The All Aged Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (15th Apr). The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will remain in the Soft range on raceday.
The good filly Opal Ridge could make amend for her defeat in the P.J. Bell Stakes by taking out the James H.B. Carr Stakes (Sydney Race 4, 1400m). The Luke Pepper-trained 3YO has a terrific overall record with five wins from nine career starts ranging from 1000m to 1400m and she handles any track conditions. With two solid six-furlong runs, Opal Ridge is ready to step up to 1400m. Having drawn much better on Saturday in barrier 3, Jason Collett will settle much closer by sitting just behind the leaders and Opal Ridge will showcase her great turn-of-foot down the Randwick straight.
The Waller-trained Militarize can complete the Sires’-Champagne double (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). This 2YO colt annihilated the Sires’ field by 3.5 lengths and being by Dundeel, the 1600m will suit even better. Champion hoop Joao Moreira will once again be on board. With pretty good pace out wide, Moreira could cross from gate 7 and settle comfortably somewhere mid-field and Militarize will run over the top of this field.
Veteran Zaaki has trialled well and the gelding is primed to take out the All Aged Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1400m). This Annabel Neasham-trained 8YO hasn’t started since winning the MacKinnon Stakes and the 2nd and 3rd placed horses, Mo’unga and Hezashocka, had franked the form by finishing 2nd and 4th in last week’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes. James McDonald has reported that Zaaki had trialled really well on the 3rd April and he is unbeaten over 1400m at Randwick winning two from two. From barrier 6, McDonald will sit one off one back and Zaaki is the one they all have to catch.
By Owens Wong
