Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
G1 All-Aged Stakes - a who's who of Australian racing
What a great history this 1400 metres weight-for-age contest boasts. First run in 1866 as a feature mile contest - remaining at that distance until 2003, its honour roll inclusive of such outstanding gallopers as Carbine (NZ), Wakeful (Trenton {NZ}), Desert Gold (NZ) (All Black {GB}), Peter Pan (Pantheon {GB}), Ajax, Bernborough, Tulloch (NZ), Tobin Bronze, Emancipation (Bletchingly) and Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}).
Quite a 'who's who' list of the turf there! It is a race which has not, in recent years, been dominated by any one stable - 14 different trainers in the last 14 years.
Chris Waller has however cheered home two All-Aged winners - Danleigh (Mujahid {USA}) in 2009 and Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in 2021... and he saddles up this year's favourite Espiona (Extreme Choice) whose jockey Nash Rawiller also has two All-Aged successes to his name; Hana's Goal (Jpn) (Orewa Matteruze {Jpn}) in 2014 and Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre {USA}) in 2007.
Espiona | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Espiona is one of the five runners coming through one of the best historic guides to this race - the G1 TJ Smith S. Flashing home late having been held up at a vital stage, she seeks to turn the tables on that race's gutsy on pace winner Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun).
“Chris Waller has however cheered home two All-Aged winners - Danleigh in 2009 and Kolding in 2021... and he saddles up this year's favourite Espiona.”
Vying for favouritism is another classy mare in Sunshine In Paris (Invader) who has drawn a better gate than she did when getting back and wide in the TJ; her effort to fun fifth just three-quarter length from the winner a solid one.
Drawn alongside her, also enjoying a more favourable draw than when he was picking plate from the rear in the TJ is Buenos Noches (Supido) whilst Magic Time (Hellbent) will strip fitter for her run in that race - her first outing since a close up, first up G1 Newmarket H. sixth.
Sunshine In Paris | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The G1 George Ryder S. is another solid guide to this race and five of its contestants line up here including Golden Mile (Astern) who showed improvement with gear changes, the 3-year-old Encap (Capitalist) who was on the heels of the placegetters and Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible) who drifted just too far back.
Adding interest is the high class Private Eye (Al Maher) who has not been having the best of luck of late and the G1 Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon).
G1 Champagne Stakes - the third leg
It is a small but select group of eight youngsters contesting the final leg of the Sydney juvenile Triple Crown with just one of those - the favourite Manaal (Tassort) - having also raced in the first two; the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Sires Produce S.
“It is a small but select group of eight youngsters contesting the final leg of the Sydney juvenile Triple Crown with just one of those - the favourite Manaal - having also raced in the first two; the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Sires Produce S.”
The Emirates Park home-bred was not in the best part of the track when finishing off strongly to run an eye-catching Slipper fifth, appreciating the step up to the 1400 metres in the Sires in which she showed heart getting up in the last stride defeating Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) and Coleman (Pierata) who had also both ran well in the big one.
Only two other Sires runners take her on again - Fearless (Pierata) who finished sixth and Anode (I Am Invincible) who was seventh. Both looked to have every chance but the heavy going may not have suited - so they have to be worth another chance with their lead-up form to that day much better.
Manaal | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The former ran pretty well when sixth in the G1 Blue Diamond S. whilst the latter at his three previous outings was in the placings in stakes company.
There a few interesting breeding tie-ins with previous Champagne S. winners.
Manaal is a daughter of the first season sire Tassort whose high achieving fourth dam Triscay (Marscay) won this race in 1990 - the first of her five elite level successes.
Fearless has quite the Champagne pedigree - his grandsire Pierro won the race in 2012 (becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Dance Hero (Danzero) in 2004) whilst his superstar second dam sire Vain won the 1969 edition by ten lengths in record time.
Tassort | Standing at Newgate Farm
Dundeel (NZ) was represented in the winner's circle last year by Militarize who saluted at nice odds having been unplaced in the Slipper. That Arrowfield based stallion has two grandsons in this year's race - the unbeaten Linebacker (Super Seth) and the maiden (though a very promising one) El Castello (Castelvecchio).
The Quokka - Deja vu for Overpass?
Perth's rich slot race sees a full field of 14 (plus four emergencies) vying for their share for the $5 million on offer.
The 1200 metres dash was run for the first time last year, taken out by Overpass (Vancouver) who again ventured to Ascot late last year, adding to his impressive record the G1 Winterbottom S.
In the placings in that race were Written Tycoon's grandsons Oscar's Fortune (Rich Enuff) and Ripcord (Written By) whilst placed behind him in the Quokka were Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai)... and all four of those horses are amongst his rivals this weekend.
Overpass took out the Quokka in 2023 | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Overpass was first up off good trial form when successful twelve months ago and that is the case again. He drew barrier eight for Joshua Parr that day and the same jockey takes the ride from barrier six.
Amelia's Jewel is favourite to take her revenge on Overpass and she also has to turn the tables on Oscar's Fortune who was just too fast in the G3 Roma Cup in which Ripcord was strong to the line.
