The return of equine superstar Winx in the feature race headlines the outstanding 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes Day at Royal Randwick. The rail will be set out 3 metres around the entire Randwick course for Chipping Norton Stakes Day and steady rainfall throughout the last seven days means that the track is currently rated a ‘Soft 6’.
This week’s Highway race has drawn twelve country milers and it looms as a particularly open race from a betting perspective. Keymaster ($5) has found strong and consistent form leading into this race and should find himself right in the finish once more on Saturday. The Oratorio gelding resumed for a credible fourth over 1000m at Orange on December 30th and has continued to improve with racing and upon stepping out in trip this time; winning over 1400m at Bathurst on February 19th by close to seven lengths. Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn has a terrific record in these races and he will be offered another great chance on Saturday with Sepoy’s Choice ($10). The four-year-old is rock-hard first after three runs this time in and finished second behind handy galloper Polemic at Grafton on February 8th. Tye Angland can take a position behind the pace before asking the horse for his turn of foot late.
Twelve horses will step out in the second and leading trainer Chris Waller has dominated the field and will saddle five runners. Of those horses, Quick Defence ($7) and Xebec ($7) appear to be his two best chances of winning. Quick Defence beat a similar field over a mile at Randwick a fortnight ago and look like he’ll enjoy a step up to 2000m, while Xebec has been racing fairly, but is a bit of a non-winner and is stepping back in trip from a credible third in the Davali Thoroughbreds Cup (2400m) on February 10th. Just Shine ($5) is seeking a third-consecutive race win and is drawn ideally in barrier 5. The Mastercraftsman gelding faces a step up in class into this field, but he is bred to relish the conditions of the race and could enjoy the run of the race from an inside draw and with only 54.5kgs in tow.
The first black type race on Chipping Norton Day will see only seven two-year-olds contest this year’s Skyline Stakes. Generally a decent form indicator for the Golden Slipper, the Skyline Stakes has seemingly drawn several live chances, but Santos ($2) looms as the horse to beat. The I Am Invincible colt resumed for a dominant three-length win in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick a fortnight ago and faces no greater task in this field. Tim Clark can find a forward position from gate three and the horse will only be better second-up. Irish Bet ($7.50) worked to the line well for third in the Pierro Plate and is the value in the Skyline Stakes field at his current quote. The son of Smart Missile debuted for a classy win in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) in December and is another juvenile who will only improve with racing. Sandbar ($8) and Spin ($5.50) have both shown good ability in their short racing careers.
The Sweet Embrace Stakes always draws a talent-rich and open field and this year’s edition is no exception. Fiesta has opened the $4.70 favourite and has continued to receive steady support in the lead-up to raceday. The daughter of I Am Invincible trialled well in the lead-up to her autumn campaign and franked the form that she showed with a smart win in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) first-up on February 3rd. A central draw is not a bad thing as she is likely to settle off the pace regardless and with improvement, she’ll be tough to beat again here. Victorian raider Seabrook has continued to receive the lion’s share of attention in our market and at the time of publish, is the $5.50 marker mover (having opened at $6). Seabrook resumed this time for third in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m) on February 10th, but there is something of a query over her ability at the Sydney way of going. One filly that warrants interest in this field is the resuming Setsuna ($7). Setsuna made her debut with a tough run for second in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 30th, before a trip to Victoria delivered consecutive wins in the Inglis Banner (1000m) and Group 3 Emirates Airline Plate (1000m). She has trialled well leading into this race and looks to be over the odds at her current price.
