Spring racing heats right up this Saturday in Sydney with Chelmsford Stakes Day at Randwick. A crack bunch of gallopers will take their place, with a couple of key runners being Entirely Platinum, who gets his first taste at WFA level, and Hawkspur, who caught the eye second up in the Warwick and gets back the services of Jim Cassidy.
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Race One (12:40pm) : TAB Early Quaddie Handicap (80) 1600m
Back Me: Hunter Jack for me in the opener. His three runs this time in have been very good and full of merit. First up he ran a closing sixth to Cluster at Rosehill, then ran fourth here to up and coming star As Needed before running that same position to Black Revolver. He is looking for the mile now, gets a wet track and should now be cherry ripe fitness wise. Hard to beat at respectable odds.
Big Danger: Devonshire Duke toughed it very strongly last time out at the Valley when on the speed and battling on for a narrow third to inform galloper Relentless. He comes to Sydney now to tackle easier company, and most importantly, get onto a wet track. Carries only 56kg after the claim, maps well, looks as if he’ll take some beating.
Roughie: Former country galloper Sonro made his debut for Con Karakatsanis in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury and I thought he was quite good there, making up ground late to run seventh to Mr Chard, beaten just over two lengths. He has won 14 races, so when you consider that, he is just about thrown in at the weights after the claim of Ichikawa.
Race Two (1:15pm) : National’s Jockey Trust Handicap (85) 2000m
Back Me: Slivovitz had little luck when racing over the mile here two back behind Bouzy Rouge, then stepped up to 2000m and was given a gun ride by Andrew Gibbons to win the Taree Cup after being well backed late. He has always promised to figure prominently in town, and that cup triumph might just be the confidence boost he needs to take the successful step to Saturday company. Finds a great race to take that step.
Big Danger: Brodie Loy pulled off a 12/10 steer on Surpass to get the horse home here a fortnight back, hugging the rails and lunging best to win. Normally, sticking near the inside on a heavy Randwick surface can be murder, but given this former kiwi is an absolute swimmer, it didn’t matter. He is tough, and with this being his fifth run back, he is at about his peak right now, and that should be good enough to see him go close here.
Roughie: The forecast for rain brings World Wide right into the mix. His previous form had been very average at best, but he hit the line with purpose last week at Warwick Farm behind in-form galloper The Alfonso after looking like a beaten horse on the turn. Yet to miss a place in seven runs on heavy going and drops 2.5kg in weight.
Race Three (1:50pm) : Coolmore Furious Stakes 1200m
Back Me: Despite the heavy track, Earthquake should be taking care of this bunch. She was simply breathtaking during the Autumn, kicking off with a win in the Blue Diamond Prelude before easily accounting for her rivals in the big one a fortnight later. She was then given a freshen up and set for the Golden Slipper. The race was hers to lose it seemed after her dominant Reisling triumph, and in the running of the Slipper, she looked home on the turn, but she couldn’t withstand the finishing burst of Mossfun and had to settle for second. Hasn’t trialled publicly, but from all reports, she has come back very well and is in for a big Spring. She can handle a wet track, even though it’s not an ideal starting point. Should win.
Big Danger: I’m very interested in how Memorial lines up here against her stablemate. She’ll always be number two to Earthquake as the best Godolphin filly, but from all reports she came back much bigger and stronger, and that was evident in her barrier trial at the start of the month behind Valentia. She then ran an excellent first up second to Bring Me The Maid in teh Silver Shadow. She does have the fitness edge on her stablemate, so a win from her wouldn’t 100% shock me.
Roughie: Sultry Feeling was crunched late in betting when resuming at Canterbury and didn’t let her supporters down with a dominant win, coming from off the pace. Takes a pretty good filly to beat the older mares so early into the new season, so while I doubt she can beat the top two, she’ll run a bold race for an in-form stable.
Race Four (2:25pm) : Ming Dynasty Quality 1400m
Back Me: Washington Heights tried very hard when resuming in the San Domenico, running second to Nostradamus. I think forget that Nostradamus went around last week due to the wet track, he is a good horse, so don’t think that form isn’t reliable. Washington Heights did run home powerfully on debut during the Randwick Carnival, running second to Hallowed Crown, the now Golden Rose favourite. He’ll give this a shake.
