Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from All Aged Stakes day

Daily Telegraph racing writer Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances from Saturday’s All Aged Stakes day card and found a few horses worth following.

Churchill’s Choice (purple/white) is worthy following this preparation. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Daily Telegraph racing writer Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances from Saturday’s All Aged Stakes day card and found a few horses worth following.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

CHURCHILL’S CHOICE (4th, Race 4)

She may have lost her unblemished record but there was still plenty to like about this Nathan Doyle-trained filly’s return in the James HB Carr Stakes. A date with the Brisbane Winter Carnival could be in order.

MODELLA (5th, Race 4)

Trapped three deep throughout the James HB Carr Stakes, the daughter of Castelvecchio stuck on admirably to finish just over a length from the winner. Looking forward to see her get out to a mile next time.

Lilac shows them a clean pair of heels in the Mostycopper James H B Carr Stakes@mcacajamez with a great frontrunning ride for @ANeashamRacing 🏇 pic.twitter.com/AuIQ5HQ1wz

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) April 19, 2025

EXCELLADUS (8th, Race 5)

Did more than enough in his return to suggest he’s in for a good prep despite racing without a lot of room late in the straight. He’s the perfect off-season horse, back at the right time of year. Captain Amelia was great in the same race.

OSIPENKO (9th, Race 8)

He was always going to find these sprinters too sharp for him in the All Aged Stakes but he was strong through the line first-up from a break. Look for him third and fourth-up this prep up in Brisbane.

TAVI TIME (2nd, Race 10)

Couldn’t get past the brave Sandpaper in the final event on the program but was terrific in his return from a break. Don’t be surprised if he wins a Big Dance qualifier at Hawkesbury or Scone soon.

Sandpaper hangs on to win the last at Randwick!@BBakerRacing | @nashhot | @aus_turf_club | @Darby_Racingpic.twitter.com/eyg6BOMfJE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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STEWARDS SAY

Urafiki (Race 2): Found to be slow to recover, displaying heat stress and had blood present in the nearside nostril post-race.

Swiftfalcon (Race 3): Stewards questioned jockey Tyler Schiller and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes over the decision to ride the favourite more forward. His finishing effort was disappointing and Schiller felt he’d come to the end of his prep.

Bellazaine (Race 7): Weakened in the straight and was found to have blood present in the near nostril. She will now be spelled.

Tupakara (Race 7): A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to have sustained a minor laceration to the near-hind medial cannon.

Kimochi (Race 8): Weakened in the home straight after being required to race wide without cover. The mare was found to be 2/5 lame in the off-foreleg and 1/5 in the near-hind leg.

Broadsiding (Race 8): James McDonald felt the colt may not have been suited to be ridden so close as he failed to close off. A post-race examination found the colt to have a superficial abrasion above the nearside hock.

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CRUNCH TIME

More Territories (Race 4): Rattled off some slick closing splits to just miss out again from well back. Her last 600m of 34.02sec was the best of the James HB Carr Stakes and included a 11.57 second final furlong.

Captain Amelia (Race 5): Produced one of the hidden runs of the meeting, clocking the fastest last 600m of 33.15sec despite finishing 10th. Need Some Luck ran home in 33.96 to win the race.

Nepotism (Race 7): Didn’t have a runner behind him in the Group 1 before flashing home to win with a race best last 600m of 34.97sec. His 11.21 and 12.13 closing furlongs were pivotal.

Jimmysstar (Race 8): His final 200m won him the All Aged, finishing with a race-best 11.56sec split. Runner up Joliestar’s best last 600m of 33.84sec wasn’t enough to run down Jimmysstar (34.00).

✨ Jimmysstar adds another G1 to his list as he races away with the All Aged Stakes for @cmaherracing and @Brown_ethan8! 🙌@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/Obg9FvV2KC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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TRACK TALK

“He’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt in The Everest.” Ciaron Maher on Jimmysstar.

“I was very close to hanging the boots up but there was something deep down telling me that I’m not finished yet and I’d be dirty on myself if I didn’t have a crack again.” All Aged Stakes winning rider Ethan Brown.

“We came around the corner and I thought ‘is he going to get there’, but he has an exceptional turn-of-foot. Last to first, unbelievable.” Nepotism’s co-trainer Michael Hawkes.

A huge win for Nepotism in the G1 Champagne Stakes, coming from last! 💪@G1TySchil | @HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/moZrj6EBgx

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

“Jamie (Melham) seems to have a real affinity with this horse and we’ll see if we can get her on for something in Queensland.” Joe Pride after Mazu’s Hall Mark Stakes win.

“I love this horse. He’s a horse that you can’t tell what to do, you’ve got to ask him.” Melham on Mazu.

“He’s definitely not a 2000m horse, might be a mile/1800m. He had every chance today.” Tyler Schiller on Swiftfalcon.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

Champagne Stakes

Nepotism, the favourite at $4 out from $3.60, had some good money behind it, including one happy TAB punter who had $4500 on at $3.80.

All Aged Stakes

The money was pretty evenly spread between favourite Briasa, Broadsiding and winner Jimmysstar, who attracted a winning $5000 place bet at $2.10 and multiple $3000 bets at $6.50 and $5.50 respectively.

Hall Mark Stakes

Mazu was third favourite and was backed from $6 into $4.40 by the time it jumped and won, but the big money was elsewhere. Bittersweet result but still a nice return for the TAB punter who had $4000 each-way on second placed Coal Crusher at $14/$3.80.

Mazu makes it back-to-back TAB Hall Mark Stakes! 👏@PrideRacing | @jamieleekah07 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/0jDVdYIYFO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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THE SCHEDULE

Monday: Canterbury Park, Muswellbrook

Tuesday: Coffs Harbour, Queanbeyan

Wednesday: Newcastle

Thursday: Albury, Tamworth

Friday: Kensington, Gosford, Kempsey, Murwillumbah, Armidale, Bathurst

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Grafton, Cootamundra, Leeton

Sunday: Narromine, Port Macquarie

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RON DUFFICY’S ROYAL RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY 

Impossible to go past Nepotism who produced a “GOUT GOUT” final 100m coming from an impossible position winning the Champagne Stakes. He is obviously a very exciting horse moving into his three-year-old season.

FORGET THEY RAN 

Barriers have been a huge issue for the very talented Sunshine In Paris for a while now. Her effort again to get as close as she did in the All Aged Stakes has to be admired.

THE BLACKBOOK 

The inexperienced Churchill’s Choice did a fantastic job put in the deep end first-up and her effort with not much room to balance up was of a filly with plenty of upside while the other to follow is out of the same race in Modella who didn’t have a lot go right from an awkward draw.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Ethan Brown given opportunity proved he is a big time performer. He rated Bois D’Argent beautifully in front and his ride on Jimmystar was a proper Group 1 performance.

Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from All Aged Stakes day