Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Can Tempted go one better this year in The Everest
A lot of the talk in the week leading up to the $20 million G1 The Everest has centred on the rainfall in Sydney and whether Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will be able to handle the likely heavy or soft track conditions.
While he still looks clearly the one to beat no matter what the conditions are, a horse that looks ready to peak is the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Tempted (Street Boss (USA}), who has not been beaten since finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in The Everest last year. She has since won five races in succession, including the G1 Surround Stakes, three Group 2 races and one Group 3 contest.
Tempted | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Schofield was not aboard the Godolphin-owned mare last year, but has partnered her ever since, with the pair unbeaten together.
"I was lucky enough to get the first opportunity on her and Ciaron and the team have been incredibly loyal and we haven't looked back," Schofield told racenet.com.
"There would have been a lot of jockeys chasing the ride but Ciaron has never given me the slightest idea that he was looking anywhere else and we've been able to jell really well."
While Tempted's form is exemplary, Schofield remains wary of Ka Ying Rising and concedes that taking him down will be a big ask, although he believes his mount is capable of doing so.
Chad Schofield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"He's right up there with the best we've seen.
"But I'm on a horse (in Tempted) that I believe can beat him if things play out our way.
"But I'm on a horse (in Tempted) that I believe can beat him (Ka Ying Rising) if things play out our way." - Chad Schofield
"I'm confident she'll get through a wet track. It was a Soft 6 last start and the way she quickened through that was one of a horse that will skip through it no worries.
"She hasn't drawn a barrier at her two runs this prep which has meant I've had to go back further than I would have liked.
"From barrier one on Saturday I'll be able to land her in a spot that she's comfortable and from there we'll just need to see how the track is playing.
"She fills me with so much confidence with her amazing turn of foot."
Ka Ying Rising | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Ka Ying Rising and Tempted look clearly the two leading chances in The Everest, but if there is to be a major upset, Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Joliestar (Zoustar) could be among those capable of causing it.
Jimmysstar arrives off a brilliant win in the G1 Manikato Stakes and finished between the two leading contenders in last year's Everest, while Joliestar has the class to be competitive if the race unfolds to suit.
Kingswood's class could shine in the Caulfield Cup
Horses coming through Weight-for-age racing can often prove tough to beat in feature Cup races run at handicap level and the Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) appears to be building towards a peak performance in this year's G1 Caulfield Cup.
Kingswood won at Listed level first-up in the Heatherlie Handicap over 1700 metres at Caulfield after previously claiming the G1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie in his prior campaign.
Kingswood (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Since then, he has recorded two solid fourth-place finishes in Group 1 company, first in the Underwood Stakes behind Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and then behind Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) in last Saturday's G1 Might And Power Stakes over 2000 metres.
Kingswood finished less than two lengths behind Land Legend and Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in that race in race record time and Bedggood believes the run was ideal preparation for Saturday's 2400 metres, a distance his charge has contested only once previously.
His pedigree suggests the trip should suit, while the return to handicap conditions is another positive.
Gavin Bedggood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Fair play to the winner. He went at a gallop and stole the race but we did all the legwork carting Birdman and Sheza Alibi up to them," Bedggood said.
"I thought he stuck to his task well to be beaten only two lengths.
"He's had a good blow and should improve off it."
The seven-day back-up has been part of Bedggood's long-range plan for the 7-year-old stallion.
"Back to a handicap fourth-up has been our plan all the way through," Bedggood said.
"His work is all done. He's had his gallop and should be ready to go.
"His (Kingswood) work is all done. He's had his gallop and should be ready to go." - Gavin Bedggood
"For where we're going, I think he'll be highly competitive."
Last-start G1 Turnbull Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) also looks a strong chance, although he is also unproven over 2400 metres. Last season's Cups double winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) must be respected as he returns to his ideal distance range, while Saint George (GB), another grey son of Roaring Lion (USA) like Kingswood, looks ready to peak and shapes as another leading contender.
