Day 1 of The Championships kick off at Royal Randwick this Saturday and we couldn’t be more excited.
There are four Group 1 races to look forward to as well as a host of other quality races including the Country Championships Final.
Our full 2020 The Championships Day 1 Tips and Preview can be found below.
It was only a maiden at Muswellbrook but the way in which Zeftabrook won made me think that Australian Bloodstock might have a pretty handy filly on their hands. This is clearly a big step up in class however I think she is worth the gamble at the $31 currently available. A small each way bet is recommended to hopefully kick start the day on a very good note!
# Zeftabrook has been scratched to run on Sunday where I think she will be tough to beat. Rulership looked a pretty handy colt when he won on debut at this track and I think he will be tough to beat now in a pretty weakened field with the scratchings. #
There is not a hell of a lot of value on offer, but Reloaded looks to have the runs on the board to be winning a race of this quality. His last three runs have been excellent against top quality opposition. He was half a length off Brandenburg, who is the current favourite for Doncaster later in the day, and was not far behind Shadow Hero in the Randwick Guineas and then Castelvecchio in the Rosehill Guineas.
I’m with the partnership of Australian Bloodstock and Cody Morgan in the Country Championships Final. Ligulate burst clear at Tamworth in the Qualifier once he found clear running and he looks the perfect horse for this race. James McDonald is going to have to pull out a great ride from a very trick gate but he is more than capable.
The favourite Colette does look a pretty smart filly however I’m happy to have a small each way play on Dorothy Of Oz. The Waterhouse and Bott team have found some form in recent weeks and this is the first time this filly gets out beyond 1600m. She was beaten only 1.5 length at Kembla Grange last start in what has turned out to be a pretty strong form race with Shout The Bar coming out and winning the Group 1 last weekend.
There are plenty of question marks on a few of these at the top of the market and I’m happy to steer clear of them. Gallic Chieftain is capable of a high rating performance on his day and he has been ticking over well so far this prep. He should be ready to peak third up and he gets out to a more suitable trip now. He has one win from two starts at this track and distance and he’s worth a small play each way at his current odds.
Ole Kirk is one of very few horses in the Sires’ Produce that is already Group placed at the 1400m. The Written Tycoon colt was beaten less than a length in the VRC Sires’ at Flemington and I like the fact they bypassed the Golden Slipper in favour of this race. His latest trial win between runs suggests to me that he is going very well.
Bartley is a horse of enormous ability in my opinion however he is only just putting it all together now. He cruised up to the the leaders on the turn in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes at Canberra and looked the winner before being swamped late. I’d like to see James McDonald get stuck into him a bit earlier as he tends to switch off a bit and he will only improve for that first up run.
Castelvecchio proved some of the doubters wrong in the Rosehill Guineas when he won in dominant fashion. He had been somewhat disappointing leading into that race but he is a different horse getting out beyond 2000m. He was aided by a lovely James McDonald ride but he is clearly the best horse in this field in my opinion and I have him as an even money chance in the race. Warning is much better suited to Flemington and I don’t think Shadow Hero will see out the trip.
Santa Ana Lane is a top sprinter and he has been competitive at Group 1 level for most of his racing career. He was never a chance first up over 1000m however I was impressed with the way he attacked the line late. I love the fact that he’s had a trial in between runs and he was very strong late in that also. Tim Clark has ridden the champ in his two trials this prep and he has been rewarded with the ride, and I don’t think he will be as far back as he was first up. We are getting each way odds and I think that is the safest play.
Brandenburg looks the ideal Doncaster Handicap horse to me. He has performed at Group 1 level already, he has put in three consistent runs this prep and he gets in with just 50.5kg! He won the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes before being beaten less than a length behind Shadow Hero in the Randwick Guineas. He then tackled the older horses, finishing fourth behind Dreamforce last start. Big race jockey Glen Boss will steer and I think he will go very close! Include Cascadian, Imaging, Prince Fawaz and Con Te Partiro in any multiples.
Rubisaki is a top quality filly as she has shown in her last four wins on the trot. She was dominant winning the Group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington last start and she has had three weeks between runs for this assignment. This is an easier race than Flemington and she has drawn well in barrier two with Nash Rawiller steering.