The Chosen One made his Australian racing debut with an excellent performance in the Australian Derby and the Frank Packer Plate is a genuine drop in quality. He has won over 2000 metres in New Zealand, so I don’t think that the drop in trip will be an issue. Blake Shinn will settle him in the second half of the field and he will be storming home late.
The Champagne Stakes has always looked like the ideal target for Castelvecchio. He has found the line strongly in each of his race starts to date and he ran the best closing sectionals in the Sires’ Produce Stakes. He can sit closer to the speed from barrier four and he will be storming home in the concluding stages.
This is an excellent edition of the All Aged Stakes and Pierata has the chance to claim a maiden Group 1 victory. His run in the TJ Smith Stakes was better than it looks on paper and his closing sectionals were some of the best in the race. The step-up to 1400 metres is not a problem and the $5 currently available is a good bet.
Home Of The Brave does look like the good thing of the day in the Hall Mark Stakes. I think that he would have been a genuine winning chance in the All Aged Stakes and this race is weaker. He hasn’t produced a poor effort since he arrived in Australia and his barrier trials ahead of his return to the races have been excellent.