The Championships Day 2 will take place at Royal Randwick on Saturday, and four Group 1 feature headlines the ten-race program.
The rail will be set out four metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (8) range.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 11:40pm – Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m)
Williamsburg can win this year’s Fernhill Handicap.
It has been claimed by some outstanding horses on their way to bigger and better things, and several horses have claims in 2022, but Williamsburg’s triumph in the Group 3 Schweppervescence last time was too good to ignore.
He’s rock-hard fit, the mile looks perfect, and Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 1
Race 2 – 12:15pm – Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m)
The South Pacific Classic looks to boast several winning chances, and there’s plenty of value to be extracted.
I’m going to go a little further down the order here, and a hose like Cape Breton looks capable of striking at a price ($26 at publish).
Cape Breton stamped himself as a galloper to follow during his two-year-old season, but didn’t come up in the spring and went to the paddock after two forgettable efforts.
The decision to geld immediately paid dividends when he returned a winner at Randwick-Kensingotn this time, and he was last seen finishing fifth in the Canberra Guineas.
Fitter third-up, we can have an each-way play at the price.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 2
Race 3 – 12:50pm – Provincial Championships Final (1400m)
Almost every horse in the Provincial Championships Final each year has claims on winning, but I am happy to side with early favourite Never Talk.
Never Talk filled the minors in each of her first two starts back this time, and struck in the Newcastle Qualifier last time out, greeting the judge more than three lengths ahead of her rivals.
Damien Oliver rides from an inside draw, and the mare can record the biggest win of her career to date.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 3
Race 4 – 1:25pm – Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
There are some talented fillies engaged in this year’s Percy Sykes Stakes field, but the resuming Paris Dior is the one that I want to be with.
Paris Dior made three appearances at the races during her debut prep, recording one win and two second placings.
She was last seen finishing second behind Xtravagant Star in the Inglis Millenium, and has had the benefit of a couple of nice trials in the lead-up to this return.
I like that the Snowdens elected to bypass the thick of the carnival with her, and she is drawn to receive every chance in this contest under James McDonald.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 4
Race 5 – 2:00pm – Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m)
Paulele returned an enormous performance to fill the minors behind Nature Strip and Eduardo in the TJ Smith Stakes last week, and he can return to winning form into the Arrowfield Sprint.
Paulele has been a great horse for Godolphin since debuting, and a Group 1 win at some point in his career looks more than likely.
He resumed this time to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes at this track and trip back in February, was freshened, and I like that he takes his place in the Arrowfield Sprint field on the short back-up.
I’m also going to have something on Victorian raider General Beau.
General Beau is a multiple black type winner in his own right, and he has been set some pretty lofty targets this time in.
He too steps out this weekend in peak order, and following an impressive performance for third in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 5
Race 6 – 2:35pm – Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m)
I think that the Australian Oaks will be claimed by the Queensland raider Gypsy Goddess, under star West Aussie, Willie Pike.
The Tarzino filly won each of her first five career starts north of the board, improving with each appearance and as she got further out in trip, and she ended her debut prep with a dominant win in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes.
She picked up where she left off over a mile at Eagle Farm last month and suffered her first defeat in the Vinery Stud Stakes last time out, thought kept her best work for late when third.
Breeding suggests she’ll find another gear at a mile and a half, and I think that she can and will bounce back.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 6
Race 7 – 3:15pm – Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m)
He has been nothing short of outstanding this prep, and Crystal Pegasus can record a maiden Group 1 victory in the Sydney Cup.
The son of Australia finished second, beaten just over a length over 1500m at Rosehill when resuming and he simply hasn’t looked back, recording four outstanding victories in the wake.
He has improved with each start and as the bar has been raised, and he won ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup when reigning supreme in the Mornington Cup a fortnight ago.
He’s untested at two miles, but everything suggests that he’ll get the trip, Jamie Kah rides, and has form on a rain-affected track.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 7
Race 8 – 3:55pm – Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
As recently as four weeks ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing this, but I am putting Duais on top in the Queen Elizabeth.
She was clearly a decent horse when she won the Queensland Oaks last year, but that was a pretty weak Group 1 race all things considered, and in the spring, I thought she’d measure up to being a decent Group 2/3 middle-distance horse.
Duais has just gone to another level this time in, though, and she’s chasing a third-consecutive Group 1 crown following triumphs in the Australian Cup and Tancred Stakes.
It was the way that she put them away in the Tancred that truly captured me, and I don’t think the drop back in trip will be anything of a problem.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 8
Race 9 – 4:35pm – Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m)
This is Icebath’s moment. If she doesn’t win the Queen Of The Turf, she might never taste success at the highest level of racing.
Icebath has been the stable star for Brad Widdup for several seasons now, and she has gone agonizingly close to winning a Group 1 feature on many occasions.
She has continued to improve with each start this time, and charged home to finish less than a length third in the Doncaster Mile.
She’s rock-hard fit, will be steered by Kerrin McEvoy and I am going to give her this one last chance to strike.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 9
Race 10 – 5:10pm – Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
As it always does, the Sapphire Stakes sends us home on Day 2 of The Championships, and I think that Belluci Babe will be winning.
Belluci Babe has always boasted plenty of talent, but there is no doubt that she has gone to another level this time, and she returned to winning form in the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality three starts back.
Since then, she has absolutely charged home to finish fourth in both The Galaxy and the TJ Smith Stakes, and this is obviously a sizeable drop in class from those races.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 10
