The Championships Day 2 will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (8th Apr). The course proper was rated a Heavy 9 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Sydney over the next couple of days, Randwick is likely to remain in the Heavy range on raceday.
The very promising Aft Cabin has conditions to suit in the Arrowfield Sprint (Sydney Race 5, 1200m). This Godolphin-owned colt ended his spring campaign with a big win in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude on a Heavy 8 track and he returned in great order winning the Eskimo Prince first-up. The 3YO wasn’t disgraced last start when he was beaten less than two lengths by Communist in the Randwick Guineas. Dropping back to 1200m will suit and James McDonald knows the horse well. With plenty of pace in the race, McDonald will ease the horse off the speed battle and Aft Cabin will run over the top of this field down the Randwick straight.
Edward Cummings-trained Arts could provide the young trainer with another Group 1 by taking out the Australian Oaks (Sydney Race 6, 2400m). The 3YO filly stepping up in trip last start in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and she showed her staying prowess by blitzing her rivals by 4¼ lengths and she is backing up this Saturday. Stepping up to 2400m will suit even better and the Heavy track would pose no problem. Champion hoop Hugh Bowman will come back from Hong Kong to ride the filly. Bowman will go forward and settle just behind the leading bunch and Arts will out-stay this field.
William Haggas has got Dubai Honour going great gun and the gelding can continue his good form by winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 2000m). The English invader has been racing against horses in the calibre of Baaeed, Bay Bridge and Adayar and he showed his class by winning the Ranvet Stakes impressively. The 2000m trip is the 5YO’s pet distance as he has won four times with a 2nd from seven attempts. “Aussie” Tom Marquand will settle somewhere mid-field and stalk Anamoe and Dubai Honour will prove too strong in the run home.
By Owens Wong
