Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
G1 Queen Elizabeth S. - a memorable clash looms
Well, this is some clash at Randwick; the betting dominated by two outstanding horses coming off impressive Group 1 victories - Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) unbeaten this time in taking out the G1 George Ryder S. at his latest whilst the exciting import Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) created a big impression racing away to an easy G1 Ranvet S. at his local debut.
Such clashes have provided some of the most thrilling moments in Australian racing history... think Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa) versus Our Waverley Star (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) in the 1986 G1 W.S Cox Plate, Northerly (Serheed {USA}) versus Freemason (Grand Lodge {USA}) in the 2003 G1 BMW, Redoute's Choice and Testa Rossa in the 1999 G1 Caulfield Guineas, Emancipation (Bletchingly) versus Sir Dapper in the 1984 G1 George Ryder S., Chatham, Rogilla (Roger De Busli {GB}) and Winooka (Windbag) in the 1932 G1 Epsom H., or Dandy Andy's (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) memorable defeat of Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}) and Bonecrusher in the 1988 G1 Australian Cup.
Gallery: The two favourites for the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Following an era that saw one horse dominate the major weight-for-age contest which Winx by Street Cry {Ire}, it is a different sort of excitement.
Especially in this case when it might not be only a two-horse race with the evergreen Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) racing in such great heart, storming home to add the G1 Australian Cup to his resume. And then there's the wildcard - the Japanese visitor Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}).
Some race, bring it on!
G1 Queen of the Turf S. - Alcohol Free makes her Australian debut
Here is another intriguing race on a great card at Randwick, this 1600-metre test for the mares attracting an open field of talented horses with differing form lines.
Headlined by the big Yulong purchase (5.4 million gns {AU$10.6 million} at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale) Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) who makes her Australian debut on the back of a smart trial win at Randwick.
Last seen on the track finishing a somewhat unlucky third to the now retired star Baaeed (GB) in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood, Alcohol Free is a four-time Group 1 winner who adds plenty of interest to the race and the day.
Alcohol Free (Ire), the current favourite for the G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Levante (NZ) (Proisir) also has four elite-level victories on her resume and she lost no fans with her G1 George Ryder S. fifth, getting back in a race not run to suit but still finding the line well.
Providing the weather behaves, Fangirl (Sebring) is the hardest local to beat. After running into Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) on three occasions she struck heavy going in the G1 Doncaster H. and was far from disgraced considering her dislike of that sort of surface.
Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) was great finishing hard on the heels of the placegetters in that same race whilst Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) brings great Melbourne form to the equation - recording dominant wins in the G3 Matron S. and the G2 Sunline S.
G1 Australian Oaks - quality fillies vying for Classic glory
It takes a good filly to win this race and whilst it is the crowning moment in the careers of many, recent runnings have seen the race won by quality horses who have gone onto even bigger things... three of the last six winners - Colette (Hallowed Crown), Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) winning further races at Group 1 level.
Jockey Damian Lane, successful aboard El Patroness (Shamus Award) last year, seeks to make it two wins in a row in this Classic - uniting with the last-start G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) who is going to single-handedly increase the Randwick crowd with her big and enthusiastic group of owners!
Hugh Bowman boasts an outstanding record in this race - over the last 14 years winning it on five occasions. And he teams with the intriguingly bred (from the family of Sir Tristram {Ire} with a strain of that great stallion in his dam) G3 Adrian Knox S. winner Arts (Xtravagant {NZ}).
Pavitra, the current favourite for the G1 Australian Oaks at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
James McDonald knows how to win an Oaks too, winning it twice, and he has a big chance aboard Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}).
Should Fireburn (Rebel Dane) salute - and she has been racing as though wanting more ground - she will create a bit of history, becoming only the second G1 Golden Slipper S. winner to also win this race... the other being Bounding Away (Biscay) in 1986/87.
Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended), Pierossa (Pierro) and Premise (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) have all finished off nicely at their most recent outings whilst Jolted (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is up in class but promising... her "auntie" Absolutely (Redoute's Choice) won this race in 2011.
