The Chelmsford Stakes meeting will be held at Randwick this Saturday. The track was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney, Randwick should be racing on a Good surface on raceday.
The Makybe Diva Stakes meeting will be held at Flemington this weekend. The track was rated a Dead 4 on Thursday and with a few showers forecast for the next few days, Flemington is likey to remain in the Dead range on raceday.
In the Edgar Britt OAM Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 1600m), the Guy Walter-trained Canny Ballad has been racing very consistently finishing second in all of his last three starts. He wasn’t beaten far in his last two runs over the mile and with a stronger rider in Blake Shinn taken over, Canny Ballad could go one better on Saturday. From barrier 7, Shinn can settle the gelding one off the fence mid-field. Currently at $7.50 fixed odds, I believe Canny Ballad is over the odds.
In The Ming Dynasty Quality (Sydney Race 5, 1400m), last start winner Aussie Love Sport looks good to continue on his winning way. His last start win over this distance was a good effort. Though he drew wide on Saturday, there isn’t much pace in the race and Cassidy can go forward and take the 3YO to sit outside the leader. Up in class but down in weight, he’s definitely a winning chance.
The Warwick Stakes winner Veyron can make it a winning double on Australian soil in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes. He did well in beating the top horses Rain Affair & Streama in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes last start and he has drawn barrier 3 on Saturday ensuring him of a soft run along the fence with plenty of cover. His regular NZ rider Rogan Norvall is coming to Sydney to reunite with the gelding, replacing Christian Reith. Veyron has a terrific record over the mile having won 5 times and placed another 3 times from 11 starts. And with fitness on his side being 3rd up on Saturday, Veyron is my tip for the Chelmsford Stakes.
The Makybe Diva Stakes is being run as a Group 1 race for the very first time. It is an important lead up to the big Spring races and 9 horses will be resuming in this 1600m race. After his brilliant 1st up win in the Lawrence Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago, it’s hard to go past race favourite Puissance De Lune. The French import has obviously come back well showing terrific turn of foot coming from last to win the Lawrence Stakes. And he is unbeaten 2nd up and is also unbeaten at Flemington. The English import, Sea Moon, is an interesting runner here. He has great record in Europe having beaten horses like Dunaden and Red Cadeaux. Lloyd Williams has set him for the Melbourne Cup so whatever he does on Saturday, he could only improve as the distance gets longer. But given Puissance De Lune’s form and his fitness edge, he looks hard to beat.
By Owens Wong, editor
