Day 2 of The Championships is one of the most highly anticipated days of the Autumn Carnival and we are set for ten outstanding races at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Four Group 1 feature races headline Day 2 of The Championships, but the highlight will undoubtedly be the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes – the final time that we will see champion mare Winx before she returns to the paddock.
Back Winx to win the Queen Elizabeth and if she salutes, Neds will double your winnings! Max bet $100.
Day 2 of The Championships begins with the running of the China Horse Club Mile (Fernhill Handicap) and thirteen quality two-year-olds will step out, with the possibility of progressing to next weekend’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes.
Betting is wide open and at the time of publish, Aristocratic Miss ($4.60) remains race favourite after attracting plenty of early interest. The Foxwedge filly ran on for a credible sixth as a $101 shot in the Blue Diamond Stakes in February and has since finished fourth in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce and second in the Group 3 Schweppervescence. She’s drawn ideally in barrier 2 and will be extremely difficult to hold out late.
One juvenile that warrants interest at double-figure odds is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Bold Arial ($13). Bold Arial faces a step up in class here, but has finished a close second at her two most-recent appearances, including a smart performance behind Pure Elation at Warwick Farm last time out.
Nine three-year-olds have been confirmed for the South Pacific Classic, but it looks to be a race in three between Isaurian ($2.80), Renewal ($4) and Torvill ($6.50).
Isaurian has posted one win and a close second through his two starts this time and made a strong transition to black type company when he finished a half-length second to I Am Excited in the Listed Darby Munro (1200m) three weeks ago. Hugh Bowman in the saddle is a plus and he will go back from his outside draw.
Renewal won two sprint races upon resuming, before hitting the line well for fourth in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes last time out – form that has held up extremely well throughout the last week.
Torvill has gone to another level this time and she looks-to-be the value in this market. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt stormed home to finish second behind Shoals in the Group 1 Surround Stakes and followed that up with a tough second behind Luvaluva in the Kembla Grange Classic. She didn’t appreciate the 2000m of the Vinery a fortnight ago and a step back to 1400m looks ideal.
Her heavy weight is a concern, but I am happy to play the value here and take the each-way odds available for Torvill, who looks to be one the verge of a win at black type level.
Eleven fillies remain in contention for the $600,000 Percy Sykes Stakes and there is a case to be made for nearly every entrant. Two worth consideration are Godolphin filly Gongs ($7.50) and Setsuna ($14), who both appear to be over the odds at their current quotes.
Gongs debuted to racing for consecutive and dominant wins in a pair of Sydney sprints in late spring, and has so-far finished third in the Group 2 Silver Slipper and fourth in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes. This is a step back in class from both of those races and she could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 5.
Setsuna has been forced to do too much work early in her races from wide barriers this time, but she’ll be able to take a forward position a lot easier from gate 6 in this smaller field. She has trialled extremely well leading into this race and looks like a filly that could realistically salute at big odds.
I will be having each-way bets on both Gongs and Setsuna in the Percy Sykes Stakes.
A capacity field of Provincially-trained horses will step out in the 1400m Final and we are set for another open edition of the race. Maryore saluted in this race at $21 odds last year and it would not surprise to see another horse at odds find the post first.
The Kris Lees-trained Just Dreaming is the $3.60 favourite at the time of publish, but he’ll need plenty of luck from barrier 13. Bowman in the saddle is sure to help his chances and he has winning form around several of his rivals here.
Last year’s favourite Pomelo finished fourth after a tough run in transit and with even luck, can go close again. The Lope De Vega mare resumed for a tough fourth in the Gosford Qualifier and will take wholesale improvement into this race second-up.
First emergency Hallelujah Boy ($51) has been inconsistent this time, but he could surprise on the Randwick track, should he gain a start. The Tosen Phantom entire ran an absolute bolter from the tail of the field to finish fourth in the Kembla Grange Qualifier three weeks ago and his wide draw isn’t a concern, as he’ll go back anyway.
The field for this year’s Arrowfield Sprint is outstanding and every horse is a live chance.
Viridine ($3.30) has finished fourth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and third in the Group 1 The Galaxy leading into this race and will appreciate a return to three-year-old company. The Poet’s Voice colt has shown above-average ability throughout his entire racing career to date and won the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes over course and distance in spring. Hugh Bowman will take the ride on the horse for the first time and he will be extremely difficult to hold out.