G1 Sydney Cup - not a race for the Australian bred
It is a sign of the times that no Australian-bred horse has won this staying test since Niwot (Galileo {Ire}) in 2012.
So, which of the imports do we look at this year - those already proven on Australian soil, or those new to our shores?
It is one of the latter - the Joseph O'Brien-trained Cleveland (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who looks the likely favourite. Whilst he is yet to win at stakes level, he did catch the eye with a good finish when fifth when making his local debut in the G1 Tancred S.
His stablemate Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is well-travelled - racing in five different countries, winning in three of those. Another stamp on his passport here!
Not since 2004 - the mighty Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) - has a reigning G1 Melbourne Cup champ also won this race, a feat that connections of Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) are hoping that he can accomplish.
Only four horses have won the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Sydney Cup in the same season, Gold Trip (Fr) is out to make that five at Randwick on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) is another challenging history, seeking to become the first horse since Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) in 1998 and 1999 to take out consecutive runnings of this race.
That popular chestnut is also the last G1 Tancred winner to take out this race - a double Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) looks a chance to complete. Also good in that race was King Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
The G2 Chairman's S. is often a good guide, this year's running taken out by Surefire (GB) (Fastnet Rock) from Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking), from which Surefire and Nerve Not Verve will clash again on Saturday.
G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' S. - a rising star to remain unbeaten?
Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was having her first crack at stakes class when tackling the G3 Cuddle S. at Trentham a couple of weeks ago and she passed that test with flying colours - finding the line in determined style to make it five wins from as many starts.
And now she has a Group 1 test at Pukekohe, and it would be a brave punter to take her on!
Though this is no easy race with Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) returning from a somewhat unlucky stint in Australia where her latest run - a G1 Doncaster H. fifth last weekend - was full of merit.
Mustang Valley (NZ) seeks to return to form in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' S. at Pukekohe Park | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Le Sablier (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was not far away in Group 1 company late last year and was back into winning form last start whilst the two horses Pearl Of Alsace defeated at Trentham again take her on - Aromatic (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Bad 'N' Bouj (Deep Field).
Dragon Queen (NZ) (Sweynesse) was disappointing last time out but her overall form reads well and adding considerable interest to the race is the appearance of two talented 3-year-olds - Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) who comes off a G1 Levin Classic second and Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel) who struck plenty of interference when a game fourth in that same race.
The 2-year-olds - the Percy Sykes & the Fernhill
There are a couple of black-type 2-year-old races on the Randwick card - the Listed Fernhill Mile and the G2 Percy Sykes S. for the girls.
The Fernhill Mile is the opening race, one for the up-and-comers with only two of its contestants already boasting black type with neither of those - the G3 TL Baillieu H. runner-up Inhibitions (Zoustar) and the G3 Black Opal S. third-placegetter Make A Call (Extreme Choice) - being stakes winners.
Make A Call, the current favourite for the Listed Fernhill Mile at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Three of their rivals have had just the one start with two of those being winners - Bobby Shiraz (NZ) (Savabeel) too good on pace at his Eagle Farm debut whilst the dual Group 1 winner Secret Admirer's (Dubawi {Ire}) son Townsend (Dundeel {NZ}) finishing off strongly to win at Wyong.
Tom Kitten (from the first local crop of Harry Angel {Ire}) found plenty of trouble but was still a close-up fifth in the G2 VRC Sires' Produce S. whilst Fireburn's half-brother Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) is also showing ability.
Two races later is the Percy Sykes which looks to be of more depth with four of its contestants already being stakes winners - the G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Lazzago (Capitalist), the G3 VRC Throughbred Breeders' S. winner Bossy Nic (Nicconi), the G3 Black Opal S. (at debut) winner Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) and the Listed Challenge S.-winning New Zealand visitor Ethereal Star (Snitzel) who, is as her name suggests, a great granddaughter of Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}).
Autumn Ballet, the current favourite for the G2 Percy Sykes S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Another three of the 10 runners are last-start winners - Everlong (Capitalist) who took out the Wellington Boot at her first start, Shine Your Light (Jukebox) who won at Scone off a G3 Magic Night fifth and Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) who was unlucky at debut before easily atoning next time out.