King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) seeks a third consecutive feature race win in a third state having taken out the RL Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast and the G2 Expressway S. at Randwick.
Amelia's Jewel is the favourite to take her revenge on Overpass | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) brings Group 1 form from New Zealand whilst the locals Wild Belle (Pride Of Dubai), Super Smink (Super One) and Petula (Nicconi) have been racing in fine form.
“Amelia's Jewel is favourite to take her revenge on Overpass and she also has to turn the tables on Oscar's Fortune.”
2YOs - G2 Karrakatta Plate & Listed Star Way Stakes
Aside from the G1 Champagne S., there are two stakes contests for the juveniles on Saturday - the G2 Karrakatta Plate at Ascot and the Listed Star Way S. at Ellerslie.
The last two winners of the Perth feature - Super Smink (Super One) and Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) - are both racing in The Quokka and it looks to be another smart field this year with Bustling (Frosted {USA}) impressive winning two of his first three starts.
The horse who inflicted upon him his only defeat again tackles him - Siren Assault (Rich Enuff) since then winning the G3 Gimcrack S., dashing clear over the final stages to defeat Golden Kathleen (Leonardo da Hinchi) and Earthstorm (Calyx {GB}).
Siren Assault as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Both of those horses were strong to the line and both again take Siren Assault on.
Favourite at Ellerslie is Love Poem (Snitzel) who has won a trial since finishing in the thick of things at her first two starts in Group company. This would be a nice race for her to break her maiden in but she has some nice competition.
Such as the fellow Australian bred gallopers Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) who did a bit wrong last time out and Boss 'N' Highheels (Written Tycoon) who dug deep to salute at debut.
Love Poem as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) also won his only start and adding interest are the first starters Whiskey 'N Roses (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) - a trial winning grandson of the Group 3 mare Rodrigo Rose (NZ) (Rodrigo de Triano {USA}), Fillygizalook (NZ) (Ardrossan) - a trial winning half-sister to this year's G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) and Brazen Proposal (NZ) (Brazen Beau) from the family of High Chaparral (Ire).
Mornington - Listed Mornington Cup & Listed Hareeba Stakes
It's Mornington's big day with its Saturday meeting attracting good fields including two feature contests - the Listed Hareeba S. for the speedsters and the Listed Mornington Cup, a 2400 metres race which gains its winner entrance into the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Last year's winner Right You Are (So You Think {NZ}) ran very nicely in the Caulfield Cup, finishing a game fifth.
The previous three Mornington Cup winners were imports and horses with suffixes are again big chances this year with Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) and Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) both nicely primed third up.
Last year's Listed Mornington Cup winner, Right You Are | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hopeful (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) gave a great sight only to be run down by the subsequent G1 Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G2 Chairman's H. whilst Strawberry Rock (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) just doesn't know how to run a bad race.
Leading the way for the locals are First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}) who can hit back off a disappointing second up performance and Little Mix (Mahisara) who just has to overcome his tricky draw to feature whilst a good representative for New Zealand is Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) who has won five of his eight starts.
The Hareeba S. sees a nice field of sprinters assembled with the major chances looking to be Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) who was tough off a wide run last time out, The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was an improver at his most recent outing, Pintoff (Toorak Toff) who is in flying form and La Danseuse Rouge (Manhattan Rain) who resumes off good jump-out form.
Jigsaw | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Also of interest are a couple of lightly raced horses showing considerable promise - the 3-year-old Maharba (Pride Of Dubai) and the year older and Grand Impact (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}).
The Randwick 3-year-olds - the G3 James HB Carr Stakes and the G3 Frank Packer Plate
The sprinting and middle distance 3-year-olds have feature races being run for them at Randwick on Saturday, the G3 James HB Carr S. over 1400 metres for fillies the third race on the card and the G3 Frank Packer Plate for the girls and the boys over 200 metres the fourth.
So open is the first of those races that markets have five horses quoted at single figure odds - Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) and Inhibitions (Zoustar) vying for favouritism with differing form lines; the former unplaced but not suited by a lack of pace in the G3 PJ Bell S. whilst the latter was Group 3 placed at Moonee Valley prior to a game win at Caulfield.
Also laying good claims to the race are Kristilli (Hellbent) and French Endeavour (Rubick) who are rarely far away and Scarlet Oak (Kermadec {NZ}) who created a big impression at her winning debut in New Zealand, since then looking good taking out a Warwick Farm trial.
Gallery: Miraval Rose and Inhibitions are vying for favouritism with differing form lines
She is one of three runners for Chris Waller who has taken out the last two runnings of this race with Olentia (Zoustar) and Saturday's G1 All-Aged S. contestant Espiona (Extreme Choice).
Waller also saddles up the favourite in the Frank Packer - a race he has dominated in recent years, cheering home four of the last six winners... Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro), Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}), Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Higher Ground (So You Think {NZ}).
Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) looks hard to beat having improved at each of his three runs this time in though his stablemates Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Anderson Bridge (NZ) (Savabeel) are nice chances on the back of good runs in the G2 Tulloch S.
