We’ve arrived at the final Group 1 race day of the 2021 Sydney Autumn Carnival and All Aged Stakes Day is headlined by two feature races.
There has been plenty of racing at Royal Randwick recently but at publish, the trac is rated in the Good (4) range.
Rothenburg finished fifth in the Country Championships Final a fortnight ago and can return to winning form in this week’s Highway race.
The Rothesay gelding has been a strong and consistent performer the preparation and has found form around some of the country’s best regionally trained gallopers.
He’s rock-hard fit and a race like this one looks perfect for him.
3 Units Rothenburg
Kiku has been outstanding since resuming this time and can record another win in the Carr Stakes.
The Chris Waller-trained filly continues to improve with racing and as the bar has been raised, culminating in an impressive win in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes here a fortnight ago.
So long as she handles the small drop in trip, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
4 Units Kiku
The Frank Packer Plate has drawn a smart field of three-year-olds, but I’m going to stick with Lion’s Roar.
Lion’s Roar has been the stable star for John O’Shea since making his debut and was unlucky not to end his spring campaign in the winner’s stall when an agonizingly close second behind Montefilia in the Spring Champion Stakes.
He tuned up with a tough effort in the Hobartville when resuming this time and simply couldn’t have been more impressive when winning this Randwick Guineas.
His runs in both the Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby have been full of merit and he looks the one to beat again on Saturday.
5 Units Lion’s Roar
Entente has been outstanding this preparation and the JRA Cup looks another lovely black type target for him.
The Dundeel gelding finished fourth in the Canberra Cup second-up in March and charged home to score an impressive win in the Albury Cup two starts back.
He ran well again, but couldn’t make up the required ground when second behind Shared Ambition in the Neville Sellwood Stakes last time out, but this looks the perfect opportunity for him to go one better.
3 Units Entente
This is an outstanding edition of the Hall Mark Stakes but I couldn’t be a bigger fan of Eleven Eleven, and I think he’ll take a power of beating.
Eleven Eleven has been a clear standout for Greg Hickman since Pierata has retired, and his impressive career has been highlighted by two wins at the Magic Millions.
He won three of four starts over summer and returned from a freshen up to finish sixth in the TJ Smith Stakes two weeks ago.
This is obviously a big drop in class from that race and he tends to fly at this point of his preparation.
5 Units Eleven Eleven
What this race has lost with Anamoe instead heading to the paddock, it has gained in betting potential, and there is a case to be made for nearly every horse in the Champagne Stakes field.
That being said, I’m going to stick early favourite Hilal.
Hilal has had four trips to the races since making his debut and finished worse than second just once.
He was quite clearly the best of the rest behind Anamoe in the Inglis Sires’ a fortnight ago, and he looks as though he’ll relish getting out to a mile on Saturday.
4 Units Hilal
Masked Crusader has finally started to realise his potential this prep and he is the runner to beat in the All Aged Stakes.
The Toronado gelding stormed home to record his first Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes two back, and he was arguably the run of the race when charging home from the tail of the field to finish second in the TJ.
He is at peak fitness and 1400m looks ideal.
I’m also going to have an each-way bet on Tagaloa, who looks to be at his best over 1400m and who gets into this race well under the conditions, and fresh.
5 Units Masked Crusader
1 Unit E/W Tagaloa
This shapes as the most open race on All Aged Stakes Day from a betting perspective and at publish, we’re faced with around $6 the field.
Bottega has returned two nice effort since resuming and this looks a lovely race for him.
The Snitzel entire dashed home into second behind Gem Song in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket when fresh, and was last seen finishing third in the Doncaster Prelude.
He is drawn to receive a lovely effort and looks a touch of overs at around $8.
2 Units E/W Bottega
I’m happy to give Lost And Running another chance in the last on All Aged Stakes Day.
Lost And Running has won four of his five career starts so far and was last seen finishing second behind a nose in a talent-rich midweek contest at Canterbury.
He looks to be at peak fitness, the conditions of this race are ideal and he might not be offered a better opportunity to transition to Saturday racing.
2 Units Lost And Running