Ray Thomas’ verdicts for all four Group 1s on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday
Is Kiwi raider Orchestral too good for our fillies? Will Via Sistina justify her short quote in the Queen Elizabeth? Ray Thomas provides his verdict for all Group 1 races at Randwick on Saturday.
Opinion
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Racenet’s Ray Thomas looks at all the key betting chances for the Group 1s at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships and provides his verdict for each race.
$5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) – The Contenders
VIA SISTINA – trainer Chris Waller
Via Sistina was a multiple Group 1 performer in the northern hemisphere, including her win in the prestigious Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and a second placing, beaten less than a length, to King Of Steel in the Champions Stakes at Ascot. She made her Australian debut in the Ranvet Stakes and scored a brilliant last-to-first win, unleashing a stunning burst of acceleration from the turn. If she runs up to her Rosehill effort, she is clearly the one to beat.
PRIDE OF JENNI – trainer Ciaron Maher
Pride Of Jenni has emerged as a brave, front-running mare who scored successive Group 1 wins over the Flemington 1600m course last spring and has returned in similar form this autumn. She was narrowly beaten by Mr Brightside first-up in the Orr Stakes, then exacted revenge over that horse in the All-Star Mile before her close second to Cascadian in the Australian Cup. She will ensure the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is run at a genuine tempo and make for an exciting race.
CASCADIAN – trainer James Cummings
Godolphin’s Cascadian is a rising 10-year-old but retains his zest for racing and a fierce competitive spirit. He showed those qualities again last start when he finished fast to reel in Pride Of Jenni near the line to win his second Australian Cup. He’s a four-time Group 1 winner of more than $10 million prizemoney and will make his conspicuous late charge to the finish.
MR BRIGHTSIDE – trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes
Mr Brightside has contested 10 races this season for nine top-two finishes including four Group 1 wins in the Memsie Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes. His second placings have been in the King Charles III Stakes, Cox Plate, Champions Mile and All-Star Mile. His last start fifth in Cascadian’s Australian Cup was an aberration. Wonderfully consistent, a dual Doncaster Mile winner at Randwick, and one of the main chances.
PLACE DU CARROUSEL – trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman
Place Du Carrousel is another high class imported mare who won five of her 10 starts in France, including the Group 1 Prix De L’Opera at Longchamp, beating the outstanding Nashwa. She made her debut for the Freedman stable in the Ranvet Stakes and gave new owners Yulong a Group 1 quinella when second to Via Sistina. She can only improve from her Rosehill run.
RAY THOMAS’ QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES VERDICT
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes brings together an outstanding field of the nation’s best middle distance weight-for-age horses. Exciting front-runner Pride Of Jenni will ensure this is run at a genuine tempo which gives proven Group 1 performers like Via Sistina, Cascadian and Mr Brightside their opportunity. This will be an intriguing test of speed and stamina.
TAB Fixed Odds Betting
$2.10 Via Sistina
$4 Pride Of Jenni
$8 Cascadian
$11 Mr Brightside, Place Du Caroussel
$15 Ceolwulf
* * * * *
$2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) – The Contenders
CIRCLE OF FIRE – Trainer Ciaron Maher
Circle Of Fire, the former English stayer, lacks experience having had only nine starts but is very promising as he demonstrated last Saturday when he finished strongly to win the Chairman’s Quality. He gets into the Sydney Cup with only 51.5g and Ciaron Maher is without peer as a trainer of stayers.
ASHRUN – trainer Ciaron Maher
Ashrun was a Group 3 winner in France before winning the 2020 Hotham Handicap and running 10th in Twilight Payment’s Melbourne Cup. He suffered a serious leg injury that kept him sidelined for nearly three years before returning in the spring to run second in the Geelong Cup and a very game fourth in Without A Fight’s Melbourne Cup. Ashrun’s extraordinary comeback continued this autumn with his win in the Pakenham Cup and third in Kalapour’s Tancred Stakes.
AMADE – trainer Phillip Stokes
Amade is another former European stayer who has overcome his own injury problems to be competitive in our best staying races. He won his first race in more than two years when he edged out Ashrun in the Geelong Cup last spring. His recent form is excellent including an unbelievable effort in the Adelaide Cup when his rider, Zac Spain, lost his irons early in the 3200m race but the 10-year-old gelding still ran into the race on the turn and finished a very good fourth. He stays all day.
Kalapour, yet another imported stayer, has improved with racing. He won the Group 3 Archer (formerly Hotham) Stakes at Flemington during the spring but was well beaten in the Melbourne Cup won by Without A Fight. But Kalapour has gone to a new level this autumn running a very good second to Lindermann in the Sky High Stakes then showed his toughness holding on to win the Group 1 Tancred Stakes last start. The 3200m will test him but he’s in career-best form.
ATHABASCAN – trainer John O’Shea
Athabascan is a former French stayer who has continued to improve every preparation since joining trainer John O’Shea’s stable. He scored stakes wins in the City Tattersall’s Cup and Colin Stephen Quality last spring and has been very competitive in three unsuitable races this autumn including his closing fourth in Kalapour’s Tancred Stakes.
RAY THOMAS’ SYDNEY CUP VERDICT
This Sydney Cup is stacked with tough former European stayers. It’s shaping as a very open contest, as reflected by the early betting, but new kid on the block Circle Of Fire has come up as favourite after his win in the Chairman’s last Saturday. Ashrun is the comeback story of the season, while Amade, Kalapour, Athabascan and Glentaneous will have their admirers in a race will be a survival of the fittest.