Big Danger: He might not be the best three year old going, but one thing Valentia does have is plenty of toughness, as we saw in the Up And Coming. He got flattened pillar to post by his stablemate, Liberation, but kept finding for Tommy and ended up getting promoted to third on protest. I think he can roll forward here and possibly dictate, because there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of early speed engaged here, and if he can pinch a cheap furlong, he’ll take some running down.
Roughie: He was lucky to finish as close as he did in the Up And Coming, but the leap Panzer Division took from a Hawkesbury maiden to a quality Group race tells me he is a very good horse. It’ll be interesting to see what tactics they use from the wide barrier, because in both career runs, he has drawn well and taken advantage of it. Whatever the case, he’ll be hard to beat.
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Race Five (3:05pm) : Tatt’s Club Chelmsford Stakes 1600m
Back Me: I thought there was plenty of merit in the second up performance of Hawkspur in the Warwick Stakes. He was second up since the Queen Elizabeth and he was quite good I thought near the fence, sticking on quite solidly to run fifth to Tiger Tees. He loves the sting out of the ground, loves racing at Randwick and bolted home in last years edition of this race. He’ll take a power of beating.
Big Danger: Sacred Falls wouldn’t have lost any admirers with his fourth to Tiger Tees in the Warwick Stakes. He sat outside a very slow speed, and for a horse who is being set for the Cox Plate, he couldn’t produce the turn of foot to run down the leader and eventual winner. As we know, he absolutely loves the Randwick mile, especially if there is any give in it, and the aggressive Tye Angland takes the ride. Expecting a big run from him heading forward.
Roughie: Entirely Platinum is the interesting runner. He was nommed to run last week in the Premier’s Cup, but Team Hawkes didn’t accept and have instead saved him for the tougher assignment. His first up win at Rosehill was quite soft, aided by a gun McDonald ride. That form has been franked with the third placegetter winning the Premier’s Cup last Saturday. It’s his first go at WFA against some very good horses, which is the query, but there is a stack of upside with him.
Race Six (3:45pm) : Concorde Stakes 1000m
Back Me: Really good race. Rain Affair however looks the way to go for mine. Quite simply, he was horrendous in the Autumn, running dismally in three runs. In saying that, two of those runs were behind Appearance and the other behind stablemate Tiger Tees. Trials have been encouraging, runs well fresh and races well at Randwick. Only problem is that he won’t get it his own way in front with our Roughie, Didntcostalot, sure to keep him company out in front, and we know that he struggles when he is pressured. I’m just gambling that his class will get him home.
Big Danger: The query horse here is Target In Sight. Most thought he wasn’t suited first up over 1000m, carrying 59kg, but a strong speed and a gun Bowman steer saw this horse power clear of his rivals late to win. Staying at 1000m is question mark as I thought he’d be looking for further, but it was hard not to be impressed by his first up triumph.
Roughie: Didntcostalot hasn’t raced since finishing near last in the W.J. Adams at Caulfield in February behind Shamal Wind. His form prior to that was solid without being spectacular, but his two trials to tune up for his return to raceday have been very impressive. Yes, he is a very fast horse, but he has beaten good horses with ease in both trials. Last 100m will be the query, but you’ll get a great run for your money.
Race Seven (4:25pm) : Tatt’s Club Tramway Stakes 1400m
Back Me: One horse who won’t need the run and will prove awfully hard to hold out is Tiger Tees. it was a typical Tigers Tees effort in winning the Warwick Stakes- he didn’t look pretty in the straight, and looked a beaten horse several times, but he didn’t want to turn it up and kept digging under the urges of Schofield. He drops big time in class here and seemingly looks so well in at the weights. In saying that, he did carry 59.5kg to win first up at Flemington.
