The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival marches on this Saturday with a pair of Group 1’s set at Rosehill.
Kiwi import and last-star New Zealand Derby winner Orchestral is the main focus in the Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m, before $1.5 million goes on the line in an open edition of the Tancred Stakes.
Fine conditions are forecast in Sydney, and you can find our entire 10-race preview ahead of Tancred Stakes Day below!
Race 1 – 12:30PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
No pun intended, but Peak should be at peak fitness now fourth-up for Adam Duggan.
The lightly-raced son of Per Incanto has spent time racing in town this prep, beaten only half a length in a Midway two weeks ago where he made up huge ground down the outside from an identical gate.
Whether the wet track was against him that day remains to be seen, but back on a dry deck and in well with the claim, he should be tough to hold out if he gets some luck in running.
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Peak
Race 2 – 1:05PM JAMES SQUIRE NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES (2000 METRES)
Serpentine kept finding to win first-up at Randwick over the same distance, an encouraging return from the Galileo seven-year-old.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained seven-year-old hadn’t won a race in close to a year, but I thought he responded well to some late pressure from Bois D’Argent after hitting a bit of a flat spot around the 250m mark.
This is only his second look at Rosehill, but he did handle this track quite well on a wet day back in December.
Whether he wants further now is the question, but with the Sydney Cup 2024 in his sights, there’s nothing to say he can’t win again dropping some weight from a nice low draw.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Serpentine
Race 3 – 1:40PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS BAILLIEU (1400 METRES)
Anode has drawn a tricky gate, but he should run fitter for his last two attempts at Stakes and Group 3 level for the Waterhouse and Bott team.
The coly by I Am Invincible couldn’t quite reel in Dublin Down at Rosehill a fortnight ago, finding himself a little too far back down the centre of the straight where he went within half a length.
That was his first run in over five weeks mind you, so there is scope for natural improvement over further now.
Adam Hyeronimus has a good feel for the two-year-old, and providing they can get across early and stalk the speed, they should be finishing strongly yet again.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Anode
Race 4 – 2:15PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS TULLOCH STAKES (2000 METRES)
Wymark looks the pick in a race that doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence.
The Savabeel colt has put together a tidy hat-trick of wins dating back to mid-February, winning here over 1900m a couple of weeks ago where he found the front over the final furlong and was strong through the line.
Michael Freedman’s three-year-old is untried over further but does look a progressive type that could measure up nicely at Group level sometime very soon.
The gate makes this trickier, but with Tommy Berry sticking in the irons and a dryer track under foot this time, I can’t back against the pair in the Tulloch Stakes field.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Wymark
Race 5 – 2:50PM CANADIAN CLUB EMANCIPATION STAKES (1500 METRES)
Makarena has been unlucky not to win a race this prep, last seen running on late for second in the Phar Lap Stakes two weeks ago.
The Snitzel filly loomed the winner out of the turn, letting down to find the front before Zardozi finished better along the inside.
She’s been faced with slightly wet tracks in all three runs this prep, so getting back on top of the ground does look ideal fourth-up with Tim Clark still on board.
Dropping 1.5kg and likely to go forward along the rail, the Emancipation Stakes looks the right race for her.
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Makarena
Race 6 – 3:25PM EGROUP SECURITY STAR KINGDOM STAKES (1200 METRES)
Libertad is a better chance than the price might suggest.
Annabel Neasham’s colt rattled home late for second in a Group 3 over shorter here last start, a huge effort after pulling up lame after his first-up run in February.
He’s got the added benefit of race fitness over some of his rivals and is another one that should appreciate a dry track from a much better gate.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Libertad
Race 7 – 4:00PM VINERY STUD STAKES (2000 METRES)
There’s sometimes a query on the Kiwi imports on debut, but it’s fair to say Orchestral might be one of the most promising ones we’ve seen in quite some time.
The Wellwood-trained filly by Savabeel has been sensational since the New Year began, claiming a well-deserved Group 1 to start the month where she gave her rivals a galloping lesson in the NZ Derby.
The turn of foot she showed down the outside was unmatched, and if she’s within striking distance at the top of the straight here, she’ll take serious beating under James McDonald.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Orchestral
Race 8 – 4:35PM KIA TANCRED STAKES (2400 METRES)
A few of these are going around on the short backup, including William Haggas’ talented Irish galloper, Post Impressionist.
The Teofilo five-year-old arrived on the scene with an eye-catching win in the Manion Cup last week, shifting to the outside at the top of the straight where Tom Marquand found himself with plenty of horse underneath him.
The pair crossed over three lengths clear in the end, a win that suggested there’s plenty more to come on their way to the Sydney Cup.
Drawn a better gate this time around with fitness on his side, I think we’ll see the pair get right back in the run and save something for the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Post Impressionist
Race 9 – 5:15PM RACING AND SPORTS DONCASTER PRELUDE (1500 METRES)
Another Wil is the one to watch here at a short price for Ciaron Maher in Doncaster Prelude betting.
The four-year-old son of Street Boss has been simply dominant in four starts, last seen at Flemington where he flew home over the final 300m to win by 4.5 lengths.
His recent trial win at Rosehill was solid and it’s hard to see him coming undone back to 1500m off a break.
Suggested Bet: No. 17 Another Wil
Race 10 – 5:55PM HKJC WORLD POOL HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Razors got his toe into the ground first-up at Rosehill which looked as though it didn’t suit in the run home.
The Godolphin three-year-old held on late for third but was seen spinning his wheels a bit over the final 100m beaten 2.5 lengths by Whinchat.
His spring prep reads well for a bounce-back performance though, particularly with a couple of solid runs under his belt over 1400m now.
Back on top of the ground and maybe given a more patient steer under Tim Clark, he should be going close.
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Razors
