The final race day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival is set to take place at Royal Randwick on Saturday with a pair of Group 1’s on offer.
The Champagne Stakes has attracted a small but talented field of two-year-olds over the mile, including last-start Group 3 winner Linebacker and Michael Freedman’s Sires’ Produce winner, Manaal.
A share in $1.5 million goes on the line not long after in the All Aged Stakes, a field featuring Espiona, Sunshine In Paris, Chain Of Lightning, and Southport Tycoon.
For our best bets across the entire 10-race program, check out our All Aged Stakes Day Preview below.
Mayrose has been racing like she might be wanting further in both runs back this prep.
John Sargent’s mare went around at Rosehill two weeks ago over 1300m, making up some decent ground in the run home where she was beaten just over three lengths in the end.
Her form around 1400m has been good, winning over the track and trip this time last year by a good margin.
With rain about leading into race day, a soft track would be right up her alley.
Belvedere Boys sticks to 1400m coming off an unlucky run three weeks ago at Scone over the same journey.
Matthew Dunn’s four-year-old got back in the run and was always too far back to score, eventually being held up entering the straight where he was forced to settle for third in the end.
His previous win over this trip at Rosehill was solid though, while he’s also got the advantage of the inside gate to his favour.
If the rain comes, he’s another one that should appreciate some sting out of the track.
Inhibitions can run a nice race here down in the weights with Tommy Berry booked to ride.
The Godolphin filly has been racing in terrific order this prep, beating home a couple of smart horses at Caulfield two weeks ago where she seemed to appreciate the drop in class.
This is tougher now, but she did hold her own in the Group 2 Tranquil Star over this trip during the spring while like others, the potential for a soft track strengthens her claims.
Saltcoats was a big improver a fortnight ago at Rosehill, tackling the 2000m trip for the first time in the Tulloch Stakes for third.
Chris Waller’s lightly-raced three-year-old was arguably the run of the race, storming into the frame right down the outside to finish within a length of Wymark, who has since gone on to run fairly in the Australian Derby.
Fitness should be on his side with three runs under his belt now, and in a race with a stack of winning chances, I think he represents some each-way appeal in Frank Packer Plate betting.
Front Page almost picks himself here coming back to race at Group 3 level in the Hall Mark Stakes.
The son of Magnus tried his guts out up on the speed, conceding over his final few strides to finish third behind Zapateo and Sunshine In Paris in the Group 1 The Galaxy.
That was only his first run back since his run on Champions Day during the spring, indicating that there should be further improvement to come.
Proven second-up and likely to land up on the speed again from the low draw, I think he’ll be hard to beat.
Navajo Peak is capable of running a cheeky race at odds over his preferred trip in the JRA Plate.
David Payne’s talented stayer has been working up to this distance range, handing in a total forgive effort in the Doncaster a couple of weeks ago where he was entitled to weaken badly from a difficult gate.
He was out of his depth the start prior at weight-for-age in the George Ryder, but does look suited back in grade from a much handier gate.
Rock-hard fit for four runs back with Chad Schofield proven in the saddle, I think he has scope for solid improvement.
Manaal has gone up a worthy short-priced favourite in the first Group 1 feature of the day.
The Freedman-trained two-year-old has been all class over the autumn, resuming runner-up behind subsequent Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot at Rosehill back in February.
She was solid to the line in the Slipper beaten just over two lengths, improving on that effort a fortnight later where she got the head bob over Traffic Warden to claim the Sires’ Produce out to 1400m.
Off that, the mile looks no problem at all, while I like knowing she’s capable of handling all going.
Better suited on this occasion by a gate that will allow her to settle closer to the speed, I think she’s still got enough in the tank to cap off her prep with back-to-back wins.
Espiona has her sights set on a second Group 1 when she steps out in the All Aged Stakes.
Chris Waller’s mare has gone close on every occasion so far this prep, finishing just over a length of Lady Laguna in the Canterbury two back, before weaving her way through traffic in the TJ Smith Stakes two weeks ago where she was unlucky not to run a place.
The daughter of Extreme Choice was held up badly at the top of the straight and forced to shift wide over the final furlong, charging into the clear late to finish within a length of Chain Of Lightning.
Despite the traffic problems, she clocked the fastest final 200m of the meeting that day, and we know how strong the TJ form has been heading into this race.
At Randwick, her record gets a big tick, and she should take further improvement into this race with less of a gap between runs.
He likely won’t want it too wet, but Iknowastar does rate a serious chance in one of the more open races of the day.
Bjorn Baker’s son of Star Witness returned to form first-up at Rosehill over the same trip, plugging away late for second behind Gringotts.
The form from that rates okay with Razors going on to run a place at Stakes level last week, and he should find this a tad easier carrying 6kg less under Rachel King.
If he can get through the cut in the ground and find the speed, he’ll be hard to run down.
Wategos is always a threat first-up, especially off two impressive trial wins leading in.
The five-year-old son of Capitalist ran second to Airman over the track and distance last September, while he also owns a handy win over Waterford in his latest trial.
Some of his best racing has come on wet tracks, and if he can get across early from the wide gate and land close to the speed, he’ll be in this for a long way.