The Carrington Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (27th Jan). The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with fine and warm weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Brett Cavanough-trained Barradas has good Highway form in the last campaign and he is ready to take out Saturday’s Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1200m). The 5YO gelding has run close placings in class 2 and class 3 Highways last prep and he finished off the campaign with another close 3rd at Scone. Interestingly Cavanough is taking the tongue tie off for the first time. Nash Rawiller takes over the rein and he will settle just behind the leading bunch and Barradas will run over the top of this field.
Chris Waller and Sam Clipperton could combine with Louisville to take out The Agency Real Estate Handicap (Sydney Race 6, 2000m). This mighty consistent gelding has not finished worse than 2nd so far this campaign with two wins and three 2nds from five starts. Clipperton won well on the 5YO two weeks ago over 1800m at Rosehill. Rock hard fit and is ready to step up to 2000m. Clipperton will sit just behind the leaders with a cosy run one off the fence and Louisville will be full of running in the straight.
Top weight Tamerlane is the highest rated horse and he will show his class in the Carrington Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1400m). The Godolphin-owned gelding finished hard last start to win The Buffering Stakes at Doomben. Tamerlane has a good record over 1400m with five wins and four placings at the trip and he also likes Randwick. The 6YO has tremendous early speed and Chad Schofield should be able to cross the field to the front from the wide gate and Tamerlane could prove hard to catch.
By Owens Wong
