura
No 3 Marboosha
No 5 Supreme Idea
Quaddie Numbers
Race 7: 1 3 6 7 16
Race 8: 1 2 3
Race 9: 1 2 9 10 11 12 18 19
Race 10: 1 2 3 6
$90 for 25%
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