The All Aged Stakes always draws a terrific field and Saturday’s edition of the race at Royal Randwick is no exception to the rule. As its name suggests, the All Aged Stakes draws one of the most open fields of any Group 1 race in Australia each year and it is subsequently an open race from a betting perspective. Three-year-old Trapeze Artist has returned to typically brilliant form this time and is the $2.60 favourite to win his third Group 1 crown in 2018 All Aged Stakes betting. The son of Snitzel stormed home to win the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) as a $41 roughy in spring, but he has made a successful transition into open company this time and will be extremely difficult to beat in the All Aged Stakes. Having taken out the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) first-up on February 3rd, Trapeze Artist finished fourth in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and third in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), before beating the country’s best sprinters when dropping back to 1200m for the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago. Tye Angland has retained the ride on Trapeze Artist and should be able to find a good position in transit from a central draw. A number of tough horses will take their place in this All Aged Stakes field and here is a case to be made for all of Brave Smash ($6), Le Romain ($8.50) and Hartnell ($8.50). Japanese import Brave Smash immediately made his presence felt upon debuting to racing in spring; winning the Listed Chandler Macleod Stakes (1200m) and placing in his three other starts, including a credible third in The Everest (1200m). Clearly requiring a run when he failed to finish off the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) first-up this time, the Tosen Phantom entire savaged the line for third in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) before breaking through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February 24th. Finishing an agonizingly-close second in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 10th, Brave Smash produced a flat performance when seventh in the TJ a fortnight ago and will need to improve noticeably if he is to return to winning form on Saturday. Le Romain is a three-time Group 1 champion and appears to be peaking in form in perfect time for his run in the All Aged Stakes. The Hard Spun gelding took plenty of benefit from a credible run for seventh in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) and stormed home from the tail of the field to finish a close-up fourth in the TJ Smith Stakes last time out. Le Romain’s third-up form is typically excellent and a return to arguably his best distance on Saturday should see him right in the finish of the All Aged Stakes. Hartnell is a particularly interest All Aged Stakes entrant and the multiple Group 1 champion could prove to be over the odds at his current quote. The Authorized gelding is known largely for his performances over longer trips and as Winx’s bridesmaid through several seasons, but he has shown a distinct affiliation with racing over 1400m recently and would not look out of place in the All Aged Stakes winner’s stall. Hartnell resumed this time for an outstanding win in the CF Orr Stakes and progressed to a credible third in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m). The horse was not suited by the slow tempo in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) last time out and has been freshen ahead of this race.
Trapeze Artist is favourite to win Saturday's Group 1 All Aged Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart