Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
G3 Concorde S. - an Everest guide?
Last year won in easy fashion by subsequent The Everest winner Nature Strip (Nicconi), who made a reappearance to the Australian racing scene when impressive in a Canterbury trial on Thursday, the G3 Concorde S. has proven to be a terrific guide for Sydney's rich dash - Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) winning the Group 3 in 2020 en route to a placing in The Everest, while dual The Everest winner Redzel (Snitzel) won this race three times.
Two of the Concorde contestants are already assured their place in this year's $15 million contest and both are horses who have already fared well in that race. Eduardo (Host {Chi}) was right in the thick of things when third in The Everest last year, while Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) flew home for second off a slow start.
Both horses were last seen contesting the G1 TJ Smith S. and both boast excellent first-up form, Eduardo kicking off his last two campaigns with a G1 Lightning S. third and a G2 The Shorts victory whilst Masked Crusader was fifth in the Lightning having won the G3 Heath at the start of his previous preparation.
Eduardo opens up favourite in the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Both horses are three-time Randwick winners, though Eduardo has the better 1000-metre record. It promises to be an exciting clash but do the two have it to themselves?
Another son of Toronado (Ire), the recently crowned NSW Champion Country Horse Shelby Sixtysix, was racing at Class 2 level this time last year and he has certainly come a long way since. He comes into the race off the back of an impressive trial.
The same can be said for Malkovich (Choisir) who has won his last two trials by a space, while the James Cummings trained, Godolphin-owned up and comers Zapateo (Brazen Beau) and Andermatt (Snitzel) look likely to also make their presence felt.
G2 Furious S. and the Listed Atlantic Jewel – 3-Year-Old fillies take to the track
There are some lovely 3-year-old fillies racing in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday and it will be interesting to see which of those really make their mark over the spring.
The G2 Furious S. at Randwick has attracted a hot field inclusive of four impressive last-start winners, all of whom are resuming having displayed considerable early talent.
The race includes juvenile Group 1 winners She's Extreme (Extreme Choice) and Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard). Neither kicked off their last campaigns with wins but they certainly improved - the big question is, who has scope for even further improvement?
Gallery: Juvenile Group 1 winners looking to come out on top in the G2 Furious S. at Randwick, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Could it be one of the more lightly raced fillies such as the G2 Percy Sykes S. winner Paris Dior (Pierro) or In Secret (I Am Invincible) and North Star Lass (Zoustar), who finished second and third respectively behind Zougotcha (Zoustar) in the recent G2 Silver Shadow S.
Whilst there are no Group 1 winners contesting the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley, it is still an exciting contest with the G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) looking to improve on her disappointing fresh performance.
Taking her on is the lightly raced I'mlovinya (Capitalist) who was strong to the line when resuming in the G3 Quezette S., Lady Laguna (Overshare) who was close up in that same race, the in-form Boogie Dancer (Sooboog) who has won her last three and Troach (Epaulette) who has drawn more favourably than she did when taking on the boys in the Listed The Rosebud first-up.
G2 Tramway S. - Zaaki takes on new rivals
A historic race first run in 1886, the G2 Tramway S. has on just four occasions been won by the same horse twice - a feat accomplished most recently by Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) in 2019 and 2020. When the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) lines up in the Group 2 on Saturday he will be looking to become only the fifth dual-winner of the race.
An easy winner with one kilogram less than last year, Zaaki is the class runner of the field, hence the odds-on quote. He has different rivals this time around and one of those has won the same number of elite-level races as him - the tough campaigner Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Zaaki (GB) looks to become the fifth dual-winner of the G2 Tramway S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Another four of the Tramway's contestants are big-race winners - the dual Group 1 winner Converge (Frankel {GB}), the G1 Spring Champion S. winner Profondo (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the G1 Queen of the Turf S. heroine Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}) and last year's G1 Thousand Guineas winner Yearning (Snitzel).
Which makes for an interesting contest, especially as this is a group of horses with bigger aims - none of them likely to be anywhere near fully wound up.
