Race 1 - 12:15pm
Catanach’s Handicap (1900m)
Chris Waller has a third of the field in the opener on Coolmore Classic Day and that always makes things tough from a betting perspective. I am keen to oppose the Waller-trained runners and David Payne-trained All Too Soon will be tough to beat. She is a filly that has gone to another level this campaign and she continues to improve each time that she has been seen at the races. She should now be at peak fitness third-up and the step-up in trip suits as she is on a path to the Australian Oaks.
3 Units All Too Soon
Race 2 - 12:55pm
Group 2 Sky High Stakes (2000m)
The market has zeroed in on Stampede and Libran in the Sky High Stakes and they do look like the horses to beat. Stampede overdid things in front when fifth behind Winx in the Chipping Norton Stakes and he should get an easier time of things in the Sky High Stakes. Rosehill Gardens does look like the right track for him and Tim Clark should be able to control the race in the early stages. He is ready to peak third-up and he can return to winning form.
3 Units Stampede
Race 3 - 1:30pm
Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m)
It is impossible to bet against Sunlight in the Magic Night Stakes. She won the Magic Millions Classic in brilliant fashion and she returned to the races with a fighting victory over Estijaab – who franked that form with her win in the Silver Slipper Stakes last weekend. Sunlight has drawn somewhat awkwardly, but she has shown plenty of tactical versatility during her racing career and Luke Currie has plenty of options. She can win and stamp herself as the horse to beat in the 2018 Golden Slipper.
No Bet
Race 4 - 2:10pm
Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m)
Written By was obviously very visually impressive in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes and he was very strong late, but there are some genuine question marks over the strength of that race. They didn’t run great time and the rest of the field was very soft late. In saying that, he has done nothing wrong during his racing career to date and he must be respected.
It is Spin that does represent value at his current price. He has raced well without winning during his racing career to date and he should take plenty of benefit from his narrow defeat in the Skyline Stakes. Team Snowden knows what it takes to get a two-year-old to peak at the right time of the season and he needs to run well in this race to secure a start in the Golden Slipper.
1.5 Units Spin
Race 5 - 2:50pm
Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m)
Nieta has an excellent first-up record and the Maurice McCarten Stakes does look like a lovely race for her. She wasn’t at her best in the Spring, but her recent barrier trial win at Royal Randwick suggests that she is fairly forward for her return to the races and on her best form she does have a genuine edge over the rest of this field. There should be plenty of early tempo in this race, which suits as she can sit just behind the leading group and finish over the top of them late.
2 Units Nieta
Race 6 - 3:30pm
Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m)
Shumookh is clearly the horse to beat in the 2018 Phar Lap Stakes. She has been extremely tough in both the Light Fingers Stakes and the Surround Stakes and this is a genuine drop in class. Tim Clark will take Shumookh straight to the front in the early stages of the race and she has shown in her previous starts that she is a very tough filly. This is her chance to return to winning form.
3 Units Shumookh
Race 7 - 4:10pm
Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m)
The 2018 Coolmore Classic has drawn close to a capacity field and it is absolutely packed with talent. Silent Sedition ran a huge ran to finish an unlucky second behind Heavens Above 12 months ago and she can go one better this year. She returned to her best form to record a dominant win in the Mannerism Stakes and she still has the scope to improve. Craig Williams has plenty of options from barrier seven and she has more upside than any other horse in this field.
1 Unit Silent Sedition
Race 8 - 4:50pm
Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m)
Comin’ Through was a big run when third in the Apollo Stakes and I like the fact that Chris Waller has freshened him up for the Ajax Stakes. He seemed to race far more genuine in the Apollo Stakes and being gelded could prove to be the making of the horse. The in-form Michael Walker will have plenty of options in the early stages of the race and he doesn’t need to get as far back as he did in the Apollo Stakes. He generally produces his best in these slowly run weight-for-age races and this is his chance to return to winning form.
2 Units Comin’ Through
Race 9 - 5:30pm
TAB Handicap (1900m)
This is an interesting way to finish the day and there are a host of winning chances. Philosophy has recorded five wins from nine race starts and she has trialed nicely ahead of her return to the races. Her first-up record is strong and Godolphin have been very strong with these progressive type of horses over the past couple of weeks. It would not surprise if she was very well-backed and I am keen to lock in the early price.
1.5 Units Philosophy