Horse Racing Preview Weekend 11 04

In this weekly horse racing preview the ThoroughbredNEWS team take a fresh look at the form ahead of the weekend’s domestic and international action. We hope to get a good run for our money, the experts certainly are of the opinion that they’ve unearthed some interesting points of view and as such these

Friday

Orange Race 7 – 4:15pm Orange Gold Cup (2100m)

TAJAWAL (IRE) is starting to string together some promising middle-distance performances and will line-up in this ‘Big Dance Eligibility’ event sporting the polish of the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald stable. An imported son of the mighty Frankel no less, the 5-year-old was a good winner over 2018m at Taree two starts back and then a game runner-up over 2100m at Tamworth at his latest outing. Tajawal (Ire) just seems to be hitting his straps now that he’s race fit to contest ‘10-furlong’ events and barrier 3 should give him every chance to continue his encouraging upturn in form.

Saturday

Caulfield Race 1 – 12:05pm Off The Track BM78 Handicap (2400m)

ST VINCENTS GARDEN (IRE) will need to show some improved form if he’s to continue racing in the ownership of Lloyd Williams and Jamie Packer out of the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable based at Cranbourne. An imported stayer formerly with Joseph O’Brien in Ireland, the 5-year-old son of Camelot was responsible for an eye-catching effort on the Sunshine Coast last July when having his first start Down Under but is yet to show anything like the same promise in three race starts since. To be ridden by 3kg apprentice Tom Prebble in this Benchmark 78, St Vincents Garden (Ire) will be the lightest-weighted horse in the contest and will have no excuse if he can’t prove competitive.

Randwick Race 5 – 2:05pm Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m)

Remember the Royal Sovereign Stakes, won by gallopers of the quality of Sidestep, Rebel Dane, Dancer Hero, Exceed And Excel. Lonhro, to give a sample, well this race is the Royal Sovereign Stakes, except for the sponsor’s name. Perhaps the latter could combine with the former to remember the feats of the past. Editorial over and moving forward the sponsor just happens to co-own AUTUMN GLOW who contests Saturday’s renewal. The Autumn Sun filly is unbeaten in her four starts and only circumstances have prevented her embedding a Group 1 on her record sheet. She is up against the males again here, including stablemate and Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life, and she should leave them in her wake again.

Randwick Race 8 – 3:55pm – Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)

This race was rated third in the Longines Top 100 Group 1 races in the world last year and this year’s field of 13 includes just two Australian-bred runners, Tom Kitten and Lindermann. Pause for reflection just days after the major yearling sale of the season. It is to one of those two, LINDERMANN, that we turn. The 2023 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner has started four times this campaign for two seconds and two thirds, the last second behind the rampaging Via Sistina (IRE) in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes over 2000m at Rosehill on March 22nd.  The mare is a phenomenon in her own world, but Lindermann is at extravagant odds even for a place and the five-year-old Lonhro gelding runs to his own rhythm never flagging the task at hand.

Morphettvile Race 9 – 5:38pm Sportsbet Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m)

HOT MAJESTY looks a work in progress but ticks a few of boxes for this lead-up into the SAJC South Australian Derby. Trained by the Hayes boys, the gelding is a member of the all conquering Too Darn Hot (GB) breed and even races in the colours of Lord A Lloyd-Webber — as did the rampaging Dubawi stallion. Hot Majesty is also one of a couple of interest rides in Adelaide for Billy Egan, an under-rated jockey heading interstate on Saturday when he probably could have had a reasonable book at Bendigo. Hot Majesty got well out of his ground at his latest start when a late-closing third at Pakenham. He should press his claims for a Derby start in the coming weeks.