The Championships Day 2 will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (13th Apr). The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with light drizzle in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a slightly Soft track on raceday.
Top colt Ozzmosis is going to return to the winner’s circle by taking out the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (Sydney Race 5, 1200m). This Bjorn Baker-trained 3YO was fantastic in the spring culminating to his victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). First-up in the Group 1 The Galaxy this campaign, he missed the start by 8 lengths and was forced to settle last and he didn’t run on in the straight. But he did perform well in a subsequent trial. Regular rider Rachel King will once again be on board on Saturday. Drawn beautifully in barrier 4 in a fast run race, King will sit just behind the leaders and Ozzmosis will be running home strongly.
Great stayer Ashrun is the one to watch out in the Sydney Cup (Sydney Race 7, 3200m). Though an eight-year-old, the gelding is only lightly raced and he is still at the peak of his power. Ashrun had a wonderful spring campaign with a 2nd in the Geelong Cup before a mighty 4th, coming from a long way back in the Melbourne Cup. He comes back in good order winning the Pakenham Cup two starts back before a close 3rd in the Tancred Stakes. He can handle any track condition and he surely could run out a strong two miles. Craig Williams is going to park somewhere mid-field and Ashrun is going to run over the top of this field.
The 6YO mare Via Sistina had been very competitive in Group 1 races in Europe (Sydney Race 8, 2000m). She won the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes in July 2023 before placing in her subsequent three starts in England. Having her first start in Australia three weeks ago, she showed her class when she ran away to win the Ranvet Stakes, sprinting the last 600m in 32.81 seconds and the fastest last 200m of 11.06 seconds. She has good record on Soft tracks and 2000m is her pet distance. James McDonald retains the ride and he will bide his time settling mid-field behind a fast pace set up by the likely leader Pride Of Jenni. Via Sistina will produce a booming run down the Randwick straight.
By Owens Wong
