The Spring Champion Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (26th Oct). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with light shower in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will remain in the Good range on raceday.
Last start winner Anode can continue his winning way by taking out the Callander-Presnell (Sydney Race 5, 1600m). The Team Waterhouse-Bott-trained 3YO resumed with a close 2nd to star colt Traffic Warden before finishing 8th in the Golden Rose. He returned to the winner’s circle winning the Tapp_Craig last start over 1400m. Being fourth-up on Saturday, he is ready to run out a strong mile. Tim Clark retains the ride and he will go to the front from gate (6) to lead at his own pace and Anode is the one they all have to catch.
The Anthony Cummings-trained El Castello is going for four wins on the trot when he contests the Spring Champion Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). El Castello had form around champion colt Broadsiding, finishing 2nd to that horse in the Fernhill Handicap in the autumn. He has started off his 3YO season with a bang, winning three races in a row cumulating to an impressive victory last start in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m). He’s rock hard fit and is ready to step up to 2000m. Joshua Parr will settle El Castello mid-field with plenty of cover and El Castello will finish the race off strongly.
Toowoomba visitor Yellow Brick should be ready to fire in the Five Diamond Prelude (Sydney Race 9, 1500m). The gelding dashed home to win at Eagle Farm before his spell and he resumed with a terrific 2nd in the Weetwood Handicap before winning a 1400m Quality Handicap. The 5YO won his only start over 1500m and he handles all track condition. With plenty of pace in the race, Tim Clark will bide his time sitting behind the leading bunch and Yellow Brick will be challenging hard down the Randwick straight.
By Owens Wong