Big Danger: Forgive and forget that Weary went around in the Warwick Stakes. He was mapped and expected to run close to the speed, but he missed the kick and lost all chance after that, virtually handing Tiger Tees the race. His first up run was very good, and he earned enough credits in the bank to forgive him for last time out. In saying that, he does need to run top three here to warrant any serious consideration in the better races later on this Spring.
Roughie: Hooked was fantastic I thought when he resumed at Rosehill a few weeks back when fourth to Entirely Platinum. He had no right to finish as close as he did due to a very slow pace set by Greatwood (winner since), but his closing sectionals were outstanding. He has great form around him and looks as if he’ll get a decent speed to run on to.
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Race Eight (5:05pm) : TAB Rewards Handicap (85) 1400m
Back Me: Rock Sturdy didn’t look 100% happy in the going when racing here a fortnight back, but his class and sheer ability got him home by just under a half length in what was an even benchmark 85. He is heading towards better races, and despite the hefty impost of 60kg, he looks one of the better bets on the card.
Big Danger: Any signs of a wet track and Dowdston Charlie always has to come into serious contention, simply because he improves 5+ lengths when there is give in the ground. Forget he went around last start at Rosehill given he got too far back and the ground was quite firm when down the track to Black Revolver. Gets down to the minimum here and gets back to Randwick, where he seems to race best.
Roughie: Dream Choice made his debut for Team Snowden at Rosehill three weeks back and was very good there when fifth to Territory, beaten just over a length in a blanket finish. He did bolt in second up last time out before going on to perform quite well in town. Albeit that race second up last time was much weaker. Still, stable is flying and this will get every chance from a good draw.
BEST BET: Race Eight Number 1 Rock Sturdy
NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 3 Hawkspur
VALUE: Race Six Number 3 Rain Affair
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 3, 7
Leg Two: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg Three: 1, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14
Leg Four: 1
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All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
News:
David Payne’s stable is outnumbered in the Chelmsford Stakes by that of his Rosehill neighbour Chris Waller, but not outclassed.
Waller has six of the nine runners in Saturday’s Group Two feature at Randwick while Payne relies on Criterion to join his previous winners Unearthly (2004), Nevis (2005) and Gallant Tess (2008).
“It’s six against one but I’m very happy with Criterion and how he’s done since the Warwick Stakes,” Payne said.
The winner of last season’s Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby, Criterion showed his Cox Plate preparation was on target with his third in the Warwick Stakes behind Tiger Tees and the Waller-trained Royal Descent.
The Joe Pride-trained wet track sprinting specialist Tiger Tees runs in Saturday’s Tramway Stakes (1400m) while Royal Descent, Sacred Falls and Hawkspur, who all ran in the Warwick Stakes, will be joined in the Chelmsford by stablemates Moriarty, Bagman and Junoob.
But punters think Criterion’s main opposition is Entirely Platinum from the Hawkes training team.
A newcomer to Group Two racing, Entirely Platinum is the TAB’s clear favourite at $2.80 following his first-up win over 1400 metres at Rosehill on August 16.
Entirely Platinum stepped up from restricted class in the autumn to win the Group Three Sky High Stakes (1900m) to prompt thoughts of all the big spring features.
Payne, however, believes Criterion is the proven performer on the way up and earmarked the Cox Plate a long time ago.
“He won the Derby because of his class,” he said.
“He is not a true stayer. He is entered in the Caulfield Cup but that’s because the entries close so early.
“I doubt he would go to 2400 metres again.”
Payne will soon take charge of a horse purpose-bought to run the 3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned Terrubi runs in the Group One Grosser Preis von Baden (2400m) where he meets fellow Melbourne Cup nominees Lucky Speed and Sirius.
“Terrubi runs in Germany on Sunday and then goes to England for quarantine,” Payne said.
“I am sending a foreman over there to look after him at Newmarket and bring him to Australia.”
Payne also takes Honorius and Bold Circle to Randwick with the intention of backing them both up a week later.
“Bold Circle needs to win the Ming Dynasty and pull up well to go to the Golden Rose,” he said.
“And I want to run Honorius in the Kingston Town so he needs to run in the Tramway.”
Both missed last Saturday’s Rosehill meeting on the heavy track.
