Ladbrokes Tip: The Show County Quality now serves as a potential lead-up into The Everest.
The Group 3 Show County Quality is a 1200m sprint showdown for horses at Royal Randwick Racecourse in August each Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. The race is a quality handicap event and offers $160,000 in total prize money and was upgraded from a Listed race in 2013.
The event runs as one of the key support races on Winx Stakes Day, which is headlined by the Group 1 Winx Stakes – formerly the Warwick Stakes – and that also features the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes as well as the Group 3 Toy Show Quality.
First run in 1993, the Show County Quality is named in honour of former star two-year-old Show County who won a number of very good races during his juvenile years including the Skyline Stakes and Stan Fox Stakes in 1989.
Plenty of top gallopers have won the race including most famously the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup champion Might And Power (1997).
The Show County Quality now serves as a potential lead-up for sprinters looking to secure a slot in that season’s coveted $15 million The Everest – the world’s richest turf race held at the same track and distance in October.
The latest edition of the Show County Quality ran on Saturday August 21, 2021 and was won by Joe Pride’s ultra-consistent galloper Private Eye.
Show County Quality 2021 Results
The official 2021 Show County Quality Results & Finishing Order will be provided below once the race is run and won on Saturday August 21, 2021 as part of the Winx Stakes Day race card.
- 1st: #8 Private Eye
- 2nd: #10 Embracer
- 3rd: #3 Icebath
The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye kicked off his spring with a gutsy win coming from well back to charge home down the outside and knock off Embracer in his four-year-old debut. The 2021 Show County Quality results saw the winner secure his seventh win from 10 runs and earn a potential end of spring target in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle.
Show County Quality Race Info
- Date: Saturday August 21, 2021
- Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
- Distance: 1200m
- Conditions: 3YOs & Upwards – Quality Handicap
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $160,000
- First Run: 1993
Show County Quality Field
The Show County Quality field attracts a quality line-up of nice spring sprinters each season, many of which are kicking off their campaigns in an easier grade race.
The event is often contested by past Group 1 performers and potential The Everest horses and can serve as a good lead-up into many other big spring races.
Horses out of the Show County Quality field may step out over more distance over the coming months targeting a race like the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). In 2020 the Show County runner-up Probabeel went on to win that year’s Epsom Handicap.
2021 Show County Quality Field
The official Show County Quality 2021 field and barriers will be announced by Racing NSW on the Wednesday leading-up to Winx Stakes Day and published in full below.
The 2021 Show County Quality field features a smart line-up of sprinters led in betting by the top weight Splintex chasing his third win from as many starts at the track and distance.
- Scratched: #7 Hilal (9); #2 Viridine (11)
2021 Show County Quality Nominations
Nominations for the 2021 Show County Quality close on the Monday of race week with the list of potential runners in the sprint feature to be published here.
Sixteen sprinters make-up the Show County Quality 2021 nominations this weekend including returning Doncaster Mile runner-up Icebath, Joe Pride’s Queensland Guineas winner Private Eye and perennial runner-up Prime Star.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|
| 1 | 512x33542x | ICEBATH (NZ) | M | 5 | Brad Widdup | 1 | 57.5kg | 57.5kg | | 106 |
| 2 | 658x40168x | SPLINTEX | H | 5 | Mark Newnham | 2 | 59kg | 59kg | | 105 |
| 3 | 425×463654 | VIRIDINE | G | 7 | James Cummings | 3 | 58.5kg | 58.5kg | | 104 |
| 4 | 6217x6321x | KUKERACHA (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 4= | 57.5kg | 57.5kg | | 102 |
| 5 | 51730x348x | ROCK | G | 6 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 4= | 57.5kg | 57.5kg | | 102 |
| 6 | x142355x12 | CHAT | G | 5 | John Thompson | 6 | 56kg | 56kg | | 99 |
| 7 | 222x237x5x | PRIME STAR | G | 4 | Richard & Michael Freedman | 7 | 55.5kg | 55.5kg | | 98 |
| 8 | 10x30x177x | EMBRACER | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 8= | 54kg | 53.5kg | | 94 |
| 9 | 12722x | HILAL | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 8= | 54kg | 53kg | | 94 |
| 10 | 86x6673x86 | HIGHTAIL | G | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 10= | 54kg | 53kg | | 92 |
| 11 | x1111x821x | PRIVATE EYE | G | 4 | Joseph Pride | 10= | 54kg | 53kg | | 92 |
| 12 | x08x26353x | WISDOM OF WATER | H | 4 | Annabel Neasham | 10= | 54kg | 53kg | | 92 |
| 13 | 1775×11563 | FENDER | G | 5 | Brett Cavanough | 13 | 54kg | 53kg | | 89 |
| 14 | x439135x03 | POETIC CHARMER | G | 7 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 14 | 54kg | 53kg | | 88 |
| 15 | 1x1212x12x | GREAT NEWS | M | 5 | Kim Waugh | 15 | 54kg | 53kg | | 85 |
| 16 | 4513x1444x | LE LUDE | M | 6 | John Thompson | 16 | 54kg | 53kg | | 83 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Show County Quality Betting
Show County Quality odds are led each season by resuming sprinters that have form in tougher grade races.
