2021 The Championships Day 2 Preview

Day 2 of The Championships will take place at Royal Randwick on Saturday and another ten talent-packed races will be run and won.

The rail will be set out three metres around the entire course and at publish, the track is rated in the Soft (5) range.

Converge has improved for two starts back this time and is ready to win on Day 2 of The Championships.

The Frankel gelding won on debut at Warwick Farm in December and was immediately sent to the paddock, and while he needed the run when sixth in the Pago Pago Stakes when resuming, he finished an impressive second behind Saif two weeks ago.

Fitter third-up and out to a mile, I’m confident he can get our day off to a winning start.

4 Units Converge

Ellsberg hasn’t been seen at the races since December, but he was excellent during his debut prep and can make a winning return in the South Pacific Classic.

The Spill The Beans colt hasn’t missed placing in five starts previously, winning twice and finding form around some good horses.

He returned a lovely effort in a trial a couple of weeks ago and is primed to run well fresh.

3 Units Ellsberg

This is a typically open edition of the Provincial Championships Final and a horse like Animate has claims on winning at a nice price ($14 at publish).

Animate has been a decent and largely consistent performer for the Lees stable this prep and enters this race off the back of a nice effort for second in BM78 company at Warwick Farm.

I’m expecting good improvement for that hit-out and he is drawn ideally under Brenton Avdulla.

2 Units E/W Animate

Najmaty puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Percy Sykes Stakes and this looks a lovely bit of black type for her.

The I Am Invincible filly stamped herself as one to watch when an easy winner on debut at Randwick-Kensington, and she continued her rise through the grades with another slick win in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield last time out.

Fitter third-up and back to the Sydney way of going, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.

4 Units Najmaty

This is an open edition of the Australian Oaks and a filly like Impecunious has claims on winning at a nice price ($15 at publish).

Impecunious has returned some lovely efforts since making her debut and has continued to improve with each start back this time.

She was particularly eye-catching when she mustered a nice turn of foot to fill the minors in the Vinery Stud Stakes a fortnight ago, and she gave the impression that she’ll only be better further out in trip.

2 Units E/W Impecunious

This is an outstanding edition of the Arrowfield Sprint, boasting many of our best current three-year-olds including Wild Ruler, Isotope, September Run and Dame Giselle.

I’m going to have a play on two runners here; September Run and Amish Boy.

September Run won the Coolmore Stud Stakes at the conclusion of her spring preparation, and stormed home to only just miss in the Black Caviar Lightning when resuming this time.

She was flat in the Newmarket Handicap second-up, but was far better into fourth in the William Reid Stakes last time out, and this is something of a drop in class from that race.

Amish Boy has returned to the races in strong and consistent form this time, placing in each of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, the Autumn Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap, and there is no doubt that he is over the odds at his current $19 quote.

3 Units September Run

1 Unit E/W Amish Boy

Favorite Moon was an impressive winner of the NE Manion Cup on debut in Australia and he looks the runner to beat in the Sydney Cup.

The UK-based stayer has returned plenty of pleasing efforts around some of the world’s best horses during his career, and really did put the writing on the way a few weeks ago.

Getting out to two miles looks as though it will suit and he’s drawn to receive a lovely run.

The Chosen One failed to fire in the Tancred Stakes last time, but he is another horse that will enjoy getting out to two miles.

The Savabeel entire has returned huge efforts in some of our biggest races, and his form prior to the Tancred Stakes this time was fair.

3 Units Favorite Moon

1 Unit E/W The Chosen One

Just seven horses remain in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field but typically, it looms as one of the standout contests of the Autumn Carnival.

All the leading contenders prefer a wet track and for that reason, I’m not going to change my selection – Addeybb will be hard to beat.

Addeybb was an impressive winner of both the Ranvet Stakes and this race last autumn, and he returned to the UK for some more typically impressive performances and results.

He finished a length second behind a fit Verry Elleegant when resuming this time and I am confident he can turn the tables on Saturday.

4 Units Addeybb

Colette can return to winning form in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

The Hallowed Crown mare won the Oaks on this card last year, and added the Golden Eagle to her resume during her spring preparation.

She probably hasn’t been at her best since finishing second behind Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton, but this is a drop in class from her last appearance in the Ranvet Stakes, and we can have an each-way play at her current price ($8.50 at publish).

2 Units E/W Colette

This is a typically open edition of the Sapphire Stakes, but I am happy to give California Zimbol another chance.

California Zimbol returned to the races with a lovely effort to win the Maurice McCarten Stakes and finished fourth, beaten a length and a half by Signore Fox in the Star Kingdom Stakes last time out.

Fitter third-up and with Tommy Berry aboard, I’m eager to take the $7 that is available at publish.

3 Units California Zimbol