There aren’t many things that I like more than Friday night racing at The Valley, so it’s fair to say that I go to another level when there’s black type!
The Group 2 Australia Stakes headlines the eight-race card and you can find my preview and tips for each below.
Eight horses have accepted into the first on Australia Stakes Night and if that remains the number of runners at jump, I’ll be happy to have something each way on the Patrick Payne-trained Longclaw. Longclaw has returned several pleasing efforts throughout his racing career and recorded a comfortable win when resuming at Pakenham; progressing to a credible eighth over 2040m here before running a close-up second at Sale last time out. I think he’ll be rock-hard fit for this and can fight out the finish.
This race has drawn a capacity field of two-year-old horses and of the 11 confirmed starters, only three have race day experience. The Lindsay Park-trained Baaqyah has returned two decent efforts previously and looks the pick of those, but anything can happen in this and I am not in the market of pissing money into the wind for the sake of it, so I’m staying out.
This looks like being one of the more open contests of the night at The Valley and there is a case to be made for more than half the field
Sagarra looks to have returned to the races in smart form this time and looks ready to peak fourth-up. The Teofilo gelding has improved with each start and took up the running at Caulfield last time out; battling on well to ultimately finish third. He can go straight to the lead again in this contest and has solid each-way claims.
Sei Stella hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but she is a mare that typically flies fresh and looks well placed to make a winning return at The Valley. The Matt Dale-trained daughter of Not A Single Doubt has recorded four wins and three minors from only ten career starts to date, and simply did not come up in winter. I’m happy to forget that short prep and she has reportedly returned to work in great condition.
The biggest shock on Australia Stakes Night is that there will be a VOBIS race contested without the Patrick Payne-trained Widgee Turf as an acceptor.
Regardless, a quality field has been taken and there is a case to be made for a few, but I think that the market just about has it correct with How Womantic a short-priced favourite. How Womantic has made only two appearances at the races so far, but is yet to taste anything but success and was last seen beating a decent field to the line with complete ease at Caulfield. This looks a lovely race for her and I will be happy to take anything even money or over.
Beauty has had one run at The Valley for one win (at Listed level) and I think that she’s ready to do something good third-up on Friday. The Team McEvoy-trained mare worked home well to just missed at Caulfield when resuming but looked to suffer from a little ‘second-up syndrome’ at Flemington last time out, in what was still a fair effort. She’s drawn a peach for this in barrier 4 and will have the added bonus of Michael Poy’s claim.
This is the best edition of the Australia Stakes that I have ever seen and regardless of the result, I simply cannot wait to sit back and watch it. I say ‘regardless of the result’ as something of a throwaway comment because obviously, I am more than keen to find the winner, but there are no fewer than five Group 1 winners engaged and a case to be made for nearly everything.
I’m keen to back Hey Doc straight out and probably have a little saver of Microphone at around the $6.50 mark, but you can read my full preview and 2020 Australia Stakes tips RIGHT HERE.
There’s a couple of smart ones confirmed for a start in the last but I’m keen to back the Robert Hickmott-trained Talenti. Talenti has been excellent since arriving in Australia this time; recording consecutive wins here at The Valley before running fifth in a tougher race at HQ last time out. He’s rock-hard fit and clearly loves racing here.