Black type racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday afternoon and we are set for a particularly exciting edition of the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m).
Ten horses will step out in this year’s edition of the Carrington Stakes and there is a legitimate case to be made for nearly every runner in the field.
George Patton is yet to make an appearance at the races in Australia, but the talented import has been backed into $3.20 favouritism in our Carrington Stakes market.
George Patton began his racing career in France in late 2015 and immediately stamped himself as a horse to follow; easily winning his first two starts.
Resuming in 2016 for second in the Prix De La Croix De Chavaux (1600m), the War Front entire flew home to finish fourth in the Group 1 Poule D’Essai Des Poulains (1600m) before ending his European tenure second in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis (1800m).
The horse was actually sent to Hong Kong later in 2016, but only completed four trials and did not step out for a race competitively.
Though it has been more than 18 months since George Patton has raced, the five-year-old performed well in a Randwick barrier trial over 1045m on December 29th and appears ready for a return in the Carrington Stakes.
Lanciato will carry winning form into the Carrington Stakes and he has received a steady flow of support since markets opened; firming slightly into $3.50 odds.
Lanciato began his racing career across the ditch, but he has only continued to improve since transferring to the care of Mark Newnham; finishing outside the places only twice in eleven starts for the Warwick Farm-based trainer.
Trialling well in the lead-up to his first-up assignment, the Per Incanto gelding jumped awkwardly in the ATC Membership Open Now BM80 (1200m) on December 9th, but mustered a smart sprint to finish half-a-length third behind Drachenfels.
Having taken plenty of improvement into a dominant second-up performance and win in a BM94 race at Randwick on January 6th, Lanciato should only improve more into this race and can take an ideal position in running from the rails draw.
Endless Drama ($4.70) will resume in the Carrington Stakes and has terrific first-up form at the distance of the race, having run third behind Winx in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) last autumn.
Only two other runners are currently available at Carrington Stakes odds of less-than $10 and they are Kim Waugh-trained stable mates Supreme Effort ($6.50) and Oxford Poet ($9.50).
Supreme Effort has produced two quality performances in as many starts this time and was last seen running on to finish a close second in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on January 11th. He’s ready to peak third-up and appears to be the early value in the Carrington Stakes market.
Oxford Poet finished fifth of seven in the Carrington Stakes last year, but is sure to take plenty of benefit from a smart first-up run for third in the Takeover Target Stakes.