Spring is in the air and Royal Randwick will play host to a cracking day of racing on Saturday with plenty of top liners returning to the track.
Our full 2022 Chelmsford Stakes Day Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Highway Handicap (1200m)
These Highway races are often times won by progressive horses with plenty of upside and Participator matches that criteria.
The four year old gelding has had two cracks at this race and has not been beaten far both times including a second first up from a spell at this track.
He’ll benefit from that run and despite the awkward draw, he is the horse to beat in the opening race of the afternoon.
Race 2 – Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m)
A big field has been assembled in the Midway Handicap and I’m keen on a horse that should be plenty fit for the race.
Navajo Peak has been placed in four of seven career starts and was beaten just over a length at Hawkesbury last time out.
He drops five kilos on that effort and although this is his first go at the 1800m, he looks well placed.
Race 3 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m)
Sifu has been a consistent performer right throughout her career and she has been placed in both her runs so far this prep.
This is a step up in grade for her but she has drawn well in barrier six, will carry just 52kg and represents great value at $61.
Race 4 – Listed Tattersall’s Cup (2400m)
Lord Ardmore is a dual acceptor but should he head to Royal Randwick instead of Wyong, he will be tough to beat.
The Chris Waller trained stayer is yet to miss a place in four starts so far this prep and brings in a fitness edge on a lot of these runners.
Hugh Bowman steers from barrier four.
Race 5 – Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m)
I’m not the only one that is excited by the spring prospects of Zapateo especially after her impressive first up win in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality at this track.
The four year old mare has missed the top two just once in her nine start career and she has enormous upside.
Not everything went to plan for Masked Crusader during his autumn campaign but make no mistake that the horse is a top shelf sprinter on his day.
He came from last to win The Heath at Caulfield when resuming first up this time last year and if Eduardo over does things in front, he can pounce late.
Race 6 – Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m)
This is a cracking edition of the Furious Stakes for the fillies and In Secret is clearly the top pick in my opinion.
She was luckless when resuming in the Silver Shadow but she savaged the line once finding clear running at the 150m.
This is just her fourth career start but she will take plenty of benefit out of that first up run and with a bit of luck from the awkward draw, she will be winning.
Race 7 – Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m)
Zaaki is a quality horse and I, like many, are really excited about what is ahead of him in the spring.
He’s proven a versatile galloper, winning from 1400m to 2200m and his two trials leading into this first up assignment have been good.
He has missed a placed just twice from eight first up starts and James McDonald steers from barrier five.
Race 8 – Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m)
This is quite a difficult race to get a handle on from a form perspective but I was quite impressed by the effort of Benaud in the Winx Stakes first up.
The Australian Derby runner up came from the tail of the field when rounding the home straight and despite being cramped for room at a vital stage, he burst clear to finish within 2.5 lengths of Anamoe.
The added fitness will benefit him and William Pike steers from barrier seven.
Stockman is a horse that went to another level during the autumn and another that ran on well in that race first up.
He’s drawn perfectly in barrier four and can run a cheeky race at $15.
Race 9 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)
Larkspur Run looked the winner at the 150m when resuming in a very similar race to this one two weeks ago.
The lightly raced four year old mare has been placed in seven of 13 overall and finished fourth in the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes to close out her last campaign.
She meets alot of the same horses she did last start at a similar weight but has come up massive overs at $17 in my opinion.
Race 10 – Benchmark 94 Handicap (1600m)
There is a fair amount of class and upside about now four year old Paternal who was last seen finishing second by a lip in the Group 1 QLD Derby in May.
The Chris Waller trained gelding has won at 1400m and 1600m and his latest trial suggests he will be ready to perform fresh.
$18 is a big price.
