Saturday’s All Aged S. (Aus-G1) pits a strong lineup of older sprinters
against some exciting sophomores at Randwick.
Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago) will get plenty of attention at the betting
windows off his eye-catching last-to-first victory in the T.J. Smith S. (Aus-G1)
over this strip two weeks ago over a furlong shorter, and he has winning form
over this 1400-meter distance.
Third in the T.J. Smith was last year’s Darley Classic (Aus-G1) winner
Terravista (Captain Rio). The five-year-old gelding has filled that position
both starts this campaign, and jockey Hugh Bowman admitted his mount will need
to bounce back strongly to turn the tables on Chautauqua.
“I thought Chautauqua was the run of the day (in the T.J. Smith) and the
writing was on the wall before it; I’ve got a lot of respect for him,” Bowman
told Racenet. “Looking back, I think he probably had a gut buster first-up and
that may have taken its toll second-up. It’s not a hard 1400 meters, we’ve drawn
softly and I’ll put him where he’s comfortable.”
Four-time Group 1 winner Dissident (Sebring) makes his first start since a
third in the Futurity S. (Aus-G1) February 28, and he had previously won the
C.F. Orr S. (Aus-G1) over this trip first-up two weeks earlier.
The older brigade will have to see off an intriguing trio of three-year-olds,
including last-out Australian Guineas (Aus-G1) scorer Wandjina (Snitzel).
Partnered by Damien Oliver for trainer Gai Waterhouse, Wandjina is joined by
last year’s Caulfield Guineas (Aus-G1) winner Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor)
and the promising Scissor Kick (Redoute’s Choice), who is unbeaten in two tries
over the course.
Also at Randwick, the Champagne S. (Aus-G1) puts a wrap on the Sydney
Two-Year-Old Triple Crown, and while that title isn’t on the line this year —
Golden Slipper (Aus-G1) winner Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro) and Sires’ Produce S.
(Aus-G1) victor Pride of Dubai (Street Cry) are both in the spelling paddock —
this lineup nonetheless boasts some intriguing juveniles stepping up to a mile.
The Champagne has often served as an indicator for classy three-year-olds
down the road, with recent past winners including Pierro and Helmet. Both of
those colts won the Sires’ Produce previously, and in fact the Sires’ has
produced all but two of the Champagne winners since 1999.
Odyssey Moon (Snitzel) got going late to be a dead-heat second in the Sires’
Produce two weeks ago, and that run suggests the added furlong could be within
his reach. One who certainly looked like he wanted more real estate in the
Sires’ was Godolphin’s Tarquin (Hard Spun), who lost his unbeaten record in his
third outing but stayed on strongly to be fifth.
Also finishing with a flourish in the Sires’ was the filly Pasadena Girl
(Savabeel), who finished fourth three weeks after she had won Flemington’s
Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. (Aus-G3).
Claire Cunningham, Sydney foreman to trainer Peter Moody, did not express
concern about the added distance.
“She has always been running through the line so it should be OK,” Cunningham
said. “She is a good galloper and she’s very competitive, which is her biggest
asset.”
The only one in the field with a win over the distance is The Barrister (Star
Witness), who looks to run his record to three straight after taking the
Fernhill H. over this strip two weeks ago.
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