Winners For 2019 Chipping Norton Stakes Day

The Chipping Norton Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with fine and warm weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.

Top weight Penske is the highest rated horse in the Australian Fire Hose Handicap and is obviously the one to beat (Sydney Race 2, 2000m). The Team Waterhouse-trained gelding has been in good form winning 2 races from 3 starts so far this campaign. Being 4th up on Saturday, Penske is rock hard fit and will have no problem stepping up in distance (2000m). The 5YO also loves Randwick having won twice from 3 attempts at the venue. From barrier 11, Joshua Parr will go forward and probably sit outside likely leader Cosmologist. Even with 61kg, Penske could prove hard to catch.

Having won his past three starts including his last start victory over this track & trip, You Make Me Smile can continue his winning streak in The Optus Liver City Cup (Sydney Race 5, 1300m). This 4YO from the in-form Jason Coyle stable is very talented as he has won 6 races from 14 career starts while he has won twice with a 3rd placing from 3 attempts at this trip. Regular rider Kathy O’Hara knows the horse well and she will take the gelding straight to the front from the inside gate (1). Together with his light weight (53kg), You Make Me Smile will try to run his opposition ragged and make it 4 wins on the bounce.

The promising Nakeeta Jane can make it back-to-back black type victory in the Surround Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1400m). This 3YO filly from the Mark Newnham  yard has never missed a place from 4 career starts and she won the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes brilliantly last start at Randwick a fortnight ago. She has a pretty good record at this trip as well as at Randwick. Joshua Parr will once again be on board and the filly has drawn nicely in barrier 6 (into barrier 5 after taking out the emergencies). Parr will settle just behind the leading bunch and with a cushy run in transit, Nakeeta Jane will have plenty up her sleeves and go very close at the finish.

By Owens Wong, Editor

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