Showtime ($12) and Pariah ($7) also return to three-year-old company in this race, while She Will Reign ($12), Catchy ($12) and Houtzen ($7.50) all clearly have the class to win the Arrowfield on the right day.
Booker is an interesting prospect and worth consideration at $9.50 odds. The daughter of Lonhro won the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes first-up this time and has since finished fourth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate and a credible seventh in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.
The first Group 1 on Day 2 of The Championships will see thirteen three-year-old fillies step out for another open edition of the Oaks.
Hiyaam surprised to win the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at double-figure odds a fortnight ago and she has subsequently attracted plenty of attention in Oaks betting ($6.50 into $4.80). The daughter of High Chaparral produced several outstanding performances in spring and ended her year third in the Crown Oaks, but she looks to have returned to racing an even better horse this year and will only improve at a mile-and-a-half.
Race favourite Unforgotten ran a strong second in the Vinery, but she is so-far friendless in Oaks betting and is $3.50 out to $4. Luvaluva ($5.50) was outstanding when she carried 60kgs to success in last weekend’s Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes and she will relish a drop in weight and increase in trip here.
CLICK HERE for full 2018 Australian Oaks odds & betting update
Ten horses will step out in this year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes but understandably, it is the Winx show in betting and she remains a clear $1.16 favourite. Winx has extended her record to twenty-four consecutive wins, seventeen at the highest level leading into the Queen Elizabeth and she has comfortably won both the Group 1 Chipping Norton and Group 1 George Ryder so-far this time. A return to her pet distance is obviously ideal and she will take a world of beating once again. Back Winx to win at Neds and if she salutes, you’ll score double the winnings! Max bet $100.
Happy Clapper ($15) is the obvious horse to finish in the quinella with Winx, while Irish raider Success Days ($34) is the big unknown in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field.
CLICK HERE for full 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds & betting update
The major staying test of the Autumn Carnival has drawn a typically talented field and we are set for an excellent edition of the Sydney Cup.
Former Melbourne Cup champion Almandin is yet to herald much interest in betting, but he remains the $4.20 favourite and is a live chance of winning this race, following his last-start win in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes.
This year’s field has an international flavour and several kiwi raiders will be joined by proven Japanese stayer Pre Stwick, who could prove to be over the odds at his current $12 quote. The son of Daiwa Major has won a number of good staying races in Japan and resumed this time for fourth behind Fame Game in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes in February. There is no query at the distance and he will be ridden by leading Hong Kong hoop Joao Moreira.
An outstanding field of fillies and mares will contest the Queen Of The Turf Stakes and it is a particularly open race from a betting perspective.
Tough mare Dixie Blossoms is the $5.50 favourite, but she’ll need plenty of early luck to find a forward position from barrier 16 and will clearly need to produce a career-best performance to date if she is to find winning form.
Group 1 winning filly Alizee ($11) is rock-hard fit and a proven performer at the course and distance. The daughter of Sepoy was too good for her own age when an easy winner of the Group 1 Flight Stakes in spring and she has been steadily building to the task this time; running a smart fourth in the Vinery Stud Stakes a fortnight ago. A step back to her pet trip won’t be a problem and she is weighted well at only 54.5kgs.
Silent Sedition ($8.50) is another horse that is ready to peak and she will take a world of beating in the Queen Of The Turf. A Group 1 winner having taken out last year’s edition of the William Reid Stakes, Silent Sedition destroyed a smart field in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes second-up this time and was last seen running on for third in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic.
CLICK HERE for full 2018 Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds & betting update
The Sapphire Stakes always draws an open field of mares and this year’s edition is no exception. Won by Secret Agenda prior to her winning the Group 1 Robert Sangster in 2017, the Sapphire Stakes always produces several quality sprinters leading into late autumn and winter and there looks-to-be a number of quality gallopers in this race.
I am happy to play the value in this field and White Moss ($18) looks to be over the odds at her first-up assignment here. The daughter of Mossman absolutely flies fresh and won consecutive races upon resuming in spring, including the Group 3 The Nivison over course and distance. Barrier 4 is ideal and she will carry only 55kgs.