Group 1 racing returns to Sydney in a big way on Saturday, with the Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan and the Flight Stakes all set to take place at Royal Randwick.
There has been plenty of criticism levelled at Racing New South Wales for the lack of spread in the handicaps for both the Epsom Handicap and The Metropolitan, but they are both still interesting betting races.
There is plenty of talent in all nine races that are set to be held at Royal Randwick this weekend and we have had an early look at each event to identify the winning chances.
Race 1 – 12:15pm Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m)
This is obviously a tough race for punters as none of these horses have ever been to the races, but the recent two-year-old barrier trials in Sydney do give us some idea. Capitalist was settled off the leaders in his barrier trial at Royal Randwick on September 21, but he was able to pick up his rivals easily when asked for an extra effort and he ran good time in doing so. He was one of the best trailers of the day and he looks a smart horse. The Godolphin duo of Cohesion and Thar also trialed well and they look like the major dangers to Capitalist, while Paul Perry-trained Walk Right In ran good time in his barrier trial.
Race 2 – 12:55pm Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m)
The Gimcrack Stakes may be an even trickier race than the Breeders Plate and it will be run with a capacity field of 14 horses. Calliope showed plenty of early speed when she took up the running in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on September 21 and she ran away from her rivals despite being kept under a fairly right hold by James McDonald. She will be tough to beat if she is able to replicate that performance. Desirable Miss also ran good time in a barrier trial over 838 meters on the same day, while Cheryl Roberts-trained Divajeu showed plenty of talent in her trial as did Kris Lees-trained Twist Tops.
Race 3 – 1:30pm Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m)
Wudang Mountain scored a tough win in the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29, but he produced a very flat effort in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle. He has more upside than the majority of this field, but he will need to find another level if he is going to be competitive in the Spring Champion Stakes. Ocean Tempest would be right in this race, but she has also been included in the Flight Stakes field and she is likely to head towards the Group 1. Ambience is a progressive type that won at Kembla Grange last start, but will obviously need to go to another level and you can say the same about More Than Fabulous and Colosseum King.
Race 4 – 2:10pm Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m)
The Roman Consul Stakes is always an exciting race and the 2015 edition is set to be no exception. Exosphere stamped himself as the best three-year-old in the country when he recorded impressive wins in the Run To The Rose and Golden Rose Stakes and this is his race to lose. Counterattack returned to the races with a strong win in the Heritage Handicap and he looks the obvious danger, while Takedown was very good in the same race. Le Chef, Wicked Intent and Yaboroo are all highly promising and could fight out the placings, but it is tough to see them beating Exosphere. The wildcard in the race could be Japonisme and it will be interesting to see how he fares off a freshen-up and a barrier trial.
Race 5 – 2:45pm Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m)
Terravista is set to return to the races in the Premiere Stakes and he looms as the horse to beat. The talented sprinter has an excellent first-up record and based on his two recent barrier trials he will be more than forward enough to win this race. Rebel Dane returned to winning form when he took out The Shorts at Royal Randwick on September 19, but he can often throw in a flat performance second-up. Famous Seamus drops back in trip and he is not often disgraced in races like this one, while Hot Snitzel was good first-up in The Shorts and is sure to take a fair bit of improvement from the run. Generalife went to another level in the winter and he won first-up last preparation, so he can’t be completely ruled out.
Race 6 – 3:20pm Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m)
Complacent beat the likes of Kermadec, Royal Descent and Pornichet in the Chelmsford Stakes and he was far from disgraced when third in the Hill Stakes. This race sets up better for him and he could be tough to beat. Ruling Dynasty has performed very well in two race starts this preparation, but this is easily the toughest test he has faced this preparation. Hauraki has been slightly flat in his two race starts to date this preparation, but he is sure to benefit from the step-up to 2000 metres. Moriarty was far from disgraced last week and this looks like a far more suitable race, while it would not surprise if Grand Marshal, Gallante or Foreteller ran a big race.
Race 7 – 4:00pm Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m)
This is far from the strongest edition of the Epsom Handicap, but it is still a very interesting betting race. Winx is a deserving favourite, but she has opened very short and she will need some luck in running. However, she has proven that she can win from anywhere and she will be very tough to beat. Lucia Valentina has flown under the radar this preparation, but gets into this race well in at the weights and could give this a real shake. Sadler’s Lake was in the worst part of the track when he won the Bill Ritchie Handicap and he will relish the step-up in trip to a mile. Entirely Platinum is overs at his current quote after finishing in the placings in both the Memsie Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes, while Hooked is another horse that stands out at his current price. The most interesting runner in the race could be Silverball, who is dropping back to 1600 metres after winning the Kingston Town Stakes – the exact same path that was followed by last year’s winner He’s Your Man.
Race 8 – 4:40pm Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m)
Gai Waterhouse has a very strong hand in this race and it would not be a surprise if she trained the trifecta. Speak Fondly is clearly the horse to beat following her wins in the Silver Shadow Stakes and the Furious Stakes and if her Golden Rose second hasn’t taken too much out of her this is her race to lose. Sempre Libera produced a massive run in the Tea Rose Stakes and she is sure to take plenty of benefit from the run, while Waterhouse also has Kimberley Star and Flamboyant Lass, who are both big chances to finish in the placings. The main danger to Waterhouse runners in the Flight Stakes is Tea Rose Stakes winner Shards, who looks to have plenty of scope. Honesta produced a massive performance in the Tea Rose Stakes and it would not surprise if she goes close, while Ocean Tempest is a filly with a lot of upside.
Race 9 – 5:20pm Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m)
The influx of importer stayers in Australia has increased the quality in The Metropolitan in recent years and that is certainly the case in 2015. Magic Hurricane has done nothing wrong since he made his Australian racing debut earlier this year and he was only just beaten in the Hill Stakes. He is sure to relish the step-up to 2400 metres and he is the horse to beat. Beyond Thankful outstayed his rivals in both the Wyong Cup and Newcastle Cup and he gets his chance in The Metropolitan. This is clearly a step-up in quality, but he has the benefit of Hugh Bowman in the saddle. Orbec is yet to win in Australia, but he has gone very close in all three race starts and is another that will relish the step-up in trip. Almoonqith and Chance To Dance are both in their maiden racing campaigns in Australia, but on their overseas form can be more than competitive in these races. You can never rule Chris Waller-trained imports out of The Metropolitan and Beaten Up, Junoob and Opinion are all in with a chance.