The Championships Day 1 will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Golden Slipper placegetters have a good record in the Sires’ and with both Estijaab and Sunlight going for a spell, Slipper runner-up Oohood looks the standout in the Inglis Sires’ (Sydney Race 6, 1400m). The Tony McEvoy-trained filly has been ultra consistent who has never missed a place in 5 career starts. She came from a fair way back to be narrowly beaten by Estijaab in the Slipper. Hong Kong based Zac Purton will fly in to Sydney to ride Oohood again on Saturday. The 1400m will suit Oohood even better. From barrier 8, Purton will settle somewhere mid-field and Oohood will be full of running in the straight.
Ace High will have conditions to suit in the Australian Derby and is primed to take out this Group 1 Classic (Sydney Race 7, 2400m). Last start, the David Payne-trained colt was unlucky having to face a wet track in the Rosehill Guineas but the anticipated Good condition on Saturday will help Ace High no end. Having won the Victorian Derby in the Spring, the 2400m will present no problem to the High Chaparral 3YO. Payne has timed Ace High’s preparation to the minute and regular jockey Tye Angland knows the horse well. From barrier 2, Angland will settle just behind the pace and put Ace High to sleep along the fence. With a lovely run in transit, Ace High is set to complete the rare Victoria Derby-Australian Derby double.
Top 3YO Kementari is the form horse of the Autumn Canrival and he is the horse to beat in the Doncaster MIle (Sydney Race 9, 1600m). This Godolphin-owned colt started off the campaign with a bang winning his first 3 starts, culminating to victory in the Randwick Guineas over Saturday’s track & trip. First try at WFA racing last start in the George Ryder Stakes, Kementari finished an admirable 3rd to champion mare Winx, beaten only 1.6 lengths on the line. And he drops considerably in weight in the Doncaster with only 51.5kg. Kementari is also unbeaten at Randwick having won 2 from 2 at the track. Beautifully drawn in barrier 2, Avdulla will settle just behind the speed and bide his time. Kementari will be hard to hold out in the run home.
By Owens Wong, Editor
