The All Aged Stakes always draws a varied field of gallopers and that is the case again in 2018.
Trapeze Artist stamped himself as one of the most talented horses in Australia with his impressive win in the TJ Smith Stakes and he will go into this race as a clear favourite, but there are a stack of Group 1 winners in this field and he won’t have things his own way.
Will Trapeze Artist score another Group 1 win or will there be an All Aged Stakes upset? We have analysed every horse in the field and our complete 2018 All Aged Stakes tips can be found below.
Le Romain
Le Romain returned to a semblance of his best form with a solid fourth in the TJ Smith Stakes and he will be better suited over the 1400 metres of the All Aged Stakes. He is still not running at the same level as he did 12 months ago – when he won the Canterbury Stakes and finished second behind Winx in the George Ryder Stakes – and I think that he will need to return to that level to win this contest. He isn’t out of the race, but I have him marked longer than his current price.
Brave Smash
Brave Smash is the value runner in the All Aged Stakes. He was never able to get into the race in the TJ Smith Stakes and the step-up to 1400 metres will suit. His win over 1400 metres in the Futurity Stakes was excellent and he is a horse that is more than capable of a high-rating performance on his day. He maps to get a dream run into this contest with Mark Zahra in the saddle and he will prove tough to beat.
Hartnell
Hartnell is a very interesting runner in the All Aged Stakes. He has been freshened-up since he failed to fire in the Australian Cup and his best runs in recent preparation has been first-up – he won both the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes. His best form would have him right in this race, but it is obviously tough to back him off his last start effort.
It’s Somewhat
It’s Somewhat goes into the All Aged Stakes first-up and he is a horse that does run well fresh. This is not his major target and he has been set for races like the Doomben Cup in Brisbane, but it would not surprise if he performs better than his current odds suggest.
Clearly Innocent
Clearly Innocent has failed to fire this preparation and has been soundly beaten in the Southern Cross Stakes, Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes. He is not up to this level unless he finds himself on a wet track.
Red Cardinal
This is an interesting first-up target for Red Cardinal. He has not been seen at the races since he finished 11th in the Melbourne Cup and he has never run at a distance shorter than 2400 metres. It would not surprise if he ran well, but it is very tough to see him winning.
Endless Drama
Endless Drama performed fairly in the Doncaster Mile, but he would need to produce a career best performance to win a race of this quality and I’m not sure that he is capable of doing that at this stage of his racing career.
Tom Melbourne
Some sick punters have already dived into Tom Melbourne and he is the early market mover in our All Aged Stakes betting market. Tom Melbourne will likely push forward in the All Aged Stakes and he maps to get a lovely run in transit, but can you really trust a horse that has gone so long without winning? He should be in the finish, but I can’t bring myself to back him.
Satono Rasen
Satono Rasen will make his Australian racing debut for Chris Waller after starting his career in Japan. The Deep Impact entire has recorded only three wins from his 21 race starts and has gone a very long time without a win, but we have seen time and time again just how strong these Japanese horses are. He is worth a gamble at the current price of $34.
Trapeze Artist
There is no doubt that Trapeze Artist is the horse to beat in the All Aged Stakes, but I can’t get him as short as his current price. Trapeze Artist was nothing short of outstanding in the TJ Smith Stakes and a repeat of that effort would make him very tough to beat, but he is a horse that has struggled to string wins together. He regressed a great deal in the Coolmore Stud Stakes after winning the Golden Rose Stakes in the Spring and due to that factor, I am willing to take him on.
Showtime
Showtime is on the quick back-up following his second place finish behind Catchy in the Arrowfield Sprint last weekend. He is yet to win this preparation, but he has won a stack of nice races and he is a horse that does make his own luck right on the speed. The Snitzel colt would need to go to another level to win the All Aged Stakes, but he is in the race.
The Mission
The Mission has run well in both The Galaxy and the TJ Smith Stakes after running poorly during the Spring. He would still need to find several lengths of improvement to be any chance in the All Aged Stakes.
Muraaqeb
Muraaqeb was finally able to return to winning form in the Carbine Club Stakes last weekend. This is a genuine step-up in class and I think that he will find this too tough.