Horse Racing Preview Weekend 18 04
Worth a closer look…
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
Saturday
Randwick Race 7 – 3:00pm Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m)
Not the finest of renewals of the Champagne Stakes without much in the way of developing representation from the earlier legs of the Sydney Two-Year-old Triple Crown. The Hawkes’ trained Nepotism is the deserved favourite after his good win in the Group 3 Baillieu Stakes over 1400m at Rosehill on April 1st. His dam side through Helsinge and Scandinavia is worthy of his black type success. Searching wider for clues that might suggest stamina for a juvenile to reach 1600m at this early stage of their career was not that rewarding. It might, however, be worth a watch for IS IT SPECTACULAR, the Dundeel colt trained by Sara Ryan at Wyong. The colt won over 1300m at Warwick Farm at his last start on April 2nd. While not exactly a natural stepping stone to Group 1 company, he has the input of both Redoute’s Choice and Pins to assist if he is mature, and good enough. Something to observe.
Mornington Race 9 – 4:35pm Sportsbet Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m)
War Machine (NZ) is a very rapid son of Harry Angel (ire) that was tried upto 1500m in the spring when contesting the Golden Eagle in Sydney before running in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at 1400m the start after. Three times a winner from his first nine career starts, the Kiwi-bred gelding was an emphatic winner of the Bendigo Guineas as a 3-year-old when given the impression he was a very useful galloper in the making. War Machine (NZ) has had two jump-outs in preparation for this first-up assignment and has drawn perfectly in barrier one. He’s a talent worth following this campaign.
Randwick Race 8 – 3:40pm, Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m)
There have been 30 three-year-old colts and geldings who have won the All Aged Stakes and on Saturday Godolphin’s BROADSIDING might just make it 31. This is despite the colt coming back from winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m back on March 22nd. He made the distance, but it may well be at the limit of his range and the pull back is not a drastic as it may seem. Broadsiding has won three of his four starts over 1400m, the last in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes on February 22nd. Saturday is a step up from the Hobartville, but James McDonald will know when to test the accelerator.
Randwick Race 10 – 4:55pm Pace Setters Handicap (1400m)
STRAIT ACER is now in a new stable and is worth keeping tabs on. Formerly with Edward Cummings, the 5-year-old was placed in Group 1 company over 1400m at one stage of his career but seemed to lose his way when assigned longer events — the 1800m Five Diamonds a prime example. Strait Acer has some handy form over 1200m and 1400m, and two wins to his credit either first or second up. His impending campaign under the scrutiny of the O’Shea-Charlton training combination could prove well worth following.
Sunday
Nakayama Race 11 – 4.40pm AEST Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (2000m) – Sky Racing2
The Kitasan Black colt Croix du Nord won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in December, importantly at the same course and over the same distance. This will be an interesting ask of the colt being his first start of the season and straight to the 1800m. It is too early to compare him to former winners such as Deep Impact (2005), Victoire Pisa (2010), Duramente (2015) and Contrail (2020), but on Sunday we shall see if he has the making of star status to justify his probable firm favourite status.
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