The Liverpool City Cup has drawn a typically open field this season, rich with classy sprinters and several horses launching campaigns geared towards races like the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. Murwillumbah raider Care To Think ($2.40) has found career-best form this time and is clearly the horse to beat in the Liverpool City Cup. The So You Think gelding won each of the Congrats Jim Roberts Plate (1200m) and The Buffering (1350m) at Doomben before delivering a smart field another resounding defeat in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) most recently on January 13th. The horse has trialled extremely well leading into this and will retain leading Queensland-based hoop Jeff Lloyd for the ride. Villiers Stakes winner Crack Me Up ($16) will return from a freshen-up and will take plenty of benefit from whatever he does here. With ballot-free entry into the Doncaster Mile, the Mossman gelding will be allowed to go through his gears and tune-up, but is capable of a sharp first-up run. Arbeitsam ($8.50) has quickly built to the task this time and is the value in the Liverpool City Cup field at current $8.50 odds. The Snitzel gelding ended a smart spring preparation with a strong win in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) and has so-far finished fourth in the Wyong Magic Millions 3&4YO (1200m) and second in the Magic Millions Cup.
The return of equine superstar Winx headlines this year’s Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and the six-year-old will be seeking her third-consecutive win in the Group 1 feature race. Winx has won each of her 22 most-recent starts, dating back to the winter of 2015 and a barnstorming run to win the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m). Having capped her 2017 Spring Carnival with a third Cox Plate triumph, the Street Cry mare should just win the Chipping Norton Stakes and we have her at a market-best quote of $1.12 at the time of publish in the all-new Fat Odds market. CLICK HERE for full 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes odds and betting update
The Surround Stakes will be run at Group 1 level for the first time on Saturday and it has subsequently drawn an outstanding field of three-year-old fillies. Godolphin filly Alizee ($2.25) will take plenty of benefit from an impressive first-up win in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) into this race and will be extremely difficult to beat. The daughter of Sepoy was a standout for the major syndicate in spring; winning both the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) most notably, before ending her season third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m). She’s perfectly suited to the conditions of this race and can claim her second Group 1 title. Shumookh ($4) will have her first look at Group 1 company in the Surround Stakes, but has failed to finish worse than second through her short racing career and can be right in the finish on Saturday. The Dream Ahead filly made a competitive transition to black type company when second behind Alizee in the Light Fingers last time out. Shoals is a Group 1 winner and over the Surround Stakes odds at her current $11 quote. The daughter of Fastnet Rock is a four-time stakes winner and ended her 2017 campaign with a strong win amongst open company in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m). She failed to fire first-up this time, but is far better than that performance suggests and can atone at big odds here. I’ll be back Alizee to win the Surround Stakes, but will also have an each-way bet on Shoals at double-figure odds. CLICK HERE for full Surround Stakes odds and betting update
Nine mares remain in contention for the Guy Walter Stakes following the early scratching of leading chances Egg Tart and Faraway Town. Ron Quinton saddled Daysee Doom to a sharp first-up win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes last weekend and is offered another great chance of black type success this weekend with Dixie Blossoms ($3.20). The daughter of Street Sense flew home to win this race last year by close to seven lengths and is extremely adaptable in running. She has continued to receive plenty of support since our market opened on Wednesday. Danish Twist ($6.50) ran on well to finish third in the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) first-up and will take plenty of benefit into this race. The Dane Shadow mare has been a strong and consistent performer amongst black type company throughout her entire racing career and is drawn ideally in barrier 5.
Fifteen sprinters will contest the final race on Chipping Norton Stakes Day and it is an open affair from a betting perspective. Godolphin will saddle three horses in this race and there is a case to be made for all of Osborne Bulls ($3.70), Peacock ($7.50) and Ghostly ($8.50). Osborne Bulls was outstanding throughout his debut preparation and posted four wins from five starts. This is probably the hardest race he has contested to date, but he has trialled reasonably well leading in and is drawn well in barrier 5. Peacock is a horse that enjoys racing with a bit of sting out of the track and he can surprise amongst this company first-up. The son of Lonhro has finished off his two trials well leading into this race and will enjoy a good run in transit from barrier 4. Ghostly has a fitness edge on most of this field and at the time of publish, has rtecieved the greatest attention from punters in our market ($10 into $8.50). The Lonhro gelding was an easy winner at Canterbury on February 2nd, before finishing third behind handy gallopers Miss Ballantine and Witches at Warwick Farm last time.