2020 Chipping Norton Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Sweet Deal. Photo by Steve Hart.

2020 Chipping Norton Stakes Day Tips & Preview

We can finally recapture the Chipping Norton Stakes after Winx has dominated the race for the past four years!

Te Akau Shark is the punter’s elect in the feature race of the day however the Group 1 Surround Stakes has assembled a cracking field of three year old fillies as well.

We’ve run through every race on the card and offered our thoughts and betting suggestions below.

Race 1: Highway Handicap (1000m) 12:55pm
No Bet

I’m happy to steer clear of the highway race to open the card. Save our money for later in the day.

each way
Race 2: Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) 1:30pm
#8 Harmonium

Harmonium couldn’t have been anymore impressive on debut at Gosford when he won by two lengths easing down over the 1000m. The I Am Invincible filly clearly has a lot of ability and I love that they have chucked Tim Clark on top as there really is no better front running rider in the country. She has drawn barrier four and she will incredibly tough to run down at each way odds. 

Race 3: Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) 2:05pm
#3 Postcode

I’ve been really keen to see this Waterhouse/Bott trained colt return to the races and this looks a nice way to start his campaign. Tim Clark has ridden the horse in every trial and race he has contested and if he isn’t setting the pace in front, he will be right in behind the leader from barrier five. His two barrier trials leading into this first up assignment have been very good and we are getting nice odds about him in my opinion as I’m happy to take on the favourite.  

Race 4: Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) 2:40pm
#3 Imaging

I’ve been waiting for this horse to make his Australian debut and we finally get to have a crack at him on Saturday. His two trials leading into this first up assignment have been extremely impressive and he is a horse that has a huge amount of upside. I think he will progress to a much higher grade than this and this is a great opportunity to catch him on the way through in some easier races. 

best bet
Race 5: Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) 3:15pm
#4 Sweet Deal

This is another rise is class and challenge for Sweet Deal however I think she is a very classy mare who is racing in excellent form. She gave them a lesson in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes first up a fortnight ago and her racing pattern means she makes her own luck on the speed. She will face a very similar field to that first up run in this event and she meets most of them better at the weights! She has drawn barrier two with Blake Shinn back in the saddle and I think she will be very tough to beat again! 

Race 6: Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) 3:50pm
#5 Probabeel

The three year old races continue to be excellent betting races this season and the Surround Stakes is no exception. I think the winner will come from the top four in the market and it really is a tough ask to separate them all. The kiwi filly Probabeel was runner up in both the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes and the Group 1 Flight Stakes at the end of her Spring campaign however she is a horse with a huge amount of upside. The Savabeel filly is a very well put together individual and she has the benefit of having two runs already this prep, for two wins, which may give her a fitness edge on some of these fillies. 

Race 7: Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) 4:30pm
#4 Dreamforce & #5 Fierce Impact

The Group 2 Apollo Stakes and the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes are the two obvious form lines heading into the Chipping Norton and I’ve selected one from each!

Dreamforce is such a gutsy gelding and he was very brave in defeat in the Apollo. He cruised around the turn and quickened at the 400m and if it wasn’t for a really good ride and a classy mare in Alizee he would have won the race comfortably. He again found one better second-up last prep in the George Main however he has drawn perfectly in barrier 4 and if he gets some cheap sectionals, he will prove extremely tough to get by.

Fierce Impact was clearly the run of the race in the C.F Orr Stakes in Melbourne, and just like Dreamforce, he will not have to compete against the horse that beat him. He won back to back Group 1s at the end of his Spring campaign and he is a horse with enormous upside. He has also drawn well in barrier six and with even luck he will be fighting out the finish.  

Race 8: Ranvet Handicap (2000m) 5:10pm
#6 Attorney

The punters were keen on Attorney first up at Randwick over the 1600m and although he finished sixth, I thought he sustained a really nice run and savaged the line late in the race. He will be much better over a bit more ground here and he has won two from two at the distance. 

Race 9: Quincy Seltzer Handicap (1200m) 5:50pm
#1 Roheryn

This is a very difficult way to end the day but I can’t see why Roheryn couldn’t be winning again. He has been racing consistently of late and he has managed four wins from his nine career race start including a win at this grade, track and distance two starts back. He has drawn well and with even luck he will be fighting out the finish.