Bivouac has tuned up with three decent efforts this time and the Kindergarten Stakes looks the perfect feature race for him. Yet another member of this incredible crop of Godolphin two-year-olds, Bivouac resumed this time to finish third behind Dawn Passage in a smart 1000m sprint at Randwick, before recording an easy win in the Listed Lonhro Plate. His last run for fourth in the Group 2 Todman Stakes was fair and he has been kept up to the mark with a trial, having missed a run in the Golden Slipper as the race’s first emergency.
1.5 Units Bivouac
Ringerdingding has produced several eye-catching efforts this time and won’t be offered a better opportunity to return to the winner’s stall than he finds in Saturday’s Carbine Club Stakes. Having ended his spring preparation with a smart win in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas, Ringerdingding chased well to finish third in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes first-up and while he was outdone by open company in the Group 1 Futurity, he got going late again to finish fourth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas. He finished well off the pace of Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder last time out, but this is obviously a far easier race and he is rock-hard fit for it.
3 Units Ringerdingding
Amangiri has continued to improve as Team Hawkes have raised the bar and she can gain ballot-free entry into next weekend’s Oaks by winning the Adrian Knox Stakes. The daughter of All Too Hard immediately stamped herself as one to watch when she finished second on the Kensington course on debut in February and she has since recorded a pair of smart wins, including a six-length domination of a BM70 field on heavy last time out. She has drawn the carpark, but she looks to be a versatile filly and with even luck, she can finish over the top of her rivals.
2 Units Amangiri
Noble Boy secured entry into this race after winning the Wildcard at Muswellbrook and if he brings his best on Saturday, he remains the one to beat. The Bon Hoffa gelding has recorded five wins from his six career starts so far and will be ridden by Hugh Bowman again, from the ideal barrier 5.
Al Mah Haha won the Goulburn qualifier after mustering a big turn of foot in the straight and he looks to be the value in the field at double figures. The Tash Burleigh-trained gelding has a fair record in metropolitan races and is rock hard fit for this, his fifth-up assignment.
2 Units Noble Boy
1 Unit Al Mah Haha
Another open and strong field of stayers has been taken for this year’s Chairman’s Quality and there is a case to be made for more than half the field.
Shraaoh stayed on well to finish third in the Group 3 NE Manion Cup two weeks ago and will appreciate the increase in trip. The Sea The Stars gelding’s form on rain-affected tracks is excellent and he’s been charged with carrying only 53kgs, and leading hoop Kerrin McEvoy in the Chairman’s.
I’m expecting the New Zealand raiders all to improve under the conditions on this race and Sir Charles Road does look over the odds at his double-figure quote. The five-year-old weakened late to finish seventh in the Group 1 Auckland Cup last month and this looks a far more appropriate task.
2 Units Shraaoh
1/2 Unit Sir Charles Road
The first Group 1 feature on Day 1 of The Championships has drawn some of the country’s most exciting two-year-old prospects and subsequently, it’s wide open from a betting perspective.
Microphone hasn’t run a bad race and looks as though he’ll relish getting out to 1400m. The Exceed And Excel colt recorded his first black type win in the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington in February before repeating that effort and result in the Group 2 Todman. He absolutely savaged the line to finish a close-up second in the Golden Slipper a fortnight ago and he looks well placed to take his first Group 1 win, with Hugh Bowman in the saddle again.
3 Units Microphone
Madison County has been a strong and consistent performer for Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman and looks over the odds in Australian Derby betting. The son of Pins won a pair of Group 1 races over a mile in his native New Zealand and there was a lot to like about his runs for fourth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas and second in last weekend’s Group 2 Tulloch Stakes. The latter has proven to be a great form reference for this race in recent years and Madison County looks like he’ll only improve at a mile and a half.
2 Units Madison County
The country’s best sprinters will step out in what looks an open edition of the TJ and there is a case to be made for nearly ever runner.
Osborne Bulls has been knocking on the door of Group 1 glory all season and is a leading chance in TJ Smith Stakes betting. The Street Cry gelding has flown home to finish a close-up second in both the Group 1 Lightning Stakes and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap this time, and has been kept up to the mark with a trial since his last competitive hit-out. His run at this track and distance on heavy going in last year’s The Everest was enormous and he looks ready to peak third-up.
Pierata was unlucky not to record his first Group 1 win in The Galaxy two weeks ago and could prove to be the value in TJ Smith Stakes betting. The son of Pierro looked down and out at the 300m, but mustered a huge turn of foot to finishing an agonizingly close second behind Nature Strip and he will only improve into this race. His form on a rain-affected track is also outstanding.
2 Units Osborne Bulls
1.5 Units Pierata
Warhorse Hartnell has returned to racing in typically strong form this time and will be tough to beat in the Doncaster Mile. The multiple Group 1 champion has continued to improve with racing this time and hit the line well to finish second in the All-Star Mile most-recently. He’s been charged with carrying topweight but did so successfully in the Epsom Handicap in spring and he’ll jump from a good barrier (7) on Saturday, with Bowman in the saddle again.
Alizee has been a standout for the in-form Godolphin stable for more than a year and with even luck, would not look out of place in the Doncaster Mile winner’s stall. The Sepoy mare is a three-time Group 1 winner and added the Futurity Stakes to her mantle most notably this time, before finishing a close-up third in the All-Star Mile last time out.
1 Unit Hartnell
Mizzy has returned several pleasing efforts this time and looks beautifully placed to record her first black type win in the PJ Bell Stakes. The Zoustar filly only broke her maiden three runs back, but has since finished fourth in both the Group 1 Surround Stakes and Group 1 Coolmore Classic, and will find this race much easier.
Fiesta will also appreciate the drop in grade and is up to winning a race of this calibre. The I Am Invincible filly was unlucky not to win a Group 1 race in spring and resumed this time for an impressive win in the Inglis Sprint. She savaged the line to finish sixth in the Surround second-up and while she didn’t fire a shot in the Coolmore, she does look to be at her best over sprint trips.
2 Units Mizzy
1 Unit Fiesta