Heathcote heads to Melbourne - Prince Of Boom and Rothfire kick off their spring campaigns
Saturday sees the popular Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote venturing to Moonee Valley with two of his stable stars - Rothfire (Rothesay) and Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom), who will both embark on their spring campaigns.
While he did not win a race last time in, Rothfire lost no fans with four tough performances including a last start G1 Stradbroke H. third. It has been a wonderful comeback for the 2020 G1 JJ Atkins S. winner who was off the scene for a year with a fractured sesamoid.
Rothfire may have only six rivals in the G2 McEwen S. but it remains an intriguing contest with plenty of pace from the likes of In The Congo (Snitzel), Zoustyle (Zoustar), Semillion (Shalaa {Ire}) and the favourite Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).
Popular Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote ventures to Moonee Valley with two of his stable stars, Rothfire and Prince Of Boom
With the man himself on course, the Listed Chautauqua S. will be keenly watched with Prince Of Boom set to make his Melbourne debut. Off a successful wind operation, he won his first three races last time in and was particularly gutsy holding off Sword Of State (Snitzel) in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas.
Amongst his rivals are the classy sprinters Ranges (Shooting To Win) coming off a game Listed Regal Roller S. in which he endured a wide run, but he has drawn better this time. There is also Wandabaa (Wandjina) who just keeps racing well, Corner Pocket (Toronado {Ire}) whose strike rate is hard to fault and Gravina (Sebring) who can pull out a run fresh.
G2 Feehan S. - can it provide the W.S Cox Plate winner?
It may not be a vintage running of this Group 2 weight-for-age contest which, when run in mid-September, was for many years an outstanding guide to the G1 Cox Plate - but it does provide automatic entry into that great race so results will still be keenly monitored.
Just five horses face the starter on Saturday with two of those - Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) being Group 1 winners. The former - who kicked off his spring campaign with a soft G2 PB Lawrence S. victory at Caulfield - took out the G1 Doncaster H. in April.
Moonee Valley is a track where experience can be of great benefit and Mr Brightside, at this same meeting last year, proved a class above his rivals over the same distance in a lesser contest.
Mr Brightside (NZ) opens up favourite in the G2 Feehan S. at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Inspirational Girl, meanwhile, makes her Moonee Valley debut but she certainly has the class as her G2 Blamey S. victory over Zaaki shows. First-up last time in she was good to the line resuming over the shorter G1 CF Orr S.; quickly into winning form.
In regards to Moonee Valley form, with Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) out for the spring and the G2 Feehan S. after displaying filling and heat in a suspensory after trackwork on Friday, it blows the Group 2 wide open.
The now likely favourite is Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was put away after his G3 Carlyon Cup victory at his Australian debut in February - a race in which he displayed considerable heart.
G2 Chelmsford S. - every runner either first or second-up
A game third off a wide run in this race last year, Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) seeks to go two better this time around at Randwick, and off the back of a light autumn campaign, which saw her claim the scalp of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the G1 Ranvet S., she looks set to run a bold race.
Mo'unga (NZ) (Savabeel) got into a bit of traffic when resuming in the G1 Winx S. and also second-up but off a better fresh run is Surefire (GB) (Fastnet Rock) who recorded good sectionals winning the Spring Preview at Rosehill.
Montefilia looks to go two better in this year's edition of the G2 Chelmsford S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Surefire is one of the five Northern Hemisphere-bred horses taking their place here with others looking ready to run bold races including Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who has his first run since taking out the rich G2 The Q22 and Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}), who ran very well at Listed level first-up last time in.
Fellow imports Great House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Crystal Pegasus (GB) (Australia {GB}) are also capable of performing well fresh at the mile, whilst one with the fitness edge on them is Benaud (Reliable Man {GB}), who caught the eye finishing off nicely in the G1 Winx S.
Run since 1895, the Chelmsford boasts a terrific honour roll having been won by the likes of Heroic, Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), Bernborough, Tulloch (NZ), Gunsynd, Emancipation (Bletchingly), Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Lonhro and Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).
