The Spring Champion Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 3 on Thursday but with plenty of showers forecast for Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Slow/Heavy track on raceday.
Being 3rd up in the Roman Consul Stakes, Jonker is ready to peak on Saturday (Sydney Race 6, 1200m). The David Atkins-trained colt ran well 1st up in the San Domenico Stakes finishing 4th behind top 3YO Graff. He then finished a gallant one length 3rd in the Run To The Rose on a Heavy 8 track, leading the race until the last 50m. Jonker is peaking 3rd up and the wet track will present no problem to the 3YO. From barrier 6, Jay Ford can settle just behind the leading bunch one off the fence and he’ll be full of running in the straight.
Team Waterhouse-trained Thinkin’ Big is the highest rated horse in the Spring Champion Stakes and he is the one they all have to beat (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). With a freshen up after victory in a 1500m handicap, Thinkin’ Big came back and ran away from the field to win by 2.5 lengths in the Gloaming Stakes. This High Chaparral 3YO is a winner having won 3 of his 5 career starts and he can handle any track conditions. Tim Clark will take Thinkin’ Big straight to the lead and he will be hard to catch.
Top weight Dixie Blossoms is a handy miler and she is primed to take out the Angst Stakes on Saturday (Sydney Race 8, 1600m). The Ron Quinton-trained mare resumed with a close 4th in the Tramway Stakes before being beaten only 2.2 lengths in the Group 2 Golden Pendant Stakes. Dixie Blossoms can handle any track conditions and she loves Randwick having won 4 times with a further 4 placings from 10 starts at the venue. Barrier 4 will give Christian Reith plenty of options on where to settle the mare. With a cushy run in transit, Dixie Blossoms will be hard to hold out in the run home.
By Owens Wong, Editor
