Stars of the Australasian turf return to action at Royal Randwick on Apollo Stakes Day.
All ten races have drawn quality fields, but the Apollo Stakes particularly looms as one to remember as the likes of Ceowulf, Via Sistina and Fangirl all launch their autumn preparations.
You can find my tip for that race and the remaining Apollo Stakes Day program below!
Race 1 - 12:30pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1000m)
Catch The Glory was a smart winner at odds when resuming at Warwick Farm and a Saturday Midway looks an ideal next point of call.
The Zousain filly turned in some decent performances during her debut prep, breaking her maiden most notably, but her fresh run this time hinted at big improvement.
2 Units Catch The Glory
Race 2 - 1:05pm AEDT
Highway Handicap (1800m)
We were with Adolphus when he only just missed in a similar race a fortnight ago and I’m happy to give him another chance.
Having won at Canberra in his first run back from a break, the Rubick gelding settled off the pace at Rosehill last time and ran on well to only just miss.
The rise in trip suits and this looks his chance to strike.
3 Units Adolphus
Race 3 - 1:40pm AEDT
Coolmore Pierro Plate (1100m)
The Pierro Plate almost always tosses up one or two genuine Golden Slipper horses and this year, I think United States will be one of those.
The expensive colt has only made one appearance the races so far, but he couldn’t have done a lot more without winning over 1000m here.
With natural improvement for that experience, he can begin his rise through the grades.
2 Units United States
Race 4 - 2:15pm AEDT
Wellington Racing Club Trophy (1600m)
Yorkshire has been typically excellent this time in and looms as the one to beat again in Race 4 on Apollo Stakes Day.
The Snitzel gelding only just missed in his first run back from a break in December, and he has since recorded smart victories at Wyong and Rosehill.
There’s no doubting his fitness this week and with some relief in the weights, he can make it a hat-trick of victories.
3 Units Yorkshire
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m)
We haven’t seen Joliestar at the races since Golden Eagle Day, but she has certainly been a star on the rise through her ten starts.
She’s a Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner, and she absolutely blew them away at this track and trip when resuming in the spring.
In this small Expressway Stakes field, I think she’ll get every chance, and I think she’s just the best horse in the race.
4 Units Joliestar
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m)
Clear Thinking puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Triscay Stakes.
Having recorded three wins from as many starts during her debut prep, the Dubawi mare won a Highway race over this route when resuming.
There’s no doubt this is a sizeable rise in class, but she is open to plenty of improvement, she gets into the race well, and she has continued to leap as the bar has been raised.
2 Units Clear Thinking
Race 7 - 4pm AEDT
Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m)
Lady Shenandoah resumes in the Light Fingers off the back of a couple of really nice trials and of course, an unbeaten spring preparation that saw her win the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
The knock is that she is yet to salute in a race under 1400m, but she’s also yet to miss the placings, and I think she’ll pick up where she left off.
3 Units Lady Shenandoah
Race 8 - 4:35pm AEDT
Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m)
The Apollo Stakes marks the return of Ceowulf and Ladbrokes Cox Plate champion Via Sistina, but I’m taking them both on with Fangirl.
Fangirl is a multiple Group 1 winner and has tended to find her best right here at Randwick, and over the 1400m.
She races well at this point of her prep and from barrier 4, I think Jason Collett puts her wherever he likes, presses the button and is a passenger as she races away from them.
2 Units Fangirl
Race 9 - 5:15pm AEDT
Macquarie St Social Handicap (1300m)
Sunshineinmypocket returned to the races with a nice performance to win in BM74 company down at Sandown.
The son of Proisir stamped himself as one to follow during a four-start debut preparation that resulted in three wins, and he’ll take plenty of benefit from that fresh hit-out.
He’s still sweating on a run as this field’s second emergency, but he’ll be tough to toss if he does gain a start.
2 Units Sunshineinmypocket
Race 10 - 5:55pm AEDT
Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m)
Perfumist is a galloper in form and looks very tough to beat again in the last on Apollo Stakes Day.
Perfumist returned to the winner’s stall via a dominant performance at Mudgee back in December, and she has since recorded three-consecutive and similarly dominant victories in metro company.
In peak order this week and with appropriate luck in running, she need only hold her form to win again.
4 Units Perfumist