The Group 2 Australia Stakes headlines another quality metropolitan program at The Valley on Saturday, January 28th.
With major autumn feature races beckoning, the biggest stables in the country continue to gear up for the season ahead, some of Australasia’s brightest gallopers will be in action this weekend.
You can find my complete 2023 Australia Stakes Day Tips below.
This is an interesting race to kick off Australia Stakes Day, and I am going to have something on the veteran Sound, simply because I think he’s the only horse effective over the staying trip.
The now ten-year-old son of Lando hasn’t won since November 2021, but his recent performances have suggested that he retains a zest for racing, and he was last seen filling the minors at Listed level.
He’s rock-hard fit and will enjoy some relief in the weights.
Accuse has returned to the races in fine form and rates as a key winning chance again in Race 2 at The Valley.
The gelding was competitive without setting the world on fire last time in, but resumed with a nice effort to win in BM58 company at Casterton in November.
He has since recorded an easy win at Geelong and finished third, beaten two lengths by Hasseltoff at Flemington, and this looks a great opportunity to strike in Saturday metro company.
The consistent Ballynora will take her place in Race 3 at The Valley on Saturday and is the one that I want to be with.
Ballynora has finished worse than second once in her last five trips to the races, winning over 1500m here at The Valley two back, and denied only by the classy Forbidden City last time out.
The small rise in trip at this point of prep does look to suit, while she’s drawn to receive a lovely run in this relatively small field.
Spacewalk returned a pleasing effort to finish third, beaten less than a length in BM88 company in Sydney first-up from a spell, and this looks a perfect race for him.
The Exosphere gelding stamped himself as one to watch during an impressive 2022 campaign, placing multiple times in black type company and find form around some of his age group’s best gallopers.
Jamie Kah rides from a good draw this week and the horse will take a power of beating.
I’m going to have something of a speculative (and small) play on Mamaragan, who will be having his first start for the Nick Ryan yard.
Mamaragan was excellent during his two-year-old campaign, winning in Group 2 company and running a place in the Golden Slipper most notably, but he has failed to rescale those heights during his subsequent preparations, while still occasionally hinting at above-average talent.
He has typically been better earlier in his racing campaigns, and the change in scenery could have brought him back on.
Luna Cat will enjoy plenty of improvement into her second campaign task at The Valley on Saturday and can return to winning form.
The four-year-old daughter of Puissance De Lune found form around some talented gallopers last time in, and she returned from a lengthy break to finish third, beaten just over a length in a 1000m BM70 contest.
Any rise in trip is going to suit her second-up, and she is drawn to receive every chance this week.
Some talented gallopers have been confirmed in the 2023 Australia Stakes field, including the in-form Jigsaw, whose fitness edge and three-consecutive races wins leading into the feature have seen him installed as our favourite.
While I do like the horse, there’s others engaged that I prefer, like Turaath.
Turaath hasn’t been seen at the races since October, but she did return a couple of notable performances during her brief spring prep, highlighted by a win at Listed level.
She ran third in this race behind subsequent Group 1 winner Marabi last year, and while I’m sure she’ll improve for whatever she does do here, I think her class will take her a long way towards winning.
Deep Speed has improved for two starts back and can win on Australia Stakes Day.
The Team McEvoy-trained galloper finished down the order her at The Valley first-up from a spell, but worked home well in BM82 company in South Australia last time.
Fitter third-up, from a good draw and with some relief in the weights, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
Worsfold has recorded two wins from as many starts back this time, and he looks the one to beat in the last race at The Valley.
The Shamus Award gelding has always hinted at ability, but he has gone to another level since joining Nick Ryan’s yard, winning in BM70 and BM78 company at Sandown.
This is harder, but it looks the next logical step for him to take, and it certainly looks within his means.