VERRY ELLEEGANT / ADDEYBB BATTLE SET TO RAISE THE ROOF AT RANDWICK ON DAY 2 OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Matt Moore | Friday, April 16, 2021

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS - DAY 2 - PREVIEW

It is Day 2 of The Championships with arguably one of the biggest and best races of the Autumn Carnival. The William Haggas trained Addeybb will once again lock horns with Chris Waller’s Verry Elleegant in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Throw in the likes of the Cox Plate and Tancred Stakes winner in Sir Dragonet, the All-Star Mile winner in Mugatoo as well as the winner of the George Ryder Stakes in Think It Over, it is going to be one spectacular race.

This Group 1 feature is joined by three other Group 1’s on the card … The Australian Oaks, The Sydney Cup and The Queen Of The Turf Stakes … plus, several other Stakes races and The Polytrack Provisional Championship Final. 10 races once again to go through.

Track Conditions are currently a Soft 5. Expect that up to a Good 4 sometime throughout the day if we aren’t there by Race 1. The rail moves out to the 3 metre position after being in the True last Saturday.

RACE 1. THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE MILE AT LISTED LEVEL

The Two-year-old’s once again get the day underway in the first.

Speed will be set by Wolfburn and Converge from Gates and 4 and 5. Maurice’s Medad from the wide alley will also cross over. Converge comes from the Schweppervescence running second. Saif beat him that day. This looks like a perfect race for him. Alegron comes up from 3 career runs in Melbourne with his last being a secondin the Mornington Sires. He recorded a nice last sector in that race and looks to get a good map here. Tommy Berry takes the ride. Maurice’s Medad is the most experienced runner in this field and broke his maiden his last start at Hawkesbury.

Selections:

No 1 Converge
No 2 Alegron
No 4 Maurice’s Medad
No 6 Akahata

RACE 2. THE SOUTH PACIFIC CLASSIC OVER 1400M AT LISTED LEVEL

Speed will come from Yardstick and Ellsberg. Sagacious and Holyfield will get the sit right behind the pair. Holyfield resumes for trainer Annabel Neasham after 4 runs last prep including a win in the Ming Dynasty. He’s building a nice record and has 3 wins from 4 at the 1400m. The blinkers go on for the first time here and he has won 1st up in career. Private Eye comes in here after resuming in the Darby Munro. He found trouble in that run but is unbeaten 2 from 2 second up. The wider alley and map look perfect for him. Blinkers go on for the first time. Yardstick’s 3 runs this prep have all been in Class 1’s carrying 61.5kgs where’s he’s placed on each occasion. But with the rise in class comes a drop in weight and he’ll carry 53kg in this race. Ellsberg is another resuming here having improved in his opening prep. From 5 races he won 2 and placed in the other 3. The most notable race was the Group 2 Spring Stakes.

Selections:

No 8 Ellsberg
No 2 Private Eye
No 11 Rainbow Connection
No 1 Holyfield

RACE 3. POLYTRACK PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL OVER 1400M

Plenty of speed here with Prince Aurelius to take it up. Up to 4 runners inside and 3 out wider vying for runs in behind the leader. Paul Perry will saddle up Pandano with James McDonald on board. He comes into this race off the back of 2 wins including his last 7 weeks ago – The Provisional Championship Qualifier at Newcastle. He beat home Cristal Breeze by 2.5 lengths. Draws perfectly here. Kris Lees suits up 7 runners in this race and Animate is one of them who ran third in that Provisional Championship at Newcastle. He’s had a run in a BM78 race at Warwick Farm since then where he ran second. Prince Aurelius represents great value off the back of 4 consecutive wins. He won his qualifier at Gosford 3 weeks ago over the 1200m. The second of the Lees runners is Cristal Breeze who ran 3rd in that BM78 with his stablemate in Animate. Great News is the form runner of the race having 5 wins and 5 placings from her 10 career starts with 8 of those runs on Good tracks. She began this prep winning her qualifier at Hawkesbury over this trip … then a 2nd to Starspangled Rodeo in a BM88 at Rosehill Gardens. Electric Girl ran third to Great News in that Gosford run and fifth to Pandano in the run at Newcastle. Her form lines tie in around Tallieur, All Saints Eve and Fituese.

Selections:

No 1 Pandano
No 7 Great News
No 8 Gemmahra
No 4 Critsal Breeze

RACE 4. GROUP 2 PERCY SYKES STAKES OVER 1200M

Speed from come Joyous Legend, A Very Fine Red and Crystal Bound. Arcaded has been racing exceptionally well in her 4 runs but is a dual acceptor for Caulfield. She’s won 3 from 4 including the Blue Diamond Prelude and her last race which was the Group 3 Magic Night. Her only blemish was in the Blue Diamond which you can forget. She’s a class filly. Najmaty is going to be something special. She won her maiden on the Kenso then the Snowden’s had a throw at the stumps and took her to Caulfied where she won the Redoute’s Choice Stakes by 2.75 lengths. She’s a massive watch. Jamaea comes through the Sweet Embrace taken out by Four Moves Ahead then ran 2nd to Arcaded in the Magic Night. She represents good value based on those form lines. Crystal Bound was super impressive winning her only race at The Valley by 6 lengths. Trifaccia has had 2 runs where she’s finished third in both. Her last run was in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes. She’s been back to the trials where she was impressive.

