We’re returning to Royal Randwick this Saturday for a thrilling day of racing, packed with quality across a full ten race program.
Topping the card is the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, promising top class action on a standout raceday that also features the Tramway Stakes, Concorde Stakes and Furious Stakes.
You can find all of my detailed selections below in my Chelmsford Stakes Day Preview.
CHANGE MY ADDRESS was far from disgraced when resuming in the Silver Shadow Stakes and she will have taken improvement from the run.
The daughter of Exceedance kept trying all the way to the way to the line and there was only a nose separating fourth and fifth.
She just had the two runs in her first campaign, an impressive winner on debut at Warwick Farm, she then failed to fire at Randwick and was subsequently spelled.
With that first run under her belt, the rise to 1400m looks suitable and she’s sure to find this easier.
Molly Burke stays in the saddle and with her claim, the filly will carry just 51.5kgs.
| 9. Change My Address (3) J: Molly Bourke 52kg 16×5T: John Sargent |
SO MAGNIFICENT resumes.
The So You Think entire has won three of his four starts and looks very progressive.
Very green when making his debut at Wagga, he closed off strongly to claim third and it was an impressive performance at his second start, as he powered home down the outside to score.
Given a break, he made it two from two back in March and he makes his return here.
We haven’t seen him in any public trials this time in, but I doubt Todd Smart would be making the trip from Canberra if he wasn’t ready to go.
With the inside draw he’s set to receive a cosy run throughout under Billy Owen.
| 5. So Magnificent (1) J: Billy Owen 58.5kg 1x11xT: Todd Smart |
SPIRIT OF WEALTH returns to the races.
The daughter of Capitalist has just had the three race starts and it was a mix of everything in her first campaign.
She burst onto the scene with a commanding win on debut, then appeared to back it up with another strong performance over 1200m at Warwick Farm, crossing the line first, only to later be disqualified.
Well supported when lining up in the Roman Consul, she failed to finish off but was then found to have a bone chip in her nearside knee and has since undergone surgery to remove it.
Given two public trials, she has won each in impressive fashion and looks ready to fire first up.
Tommy Berry has been aboard for all three of her raceday outings and he’s sure to afford her every chance off the low draw.
| 10. Spirit Of Wealth (1) J: Tommy Berry 54kg 1q8xT: Michael Freedman |
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD comes off a solid effort to finish second at Flemington and I think he can go one better here.
A son of Galileo, the former European galloper recorded three wins, two at stakes level, from his nine starts before making his way down under.
He just had the three runs in his first Australian campaign, with his best effort, a second placing in Group 3 Colin Stephen and given time to adapt, he looks to have returned in top order.
He appeared in need of the run when resuming over 2400m in the Listed Winter Cup and last time, over the 2530m, he looked to be making heavy weather of it 300m out but fought strongly over the final part and was only beaten a neck.
With the added fitness, he looks ready to strike and having never carried less than 58kgs throughout his career, I doubt the big weight will hinder him.
James McDonald will do the steering for Kris Lees, and I think he’ll prove too classy for them.
| 1. Changingoftheguard (5) J: James McDonald 59kg 42×82T: Kris Lees |
There was a lot to like about the first up run of LORD PENMAN and the former Kiwi will have taken plenty of improvement from it.
Having his first start on Australian soil, the son of Contributor was restrained to settle in the second half of the field over the 1200m at Randwick and finished off strongly to claim second, beaten only a neck.
Lightly raced, he’s working through his grades with relative ease having recorded four wins and three second placings from just eight starts and I think he’ll keep improving.
He steps out to the mile for the first time but the way he finishes off his races suggests it will suit.
| 9. Lord Penman (13) Scratched: | |||
SAVVY HALLIE is unbeaten in two runs this campaign and I think she can make it three straight.
She could not have been more impressive when making her return in a 900m maiden at Newcastle, as she shot clear at the top of the straight to put up a 5.4 length margin on the line.
It was a deserved win for the daughter of Hellbent, who had been the runner up in three of her four runs prior.
With her confidence high, she stepped out in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes last start and after travelling sweetly outside the leader, she extended strongly over the final part to score by three quarters of a length.
She’s at peak fitness, she draws to get the right run and will be in it for a long way.
| 3. Savvy Hallie (5) J: Jay Ford 56kg 22×11T: Brad Widdup |
CEOLWULF kicked off his Spring campaign with an eye-catching performance in the Winx Stakes and he looks hard to beat here in the Chelmsford Stakes as he steps up to the mile.
Taken right back to last, he came the widest in the straight and powered home down the middle of the track to finish fourth.
The Tavistock gelding stamped himself as one the county’s top gallopers last Spring as he recorded successive Group 1 victories over the Randwick mile.
Whilst he didn’t win at the elite level during the Autumn, he was only narrowly denied in the Geroge Ryder, before taking out the Group 2 Sellwood.
He always takes a run to come to hand and he’s two from three over this track and distance.
Chad Schofield has formed a great affinity with the five-year-old and the low draw will see him settle in striking distance.
| 2. Ceolwulf (2) J: Chad Schofield 59kg 315×4T: Joseph Pride |
JIMMYSSTAR kicks off his The Everest campaign.
The Ciaron Maher trained six-year-old has continued to rise through the grades and with two Group One victories in the Autumn, he firmly established himself as one of our premier sprinters.
He kicked off that campaign with a barnstorming win on the Oakleigh Plate, and after eye catching performances in both the William Reid and T J Smith, he proved superior in the All Aged Stakes.
He’s yet to be tested over the 1000m but with five wins and second placing from six first up appearances, he absolutely flies fresh and I’m keen to be with him.
Ethan Brown knows how to get the best out of him and the wide gate will see him given his chance to swoop late.
| 1. Jimmysstar (9) J: Ethan Brown 60.5kg 1341xT: Ciaron Maher |
PRIVATE EYE asserted his dominance when resuming in the P B Lawerence Stakes and I think he’ll be hard to beat again.
Ageing like a fine wine, the eight-year-old so of Al Maher shanghaied out of the gates and always had the race in control before kicking away on the turn to post a two-length margin on the line.
He’s now won thirteen races and over $12.4m and that latest victory was one his most impressive.
The three-week gap between races is ideal with him staying at the 1400m and he has the early speed to overcome the wide gate.
| 5. Private Eye (14) J: Nash Rawiller 57.5kg 4x3x1T: Joseph Pride |
SCINTILLA returns to the races.
The Les Bridge trained mare just had the two runs in her first campaign and given time, she returned in top order last time, as she finished off strongly into second before putting together three straight victories.
With back-to-back wins at Canterbury, she then proved too good at Warwick Farm and earned herself a trip to Melbourne to contest the $1m Inglis Sprint.
Over 1200m down the Flemington straight, she travelled strongly throughout to finish a very credible fourth.
She’s just been given the one 1050m trial and the way she worked through the line suggests she’s primed to go.
Tyler Schiller jumps aboard for the first time and from barrier four she’s set to receive every chance.
| 8. Scintilla (4) Scratched: | |||