The Carrington Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with fine & warm weather in Sydney, Randwick will be racing on a Good surface on raceday.
Trainer Gary Portelli has been rather vocal on the chances of Sebring Sun in the opening event at Randwick (Sydney Race 1, 1000m). The son of the former Golden Slipper winner, Sebring, finished a close 2nd from a wide gate on his debut last October. Drawn beautifully in barrier 4 on Saturday, Sebring Sun will get a lovely trail in transit. Champion jockey Hugh Bowman will be on board and Sebring Sun sets to help punters starting the day on a winning note.
Hugh Bowman can make it a winning double in the first 2 races on board ‘Choice We Had’ in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 1400m). Since his last start, Team Snowden has kept the 3YO up to the mark by sending him through a 1050m trial last week. ‘Choice We Had’ had previously won over this trip and from barrier 3 in a race with fairly good pace, Bowman will park him mid-field on the fence. Currently at $5.50 in the fixed odds market, Choice We Had is a pretty good value bet.
Fresh from a winning double last Saturday, in-form trainer Bjorn Baker can provide us with another winner in the James Boag’s Premium Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1200m) with 4YO Miss Tenpins. This mare has been racing consistently having placed 4 times from 5 starts this preparation. She also has a good record for 1200m having won & placed 6 times from 8 starts over the trip. Miss Tenpins will be down to 53kg after the 3kg claim from Brodie Loy. In a race with some pace, I believe Loy will take a sit behind the likely leaders Il Mio Destino & Rare Fragrance, and Miss Tenpins will have enough up her sleeve to let down strongly in the straight.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is the new trainer for the Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist but it’s another of his German Import, Oriental Lady, that will take centre stage in the Australia Day Cup (Sydney Race 6, 2400m). The 5YO mare put up a grand effort to finish 2nd last start in the Gosford Cup, coming from a long way back and beaten only 1 length by another import Midsummer Sun. Stepping up to 2400m is ideal and from barrier 4, Brenton Avdulla will be able to settle the mare closer to the lead. The more spacious Randwick track will also suit and Oriental Lady looks the winner in the Australia Day Cup.
By Owens Wong, Editor
