Former Melbourne Cup winner Almandin is a clear and justifiable $4 favourite to win when he returns to two miles in Saturday’s Group 1 Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick.
The Monsun gelding has been a standout for the Macedon Lodge operation since debuting in Australia in 2016, obviously highlighted by his outstanding win in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at the end of a dominant spring campaign in 2016.
Having continued to impress throughout 2017, Almandin resumed this time for a close second in the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m), before a strong but luckless performance for fourth in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
The eight-year-old returned to ideal conditions in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) a fortnight ago and was clearly back to his devastating best when he stormed home to comfortably beat Ambitious and Who Shot Thebarman.
Stable mate Aloft ($8) has only made one appearance at the races this year, but he will take winning form into the Sydney Cup and is another horse that will relish the two miles.
Aloft has been set for similar staying targets to Almandin during his time in Australia and under the care of Macedon Lodge, and ended his 2017 campaign seventh in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m).
The tough stayers was sent off a $3.50 shot in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) first-up this time and produced a superior performance to beat in-form mare Fanatic by a comfortable length.
Kerrin McEvoy will look to lead the horse forward from barrier 13 and Aloft should find himself right in the finish of the Sydney Cup with only 50kgs in tow.
Kiwi raider Sir Charles Road flew home to win last weekend’s Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) and immediately firmed into single-figure Sydney Cups odds from a $61 quote.
The Myboycharlie gelding has been outstanding this time in and won a Group 3 race over a mile and a half, before running a credible sixth in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in his homeland, before crossing the ditch for last weekend’s impress performance.
The four-year-old is drawn ideally in barrier 4, will carry only 50kgs and is worth consideration at his current $6.50 Sydney Cup odds.
There is plenty of value around several other runners in Sydney Cup betting and one horse that warrants interest in Japanese raider Pre Stwick, who will make his Australian debut in the staying feature and is currently available at odds of $12.
Pre Stwick has been a strong and consistent performer in Japan’s major staying races throughout the last twelve months and resumed in February for a credible fifth behind Fame Game in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) at Tokyo.
He is a horse that generally improves with racing and he will relish the conditions of the two miles course at Randwick.
Leading Hong Kong hoop Joao Moreira will take the ride on Pre Stwick and the horse will be tough to beat, should he bring his best.