We’ve arrived at the final Group 1 race day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival – All Aged Stakes Day 2025!
Owing to its position on the calendar, the All Aged Stakes is always a season highlight, and a stacked field will step out at Royal Randwick again, including Antino, Briasa, Jimmysstar, Magic Time and Broadsiding!
Our Randwick best bets also include Champagne Stakes tips and selections in all eight remaining races.
Race 1 - 11:25am
Midway Handicap (1400m)
Northern Eyes has improved with each run back from a break and this week’s Midway race looks a winnable one for him.
Having finished seven lengths behind the winner in the Newcastle Provincial Championships Qualifier fresh in early Match, the Zoustar gelding was an improved performer in the Wild Card race at the same track before finishing on the placegetters’ heels at Wyong last time out.
He’s fit, this is a weaker race, and we can have an each way play.
1 Unit E/W Northern Eyes
Race 2 - 12pm
Highway Handicap (1400m)
Win The Day faces the toughest assignment of her career to date on Saturday, but I don’t think one of these Highway races is beyond her.
The Hellbent mare has only made seven appearances since debuting, but she’s won three times and put paid to them at the Sapphire Coast last time out.
She’s in peak order and might be the value in betting.
1 Unit E/W Win The Day
Race 3 - 12:40pm
Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m)
Swiftfalcon looks well placed to win Saturday’s Frank Packer Plate.
The Exceedance gelding is yet to win in four runs back this time, but he’s also yet to miss the placings, and he was only denied by an impressive Evaporate in the Carbine Club Stakes a fortnight ago.
In peak order and further out in this this week, this looks his opportunity to strike.
3 Units Swiftfalcon
Race 4 - 1:15pm
Group 3 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m)
I’m going to stick with Lilac when she goes around in this Group 3 feature.
Lilac is another one that is yet to record a win in four runs back this year, but she’s turned in some fine performances around some quality gallopers, including a credible fourth behind Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes, while she was last seen finishing just over a head third in the PJ Bell.
In peak order, getting back up to 1400m and under James McDonald, I think she represents a terrific chance this week.
2 Units Lilac
Race 5 - 1:50pm
Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m)
Celui returned to action with an eye-catching performance win and can go on with it this week.
The Toronado gelding was settled off the pace in the featured sprint at Muswellbrook and ran on well to win in the final strides of the races.
He’s open to improvement and while this is harder, he should receive every chance under an in form Jason Collett.
2 Units Celui
Race 6 - 2:25pm
Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m)
Fawkner Park was far from disgraced in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last weekend.
The Zoffany gelding produced a run on the outside of the field and at one stage looked as though he’d run a place, before ultimately finishing eighth.
His form prior to that, including a placing in the Ranvet Stakes was very promising, and in peak order this week, dropping in class, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish in the JRA Plate 2025.
4 Units Fawkner Park
Race 7 - 3pm
Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m)
The Champagne Stakes is a perfect Group 1 target for Nepotism in my opinion.
Nepotism has only made two appearances at the races so far, but I thought he was excellent on debut in the Todman, and he just could not have been more impressive over 1400m last time out.
He’s by Brutal, I think he’s going to relish getting out to the mile and he’s open to further improvement.
4 Units Nepotism
Race 8 - 3:40pm
Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m)
This is one of the strongest editions of the All Aged Stakes in recent memory, many Group 1 winners are engaged and there is a case to be made for nearly all of them, but I’ve landed on Broadsiding.
He’s two from three this time in, he’s now a three-time Group 1 winner and he’s been freshened since taking out the Rosehill Guineas.
Dropping back in trip is probably the question mark but he does love 1400m, James McDonald is booked to ride, and he’ll carry the lightest weight of anything engaged.
2 Units E/W Broadsiding
Race 9 - 4:20pm
Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m)
The Hall Mark Stakes is a great race for a fit Ostraka.
Two runs in Group 1 company first and second up this time were probably a bridge too far, but he was vastly improved getting back to Sydney and into Group 3 company when third in the Star Kingdom Stakes last time out.
He will need some luck from barrier 11 but I think this is his level and he looks a key chance.
3 Units Ostraka
Race 10 - 4:55pm
4 Pines Pace Setters Handicap (1400m)
Tavi Time looks well placed first up from a spell on All Aged Stakes Day.
The Tavistock gelding hasn’t been seen at the races since winning the Summer Cup here on Boxing Day, but he’s a multiple fresh winner, and has won a total of eight of his eighteen starts, placing a further four times.
This is an ideal campaign launchpad with some loftier targets set this time in.
3 Units Tavi Time