TAB Fixed Odds Betting
$4.50 Circle Of Fire
$6 Ashrun
$8 Kalapour
$11 Amade, Athabascan
$15 Manzoice, Mahrajaan
* * * * *
$1m The Star Australian Oaks (2400m) – The Contenders
ORCHESTRAL – trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood
Orchestral is New Zealand’s superstar filly, winner six of her nine starts including five races in succession going into the Oaks. She has reeled off wins in the Karaka 3yo Millions and Avondale Guineas before Group 1 wins in the New Zealand Derby and Vinery Stud Stakes. She was outstanding at Rosehill, making a long, sustained run to reel in Tutta La Vita near the line. Clearly the one to beat.
ZARDOZI – trainer James Cummings
Zardozi loomed up to challenge in the Vinery Stud Stakes but just peaked on her run when third to Orchestral last start. The gifted Godolphin filly is the big improver and showed her class last spring with her dominant win in the Victoria Oaks, streaking clear to win by more than two lengths. She was scratched from the ATC Australian Derby last Saturday to be saved for the Oaks.
TUTTA LA VITA – trainer Chris Waller
Tutta La Vita has only one minor race win in 10 starts but there is no denying her staying ability. She showed glimpses of her potential last spring at Group 1 level with her third in the Flight Stakes and fourth in the Spring Champion Stakes. She has been in good form this autumn with her fast finishing third in the Surround Stakes and second placing in the Vinery Stud Stakes, both at Group 1 level. She took off before the turn and nearly stole it last start. She can trouble the favourites.
AUTUMN ANGEL – trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman
Autumn Angel won the Ethereal Stakes last spring but was spelled rather than extend her campaign to the VRC Oaks. Her connections have eyed the ATC Australian Oaks ever since and she was right on target with a stylish Group 2 Kewney Stakes win. She was an unfortunate raceday scratching from the Vinery Stud Stakes but lined up in the Adrian Knox Stakes shouldering 61kg and was brave in defeat, losing narrowly and conceding 8kg to the winner, Good Banter.
BASILINNA – trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne
Basilinna was competitive with the top fillies in the spring, finishing third in the Ethereal Stakes and VRC Oaks. She was very good second-up when narrowly beaten by Autumn Angel in the Kewney Stakes. There were excuses for her unplaced run in the Alister Clark Stakes and she is better suited back against the fillies here.
RAY THOMAS’ AUSTRALIAN OAKS VERDICT
The Oaks is shaping as a classic showdown between Orchestral and Zardozi. Orchestral is very short in betting but deservedly so after successive Group 1 wins. Zardozi won the Oaks at Flemington last spring and is peaking for this race. Tutta La Vita and Autumn Angel are big improvers, and Quintessa and Basilinna are strong stayers.
TAB Fixed Odds Betting
$1.90 Orchestral
$3.50 Zardozi
$6 Autumn Angel
$8 Tutta La Vita
$15 Quintessa
$26 Basilinna
* * * * *
$1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) – The Contenders
ZOUGOTCHA – trainer Chris Waller
Zougotcha has returned in outstanding form, winning the Millie Fox Stakes first-up, beating Lady Laguna, then shouldering 57kg for a tough win over Semana in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic. Trainer Chris Waller decided against running Zougotcha in the Doncaster last week from a wide barrier on the wet track to be saved for this race. She’s a deserved favourite.
ATISHU – trainer Chris Waller
Atishu broke through at Group 1 level to win this race last year, powering clear to win by two lengths. She has continued that form this season, winning the Group 1 Champions Stakes, beating Duais, last spring and then taking out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes two starts back. She was competitive in the Australian Cup, finishing a close third to Cascadian. She’s very fit and suited coming back to the mile against her own sex.
OLENTIA – trainer Chris Waller
Olentia gives trainer Chris Waller a very powerful hand in the race. She has always promised plenty and is starting realise her potential this autumn. After a very unlucky first-up second to Semana in the Triscay Stakes, she had five weeks between starts and might have been short of a run when fourth to subsequent Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes winner Chain Of Lightning in the Birthday Card Stakes but was dynamic on the seven-day back-up romping away with the Emancipation Stakes. She’s a definite contender.
CAMPIONESSA – trainer Mark Walker
Campionessa is a rising seven-year-old mare but she seems to be getting better with age. She broke through at Group 1 level to win the Zabeel Classic in New Zealand late last year and has brought hat form across the Tasman, winning the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes before a luckless third in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes. She’s in great form and excels at 1600m.
TROPICAL SQUALL – trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Tropical Squall won the Group 1 Flight Stakes over the Randwick mile last spring and resumed with another Group 1 win in the Surround Stakes. She tried hard in the Coolmore Classic, leading for a long way before a close fourth to Zougotcha, beaten a half length. She’s a very tough, genuine filly who will give a great sight.
MAKARENA – trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes
Makarena is a talented filly who deserves a change of luck. She had a tough run but still ran competitively when fifth in Tropical Squall’s Surround Stakes, bumped into a rampant Zardozi in the Flight Stakes, then was stuck on the rails and held up behind runners for most of the straight when fourth to Olentia in the Emancipation Stakes. The mile will test her but is certain to run another competitive race.
RAY THOMAS’ QUEEN OF THE TURF VERDICT
This is a very strong renewal of the Queen of the Turf Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained trio of Zougotcha, Atishu and Olentia are in great form and will be hard to beat. Campionessa is a very talented Kiwi mare, Tropical Squall and Makarena are classy fillies, while Ruthless Dame and Osmose are class mares who will be very competitive.
TAB Fixed Odds Betting
$3.50 Zougotcha
$6 Atishu, Tropical Squall
$11 Olentia, Semana, Makarena
$15 Campionessa, Ruthless Dame
Originally published as Ray Thomas’ verdicts for all four Group 1s on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday
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