Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. It presents four Group 1 races on the day. Randwick was rated a Slow 7 on Thursday and with further showers forecast, the track is likely to stay in the Slow/Heavy range on raceday.
The top weight in the Carbine Club Stakes (Sydney Race 2, 1600m), Gypsy Diamond, is the class runner in this race. This John O’Shea-trained 3YO has been racing against horses like Sweet Idea & Catkins. She was outclassed last start in the Coolmore Classic yet she was only beaten by 3.4 lengths. She is by Not A Single Doubt out of a Zabeel mare hence I expect her to handle the anticipated wet condition. She has been assigned 57kg which is only 3kg over the limit. Gypsy Diamond has the class edge in this race and she looks the horse to beat.
Another John O’Shea-trained filly can come to the fore in the PJ Bell Stakes (Sydney Race 3, 1200m). Bound For Earth was beaten by a nose over this distance on a Heavy track last start in the Darby Munro Stakes. This filly has a good record over 1200m having won & placed 3 times from 5 starts and has never missed a place at Randwick from 3 starts. Drawing barrier 4 on Saturday will allow Rawiller to settle the horse just behind the speed & will be ready to pounce in the straight. Currently at $6.00 in the fixed odds market, Bound For Earth is a value bet.
The Rosehill Guineas winner Criterion seems to have all the boxes ticked in the Australian Derby (Sydney Race 6, 2400m). Criterion ran a good 4th in the VRC Derby as an immature 3YO last Spring and the horse has since grown physically & mentally. His last start victory over most of his derby opponents in the Rosehill Guineas was very impressive. It showed us that he can handle the wet condition & he was running away in the straight which indicates he’ll relish the step up to 2400m. An inside barrier from the 2400m start at Randwick is an advantage and with champion jockey Hugh Bowman aboard is another plus. Trainer David Payne looks set to win his first Derby in Australia.
As usual, the Doncaster Handicap (Sydney Race 8, 1600m) over the Randwick mile is an extremely open race. I have been impressed by the kiwi 3YO El Roca. Yet to finish outside the places in four starts this preparation, El Roca won the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) 1st up. And his last start 3rd under 56kg in the WFA George Ryder Stakes was full of merit. El Roca will drop significantly in weight in the Doncaster (51.5kg) and he has shown that he can handle the rain-affected condition. Champion hoop Glen Boss will be aboard El Roca and Boss certainly knows how to win this race having already won 5 Doncasters in his career. Currently at $12.00 in the fixed Odds market, El Roca is my pick for this year’s Doncaster Mile.
By Owens Wong, Editor