Selections:

No 2 Najmaty
No 7 Trifaccia
No 5 Crystal Bound
No 1 Arcaded

RACE 5. GROUP 1 THE AUSTRALIAN OAKS OVER THE MILE AND A HALF

Ten runners will take their place in the first of the Group 1’s … for the 3 year old fillies. Harmony Rose will lead them up with Sassy Savvy from Gate 2 to either join her or sit off her. Montefilia comes through runs in the Surround Stakes and an impressive third in the Rosehill Guineas. She was well backed in last week’s Derby where the race didn’t pan out for her. She jumps back up to 56kg which she carried in the Surround. Amarelinha comes over from NZ. She hasn’t missed the quinella in her 7 career starts with 5 of those being wins. She’s shooting for 4 straight wins with her last being in the NZ Oaks at Group 1 level. She’s unbeaten on Good ground and champion NZ jockey Opie Bosson comes over also to stick with her. Chris Waller’s main hope in this race is Hungry Heart who’s shooting for 3 straight wins. The last two wins have been the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes and her last run in the Vinery Stud. She’ll prefer to be running on top of the ground also. Harmony Rose ran second in the Vinery Stud and third in the Randwick Guineas her run before that. She hasn’t missed the money in 6 career runs with 3 wins and 3 placings. Impecunious comes in off two third placings.
Duais and Bargain ran the quinella in the Adrain Knox last week with Land Ahoy running fifth and Singora Nera sixth.

Selections:

No 2 Amarelinha
No 3 Hungry Heart
No 4 Harmony Rose
No 1 Monetefilia

RACE 6. GROUP 2 ARROWFIELD SPRINT OVER 1200M

What a brilliant race this will be. The Face draws the 2nd widest alley and will roll forward. He’ll take Wild Ruler who draws the widest gate with him. Water Of Wisdom will amble up with them. Wild Ruler won the Fireball Stakes when resuming this prep and looks to bounce back from his last run in The Galaxy. The map could be the question if he misses the kick and he gets back. Prague is also 3rd up after runs in the Eskimo Prince (3rd place) and the Newmarket. He’s been back to the trials over a 1000m last week and was impressive. Rocketing By resumes. He has 2 wins and a second placing from his 3 runs when resuming. He was unbeaten last prep from 3 runs and has form around Wild Ruler. The Face is a star not missing the money from 6 starts. His form lines read around Anders, Forbidden Love and Peltzer and could be hard to catch if they give him too much of a start. September Run comes in with runs in the Lightning where she finished off well running second to Nature Strip. Her last run was huge in the William Reid at The Valley finishing fourth where she came from last. Isotope is flying after her win in the Darby Munro 3 weeks ago. She’s unbeaten from 2 goes when 2nd up and has a record of 3 wins and a 2nd place from 4 runs at the 1200m. She drops to 54.5kgs. Dame Giselle loves Randwick over the 1200m, recoding 3 wins from 5. She’s had 5 weeks in between this run and her last which was the Coolmoore Classic.

Selections:
No 8 September Run
No 6 Isotope
No 2 Prague
No 1 Wild Ruler

RACE 7. GROUP 1 SYDNEY CUP OVER 3200M

Spirit Ridge, Favorite Moon, Sacramento and Hush Writer to dictate terms in the Cup. The Chosen One rounded out last prep running fourth in the Melbourne Cup then resumed to win the Herbie Dyke at WFA back in NZ over 2000m. He’s drawn the widest alley for this race. Southern France has had 2 runs this campaign in the Chipping Norton and the Tancred. The 2 miles shouldn’t be an issue and James McDonald on board is a big tick. The map looks good also. Spirit Ridge finished out last prep perfectly winning his last 2 races, the Group 3 Summer Cup and the Listed January Cup. He resumed running a great race to run 2nd behind Toffee Tongue in the Sky High with his last race being in the Tancred Stakes. Favorite Moon will eat up the 2 miles. He came over from the UK in good form and won his Australian debut to take out the Manion Cup over 2400m. He drops to 51kg here. You’d be more confident with the sting out of the ground. She’s Ideel is bursting to win a race. Could this be it? She hit the line extremely well 2 starts back in the Epona. On that occasion she got clear too late. Her last run was in the Tancred where she ran second. She drops 7kg here from that last run.The Freedman brothers will saddle up Realm Of Flowers who’s searching for a win after 2 second places her last 2 runs. The second of those was the Manion Cup. Ben Thompson heads down to Sydney to partner up with Good Idea. The pair took out the Adelaide Cup in March. Phillip Stokes then took his six-year-old back to Melbourne after that win where he had a run in the Easter Cup at Caulfield.

