The Sydney Autumn Carnival hits its peak on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick!
Another four Group 1 feature races are headlined by the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where Via Sistina will be tasked with overcoming an all-star lineup of local and international talent, including Dubai Honour, Rousham Park and Light Infantry Man.
Check out my complete preview and The Championships Day 2 tips below.
Race 1 - 11:45am
Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m)
Tupakara held ground to fill the minors behind a very impressive Nepotism in the Group 3 Baillieu last time out and is primed to strike this week.
She’s run into some classy opposition at both runs back this time and getting out to the mile with further improvement this week looks ideal.
2 Units Tupakara
Race 2 - 12:20pm
Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m)
Nostringsattached is unbeaten this time in, and the South Pacific Classic looks a nice bit of black type for him.
The Extreme Choice colt broke his maiden at Pakenham in January and has continued to improve as the bar has been raised, culminating in an impressive win in the Future Stars Final in late February.
He’s been freshened and has trialled well ahead of this race.
2 Units Nostringsattached
Race 3 - 12:55pm
Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m)
The Provincial Championships Final is a typically open affair and with a case to be made for most of them, I’m going to have an each way play on Well Timed.
Well Timed turned in a rare flat performance at Rosehill second up from a spell, but he was eye-catching at Hawkesbury to book his place in this race, last month.
Fitter third-up, this has always been the goal and the booking of a senior hoop in Nash Rawiller boosts his claims.
1 Unit E/W Well Timed
Race 4 - 1:30pm
Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
A few Golden Slipper contestants will take their place in this Percy Sykes Stakes field including Within The Law, who I am going to give another chance.
She didn’t finish the world’s richest race for two-year-olds, but Within The Law’s form prior to that race was excellent, and included three wins and a near miss from four appearances.
She’s been back to the trials since the Slipper, this is a substantially weaker race, and I am confident she’ll bounce back.
3 Units Within The Law
Race 5 - 2:05pm
Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m)
Autumn Glow puts an unbeaten record on the line and has opened a clear odds-on favourite in Arrowfield Sprint betting.
Her debut prep in spring was unfortunately cut short before she could contest a Group 1 race, but the three-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun returned this time for a dominant victory in the Darby Munro.
With natural improvement I think she’ll just win again, but the $1.50 is too short for me, so I am instead going to select her as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Gatsby’s running into the first three.
Same Race Multi selections:
- No. 8 Autumn Glow (Win)
- No. 4 Gatsby’s (Top 3)
Race 6 - 2:40pm
Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m)
Another short-priced favourite has materialised in the Australian Oaks betting market and unsurprisingly, it’s Treasurethe Moment.
She’s a superstar on the rise, a multiple Group 1 winner, and she dismantled them again in the Vinery Stud Stakes last time out.
I’m going to select her as my winner and pump up my odds with another Same Race Multi: the NZ Oaks winner, Leica Lucy running into the first three, and the in-form Belle Detelle running into the first four.
Same Race Multi selections:
- No. 2 Treasurethe Moment (Win)
- No. 1 Leica Lucy (Top 3)
- No. 5 Belle Detelle (Top 4)
Race 7 - 3:15pm
Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m)
The Sydney Cup is always an open contest with plenty of live chances, but I’m keen on Zardozi in Saturday’s edition.
We know how good she is, she’s just been a model of consistency in our best races for a couple of years now and she relished getting out to the two miles in last year’s Melbourne Cup, rattling home late to finish fourth.
She’s fit this week; I thought her run in the Australian Cup was one of a horse crying out for further and I think she’ll get every chance under Kerrin McEvoy
2 Units Zardozi
Race 8 - 3:55pm
Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
It was the scene of Pride Of Jenni’s historic performance in 2024 and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field is absolutely dripping with talent again!
Via Sistina could come out and absolutely brain them, but I don’t want to take the odds on quote, so im going to take her on with an each way play on Rousham Park.
Rousham Park has turned in some nice performances around some excellent horses throughout his career and the Japanese form is always very strong.
I love that Christophe Lemaire is in Australia to ride, with even luck in running, the horse is up to winning.
1 Unit E/W Rousham Park
Race 9 - 4:35pm
Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m)
Fangirl has returned to racing in typically excellent for this time and the Queen Of The Turf Stakes really is another perfect race for her.
James McDonald rides, she’s drawn an absolute peach. Tick, tick, tick, nice and easy, she’s my best bet of the day.
5 Units Fangirl
Race 10 - 5:10pm
Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
Commemorative can bounce back in the Sapphire Stakes.
She was nothing short of dominant in the Wenona Girl Quality at this track and trip two runs back, but Commemorative ran into some smart ones in The Galaxy last time out and finished midfield, beaten three lengths by Private Harry.
She’s hard fit, this is a far more appropriate task for her, and the addition of James McDonald could be the difference.
4 Units Commemorative