The Chelmsford Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Top weight Admiral Jello is the class horse in the National Jockeys Trust Handicap so expect him to go very close in winning (Sydney Race 2, 2000m). The Kris Lees-trained gelding did well coming from a fair way back to finish 3rd last start in the Taree Cup. The smaller field on Saturday will suit. The in-form Corey Brown will be aboard and that’s another plus. And the 5YO is not harshly treated being allotted 59kg against this field. Admiral Jello will be hard to hold out in the run home.
Bryce Heys is looking for a slot in The Everest for his classy sprinter Spieth and the first step towards that goal will begin in Saturday’s Concorde Stakes (Sydney Race 5, 1000m). The 5YO has yet to win a Group 1 but did finish 2nd twice last preparation in 2 Group 1 races, beaten by a nose in both the Darley Classic & the Lightning Stakes. Race jockey Corey Brown did win a trial on Spieth in preparation for his 1st up run. Spieth will settle towards the tail of the field but with only 6 runners in the field, the gelding will not be too far off the lead. Watch Spieth over-powered this field in the straight.
The Team Waterhouse-trained Ecuador will adopt his usual role to go to the lead and he will be hard to catch in the Tramway Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1400m). The gelding resumed with a mighty 3rd first up behind super mare Winx, beaten only half a length in the Warwick Stakes. Ecuador has a good 2nd up record winning 3 times with a 2nd from 7 attempts. And he has only ever missed a place once from 10 starts over 1400m, winning 4 times with a further 5 placings. From barrier 7, Adam Hyeronimus will takes Ecuador straight to the front and he will be leading the race from start to finish.
By Owens Wong, Editor
