Sydney takes centre-stage this week with the first Group 1 race of the 2019-20 season, the Winx S. at Randwck, along with four black-type supporting races. Moonee Valley plays host to two Listed events.
Waller out to continue stranglehold
Randwick, G1 Winx S., 1400m, $500,000
In recent years, Chris Waller has completely dominated the race formerly known as the Warwick S. He won it with Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice) in 2015, then with the legendary Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
With Winx now retired, Waller has to look elsewhere for his firepower in this year’s running of the 1400m feature, which last year was named in Winx’s honour and upgraded to Group 1.
Kings Will Dream (Ire) is just one of four of Chris Waller's representatives in the Group 1 Winx S.
He will be represented by the four of the 10 horses in this year’s field – Group 1-winning mares Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), plus the stakes winner and Group 1-placed Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).
Among the opposition in an outstanding field are the multiple Group 1 winners Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Happy Clapper (Teofilo {Ire}) and Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}), while Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) was also a Group 1 winner last season.
Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible) has won at Group 2 level and been Group 1-placed, while Listed winner Samadoubt (Not a Single Doubt) completes the line-up.
Cummings' clash
Randwick, G2 Darley Silver Shadow S., 1200m, $200,000
It will be father versus son in the 3-year-old fillies’ feature, with Anthony Cummings lining up his highly rated Libertini (I Am Invincible) against the Godolphin pair of Tenley (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) and Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}), both trained by James Cummings.
Libertini has been installed as the $1.85 favourite. Since placing behind the classy Bivouac (Exceed and Excel) on debut in the G3 Kindergarten S., she has scored two impressive victories – at Randwick on Anzac Day, then in the Listed Woodlands S. at Scone in May. She has made a good impression in two recent trials.
Tenley won three times last season including the G2 Reisling S., while Flit won the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and placed in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
Outside of the Cummings clash, Villami (Foxwedge) and Let It Pour (Redoute’s Choice) have both placed at Group 2 level, and Steel Diamond (Star Witness) was a Listed placegetter last season.
Promising youngsters step up
Randwick, G3 The Luxury Network Up and Coming S., 1300m, $160,000
A fascinating clash looms between this field of 10 talented 3-year-olds, one of whom will claim their first black-type victory.
Nine of the 10 have already won races, while the only maiden runner, Edison (Fastnet Rock), has been placed in both starts.
Athiri (Lonhro) was the best-performed last season, winning one of her six starts and placing in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude, G3 Magic Night S. and G3 Kindergarten S. She was also fourth in the G1 Blue Diamond and G2 Percy Sykes S. She resumed with a close fifth in the Listed Rosebud earlier this month.
Lucicello is looking to build upon her third place in the Rosebud
Lucicello (I Am Invincible) finished slightly ahead of her in third place in the Rosebud, having won two of her four starts last season.
Famous (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) cost $750,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while Avon River (Fastnet Rock) was a $500,000 purchase at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Cascadian makes Australian debut
Randwick, G3 Mostyn Copper Show County Quality, 1200m, $160,000
Godolphin will unveil an interesting new import in Saturday’s sprint, with Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) making his first Australian start.
The gelding won three races in France and placed in the G1 Prix Jean Prat and Listed Prix Francis Boutin. In his most recent appearance, he was eighth in last year’s G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. He trialled at Warwick Farm on August 9.
Dothraki will face up with Godolphin import Cascadian (GB)
The field also features Group 2 winner Dothraki (Mossman), and Group 3 winners Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock), Con Te Partiro (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) and Delectation Girl (GB) (Delegator {GB}).
Deprive (Denman) has his last four in a row, including the Listed June S.
Slipper winner resumes
Randwick, G3 Toy Show Quality, 1100m, $160,000
Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi (Sidestep) begins her 3-year-old season with a clash against older horses at Randwick.
Trained by James Cummings, the Godolphin filly overcame a wide draw for her front-running victory in the Golden Slipper in March. She also won the G3 Magic Night S. and placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. Her most recent appearance was an unplaced finish in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
Kiamichi prepared for her return with trials at Rosehill on July 19 and August 6, finishing second and first respectively.
Kiamichi will meet a talented field of older mares in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality at Randwick
She meets a talented field of older mares in this event, including Group 2 winner Alassio (Foxwedge) and the New Zealand 1000 Guineas placegetter My Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Notation (Fastnet Rock) has won five of her nine starts, including three out of four in her current preparation.
Oak Door back from setback
Moonee Valley, Listed Seppelt Wines Carlyon S., 1000m, $140,000
Last-start Group 3 winner Oak Door (Commands) comes back from a slight setback and comes up against a small field at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Oak Door scored an upset victory in the Sir John Monash S. on July 13, but has subsequently been off the scene with a torn muscle.
After a slight setback Oak Door will resume this Saturday
He faces just five rivals on Saturday, including the stakes winners Bons Away (Bon Hoffa), Assertive Approach (Akeed Mofeed) and Spirit Of Valor (USA) (War Front {USA}).
Assertive Approach is putting together an impressive career record with three wins and a placing from four starts. His biggest victory came in the Listed Lightning S. at Morphettville on July 27.
Talented youngsters return
Moonee Valley, Listed McMahon’s Dairy McKenzie S., 1200m, $140,000
Saturday’s feature 3-year-old sprint has drawn a talented line-up, including a couple of impressive performers in black-type 2-year-old races last season.
Hightail (Written Tycoon) won two races and finished third behind Exhilarates (Snitzel) in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. He was also second in the Vobis Showdown.
Hawker Hurricane won on debut last November and will start in Saturday's Listed Mitchell McKenzie S.
Hawker Hurricane (Deep Field) won Ballarat’s Magic Millions Clockwise Classic on debut last November, then ran third in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude. He was unplaced in the G1 Blue Diamond and G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. in his only other two starts.
The McKenzie S. has a field of 11, of which all but one have won races.