Autumn Glow set to shine again
The G1 King Charles III Stakes may have been reduced to a five-horse field following the scratching of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), but champion trainer Chris Waller still holds a strong hand, with three of the five runners, including superstar mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), alongside Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and the last-start Group 1 winner God’s Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Autumn Glow will start a red-hot favourite, and deservedly so, having won 13 of her 14 starts and amassed just under $9.8 million in prizemoney. All indicators point to another strong performance as she continues to please her connections.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She is in great form, her work has been good, her exhibition gallop last Saturday was perfect. Kerrin McEvoy rode her and gave us the thumbs up.” Waller told his weekly preview show.
“James (McDonald) rode her Tuesday and gave us the thumbs up. There’s thumbs up everywhere.”
The biggest threat to Autumn Glow appears to be the Joseph Pride-trained Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who is chasing his third successive victory in the race with Chad Schofield aboard.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ceolwulf heads into the contest after an unlucky second behind God’s Window in the G1 Epsom Handicap, where he carried 59kg, and looks the main danger to the favourite.
The fifth runner is the Gavin Bedggood-trained 10-year-old Just Folk (Magnus), who will start at long odds but has finished in the placings at each of his past five starts, albeit at a lower level.
Skybird flies into Sydney with another big prize in sight
In-form Victorian trainer Mitchell Freedman enjoyed Group 2 success in Sydney last week with his 7-year-old entire Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) in The Hill Stakes, and he now has his sights set on another $2 million prize, with the classy sprinting mare Skybird (Exosphere) taking on the G2 Sydney Stakes on Saturday.
Skybird won the G2 Gilgai Stakes on heavy ground at her last start and has previously claimed Group 1 success in the Lightning Stakes on a Soft 7 track. The recent rain in Sydney should therefore pose little concern, with Ben Melham taking the reins from barrier 18.
Skybird | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The pair of elite-level winners have been flying the flag for Freedman in recent times.
"It's a good ride to be on at the moment with these two horses, that's for sure," Freedman told Racingandsports.
"With a small team in Ballarat and my team around me, we punch well above our weight."
"She couldn't be better. She's really holding her form and really sound at the moment," Freedman said.
"She (Skybird) couldn't be better. She's really holding her form and really sound at the moment," - Mitchell Freedman
Freedman has been pleased with Skybird's progression since her win down the Flemington straight earlier this month.
Mitchell Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
As expected for a $2 million race, the Sydney Stakes has attracted a large and competitive field, with 20 horses accepted.
Among the leading chances are Beadman (Snitzel), who returns to Sydney after disappointing at Caulfield, and dual Group 1 winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible).
Marhoona (Snitzel) also commands respect, while Overpass (Vancouver), who usually contests The G1 The Everest on this day, looks a strong prospect. He has been trialling well and generally performs well fresh.
Beiwacht brings class to the Silver Eagle
Three-time Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) takes his place in Saturday's Listed Silver Eagle at Randwick after finishing outside the placings in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Caulfield late last month.
Before that, the good-looking colt won the G1 Memsie Stakes first-up over 1400 metres, having finished last campaign with victory in the G1 All Aged Stakes.
The Silver Eagle serves as a lead-up to the G1 Golden Eagle later this spring, with champion trainer Chris Waller opting to give Beiwacht another run to ensure he is at his peak for his main target.
Beiwacht | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"The Golden Eagle is his target race, and we thought, do we go into that race fresh, or do we give him a run in between?" Waller told Racingandsports.
"We went with this race because he's going to need to be rock-hard fit for the 1500 in two weeks' time."
Waller has considerable respect for the opposition, highlighting the depth of the field which is a key lead-up to the newly promoted G1 Golden Eagle.
"Skyhook is a damn good horse. It won't be an easy run, and there are a few others in it too," Waller said.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"It just shows how these pop-up races can really develop into something. The Silver Eagle worth $1 million is massive and obviously it targets (horses going) into the Golden Eagle.
Skyhook (Written Tycoon) looks the clear horse to beat after winning four of his last five starts at Group 2 and Group 3 level. The well-bred Decorum (Snitzel) has impressed with his wins in lower grades, while a big performance from Plaintiff (Zoustar) would come as no surprise.
