2024 Chelmsford Stakes Day Preview

The return of several stars of the Australasian turf headlines the ten-race program at Royal Randwick on Chelmsford Stakes Day!

It might not boast the Group 1 prestige of the Moir Stakes in Melbourne, but the Concorde Stakes in Sydney features many outstanding sprinters including Giga Kick, Private Eye, Bella Nopitina and I Am Me, and could prove to be the standout race of the week.

Throw in the Furious Stakes, the Tramway and the Chelmsford, and there are plenty of opportunities to find a winner at Randwick!

The Extreme Cat has drawn awkwardly into this contest, but he has returned in career-best form this time and will still take beating again.

The Extreme Cat returned to winning form at Hawkesbury back in July and franked that effort with an eye-catching victory in a race not dissimilar to this one.

Having finished just over a length behind the winner at his latest, he’s hard fit this week and James McDonald sticks.

2 Units The Extreme Cat

Spring Lee has been racing in competitive form this time and rates as a key winning chance again on Chelmsford Stakes Day.

The Zoustar mare ran a close second in Listed company back in May, and picked up where she left off when only just missing behind Nosey Park over 1100m at Rosehill.

She was fair through the line again when fourth in BM78 company a fortnight ago and will take plenty of improvement into an appropriate task this week.

2 Units Spring Lee

Field Of Myrtle stands as yet another winning chance in a Highway Handicap for the Matt Dunn yard

Field Of Myrtle has missed placing only once in five runs back from a break, winning in BM65 company up at Doomben two back, before filling the minors in a tougher Saturday race in Brisbane last time.

She’s hard fit, drawn to effect and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.

3 Units Field Of Myrtle

The first black type of the day will see eight stayers step out onto the mile-and-a-half course including Strathtay, who I have put on top.

Strathtay has made just five appearances since arriving from New Zealand, but he has hit the ground running, winning three times, including a comfortable triumph at this track and trip last time.

This is the hardest task he’s been set, but it’s also the next logical step for him to take and he’ll carry just 53kgs.

4 Units Strathtay

This is one of the tougher races on the program to analyse from a betting perspective, but I’m going to have something on Zeyrek second-up from a spell, who looks to have a class edge over most of these rivals.

Zeyrek has turned in plenty of smart performances throughout his career, but he clearly needed his first run back this time when finishing down the order in the Winx Stakes.

He’s a multiple second-up winner and this is obviously a substantial drop in class, while the rise in trip also suits.

2 Units Zeyrek

Manaal clearly needed her first run back this time to tune up, but I’m keen to stick with her when she goes around in the Furious Stakes on Saturday.

Manaal enjoyed a glittering start to her career during the autumn of this year, winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes before adding the ATC Sires’ Produce to her CV in April, her first at Group 1 level.

Given she was only just beaten in the Silver Shadow and so-far boasts a seamless second-up record, I’m more than happy to give her another chance.

4 Units Manaal

In my mind, there is absolutely no doubt at all that the standout contest of the day, perhaps anywhere in the country, is the Concorde Stakes. Some of the best sprinters in the land are engaged, including the highly anticipated return of former The Everest winner Giga Kick.

One that I thought was over the odds in Concorde Stakes betting is I Am Me ($10 at publish), and I am going to have something each way at the double-figures.

I Am Me has been a model of consistency throughout twenty-one career starts, winning nine times and finding form around gallopers like the ones she meets on Saturday.

Each of her last five starts have been in Group 1 company and she has never been far away, and I am confident she’ll be in the finish fresh from a break.

2 Units E/W I Am Me

Zardozi has opened an odds-on favourite in Chelmsford Stakes betting and given this isn’t the strongest edition of the Group 2 feature, I’m confident she’ll justify it.

Zardozi enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence last spring, ending her year with a win in the VRC Oaks, and after adding the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes to her mantle in autumn, she ended that prep with consecutive placings at Group 1 level.

I thought she was very good through the line when sixth, beaten just over two lengths in the Winx Stakes when resuming, and there’s no doubt she’ll be better second-up and out to the mile.

5 Units Zardozi

Amelia’s Jewel makes her return and her first appearance for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald in the Tramway, and I’m keen to be with her as well.

The former Perth galloper is a Group 1 winner, but it is fair to say that the bubble burst a little at her last two preps.

That being said, she still turned in some fine performances in both, and she has trialled up particularly well since arriving in New South Wales.

With some lofty targets set this time, 1400m at Randwick looks an ideal campaign launchpad and she boasts a class edge over most of these.

4 Units Amelia’s Jewel

Piastri has been flying this time in and with appropriate luck from wide out on Saturday, I’m confident he can win again when he steps out in the last.

Piastri has won three of four runs back from a break, highlighted by an eye-catching performance and win over 1100m at Rosehill last time out.

1200m suits, he’s hard fit and just needs to find a position in running to be in it when the whips start cracking.

2 Units Piastri