First-up runners with a strong record fresh, proven Randwick performers along with any graduates out of the Group 2 Missile Stakes held a fortnight before sit high up the Show County Quality betting markets.
Deprive ($3.30 in 2019) was the last favourite in Show County Quality betting to salute.
2021 Show County Quality Odds
The season’s top Show County Quality 2021 odds and betting market links will be available below once final acceptances are announced.
Early market betting odds on the 2022 Show County Quality will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.
Show County Quality Tips
Good Show County Quality tips include looking for Group 1 graduates from the autumn, proven four and five-year-old horses with winning Sydney form in similar company and strong 1200m performers.
Sprinters heading towards events including The Everest, Randwick specialists, well-weighted runners and any form horses out of the Missile Stakes also make good Show County Quality tips.
2021 Show County Quality Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Show County Quality betting tips for 2021 will be detailed below listing the horses to back and sack in the Group 3 race this season so stay tuned.
- To Win: #5 Chat ($6.50 at time of publish)
Wide-open edition of the Show County and like the form of John Thompson’s in-form Deep Field five-year-old who is drawn to win in gate three. Yet to win at Randwick from four starts, but that could change on the weekend as he presents fit third-up following a July Sprint win and the very close Group 2 Missile Stakes second last time out in tougher company.
Show County Quality Form Guide
The Show County Quality form guide features all the must-know information for punters including the saddlecloth numbers, jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up form of the runners in the race.
Looking at the form guide for runners with proven ability at the track and distance and for those that either are resuming with a good first-up record, or graduates of the previous season’s tougher Group 1 Sydney races are important tips to take.
The Show County Quality form has also stacked up in later, tougher grade races including the Epsom Handicap and George Main Stakes in recent years.
2021 Show County Quality Form Guide
A link to our detailed Show County Quality 2021 form guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Show County Quality Results
Show County Quality results have been dominated by quality horses at single-figures in recent years, with Might And Power (1997) the most famous.
Other notable recent Show County Quality winners include Lotteria (2005), Rebel Dane (2013), Terravista (2014) and Le Romain (2018).
Show County Quality Winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|
| 2021 | Private Eye | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 54 kgs | 1:10.20 |
| 2020 | Roheryn | James Cummings | Jason Collett | 53 kgs | 1:11.23 |
| 2019 | Deprive | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 53.5 kgs | 1:08.63 |
| 2018 | Le Romain | Kris Lees | James McDonald | 61 kgs | 1:08.62 |
| 2017 | Deploy | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 55.5 kgs | 1:08.06 |
| 2016 | Tycoon Tara | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 54 kgs | 1:09.92 |
| 2015 | Decision Time | Clarry Conners | Christian Reith | 54 kgs | 1:09.05 |
| 2014 | Terravista | Joseph Pride | Hugh Bowman | 56 kgs | 1:12.39 |
| 2013 | Rebel Dane | Gary Portelli | Glen Boss | 54.5 kgs | 1:09.53 |
| 2012 | Moment Of Change | Peter Moody | Peter Robl | 54 kgs | 1:09.42 |
| 2011 | Skytrain | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 53 kgs | 1:12.67 |
| 2010 | Kenny’s World | Graeme Murray | Tye Angland | 53 kgs | 1:10.66 |
| 2009 | Swift Alliance | Gai Waterhouse | Blake Shinn | 53 kgs | 1:09.83 |
| 2008 | Bank Robber | Gai Waterhouse | Corey Brown | 53 kgs | 1:11.96 |
| 2007 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 | Primus | John O’Shea | Hugh Bowman | 56.5 kgs | 1:09.87 |
| 2005 | Lotteria | Gai Waterhouse | Lenny Beasley | 56.5 kgs | 1:09.91 |
| 2004 | Athelnoth | Tiger Holland | James Innes | 53 kgs | 1:10.92 |
| 2003 | Sportsman | Gregory Hickman | Zac Purton | 54 kgs | 1:11.86 |
| 2002 | Presently | Bruce McLachlan | James Innes | 53 kgs | 1:09.82 |
| 2001 | Kingsgate | Gai Waterhouse | Glen Boss | 52 kgs | 1:10.83 |
| 2000 | Stanzaic | John Size | Glen Boss | 53.5 kgs | 1:09.81 |
| 1999 | Upright | John Hawkes | Larry Cassidy | 51.5 kgs | 1:10.27 |