Selections:
No 7 She’s Ideel
No 13 Realm Of Flowers
No 10 Favorite Moon
No 7 Miami Bound

RACE 8. GROUP 1 QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES AT WFA OVER 2000m

What a race this will be with the champions in Addeybb and Verry Elleegaant resuming their rivalry once again. They ran the quinella in this race last year and again in their most recent battle, the Ranvet Stakes. Addeybb will roll forward. Think It Over and Dalasan could apply pressure from their gates. Addeybb did hard work early in the Ranvet and was beaten by a length. The Winkers come off for the first time for him and the blinkers go on. That could sharpen him up. Sir Dragonet finished fourth in the Ranvet then silenced the doubters (including myself) last start to win the Tancred Stakes by over 2 lengths. That was his first win on a Good track. If we are on a Good 4 here by race time, he could upset the two market leaders. Mugatoo might be looking for 2000m at WFA conditions after his run in the Doncaster Mile last week. His dry track record stands out when you look at this field on top off the ground. Can Kerry Parker’s runner Think It Over make it back to back Group 1’s after taking out the George Ryder 3 weeks ago? He was scratched just before the Doncaster on vet’s advice. Dalasan was brilliant in the Doncaster last week and we know he can match it with Verry Elleegant based on his run the Turnbull Stakes. Chris Waller and James McDonald are the ones to beat with this superstar mare in Verry Elleegant. Her record at the 2000m is super with 5 wins and 2 seconds from 9 runs. We know how good she is and she’s shooting for 3 straight wins here, all at Group 1 level. The only query is the track conditions. Mo’unga got too far back in the Doncaster last week but we know he has the class to win this. One for the multiples.

Selections:

No 7 Verry Elleegant
No 1 Addeybb
No 2 Sir Dragonet
No 3 Mugatoo

RACE 9. GROUP 1 QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES AT WFA OVER THE MILE

Vangelic and Greysful Glamour to lead them with Odeum and Nimalee to take the sit. Probabeel is the one to beat. He resumed this prep winning his first 2 races, being the Bellmaine and the Futurity. His last race was the All-Star Mile in which he started the clear favourite, but the rain arrived and the track went from a Good 3 to a Soft 6 at race time. That didn’t suit. These conditions will. He’s drawn the perfect gate and gets a gun map, 3 back. Colette should be better here as she’s back racing against her own sex. She opened up this campaign winning the Apollo Stakes then ran second to Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton. McDonald should put her in a good spot when they settle.
Greysful Glamour and Nimalee ran second and first respectively in their last run which was the Emancipation. Nimalee is shooting for 3 straight wins and has won third up. I’m expecting Nimalee to trail the grey in the run. Odeum was terrific running second to Isotope in the Darby Munro last start. She beat home Personal to win the 1000 Guineas last prep and rounded it out running second to Shout The Bar in the Empire Rose. Those form lines read well.

Selections:

No 1 Probabeel
No 11 Odeum
No 4 Nimalee
No 3 Greysful Glamour

RACE 10. GROUP 2 SAPPHIRE STAKES OVER 1200M

Sweet Deal looks to punch forward with Adelong and Emanate to either go with her or sit in behind. Fasika can also sit off the speed. The Kiwi Entriviere has a fantastic record … 5 wins and a second from 6 starts. Unbeaten 4 from 4 at the distance. She’s won her last 2 which were the Concorde and the Kings Plate, both at Group 3 level over 1200m at Ellerslie. She’ll need to overcome the widest gate, but the booking of James McDonald is a huge plus. Fiesta steps back up to 1200m after a disappointing run in The Galaxy. She recorded the quickest last 600/400/200 in her run before which was in the Wenona Girl. California Zimbol took out the Maurice McCarten then had another decent run in the St Kingdom against a similar field. Fasika resumes. She has the good first up record and runs well at Randwick. Her map looks handy. Seasons and Tricky Gal ran first and second in the Birthday Card Stakes with Wandabaa running third. Tricky Gal gets a 4kg weight relief from that race. Emanate is another with a gun map who always runs well and is attractive at her odds.

Selections:

No 7 Seasons
No 11 Wandabaa
No 3 Entriviere
No 1 Tofane
____________________________________________________________________

Best Bet:

Race 9: Probabeel

Next Best:

Race 7: Veery Elleegant

Best Value:

Race 7 She’s Ideel … and
Race 10 Seasons

Quaddie Numbers

Race 7: 2, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15
Race 8; 1, 2, 3, 7
Race 9: 1, 2, 3, 11
Race 10: 1, 3, 7, 11

$96 for 25%