Champion mare Winx will resume in the feature race on 2017 Warwick Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon; this weekend’s premiere card in Sydney.
Winx will resume in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart
Talented fields have been drawn to all nine races on 2017 Warwick Stakes Day, but we have analysed each horse in detail, in order to help you find a winner.
The action on 2017 Warwick Stakes Day is set to get underway with the running of the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old fillies at 12:00pm, while Winx will step out in the feature race at 3pm.
Race 1 (12:00pm) Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m)
Only five fillies have been confirmed in the Silver Shadow Stakes field, however there is a case to be made for each runner. Formality (barrier 1) was a standout for Lindsay Park through her two-year-old campaign; winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1200m) most notably and ending her campaign an agonizingly-close second in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m). She is a proven first-up performer and has trialled well in the lead-up to the Silver Shadow Stakes. Alizee (barrier 5) returned to the races for a comfortable mid-week win in Sydney and should take plenty of improvement into this race, and will relish a step-up to 1200m. Champagne Cuddles (barrier 2) is yet to contest a race under black type conditions, but is also yet to taste anything but success and will have conditions to suit in the Silver Shadow Stakes. One More Honey (barrier 3) and Villa Carlotta (barrier 4) complete the field.
Tip: No. 2 Formality ($3.30)
Race 2 (12:40pm) Randwick Mayor’s Cup (2400m)
A small field has also been taken for the Randwick Mayor’s Cup, however the Chris Waller-trained Sayed (barrier 1) is shaping as the horse to beat. Sayed has failed to finish worse than second through six starts in 2017 and is seeking a third-consecutive win on Saturday following a near six-length triumph in the John & Denise Cobcroft BM85 (2400m) a fortnight ago. Auvray (barrier 6) has steadily built to the task this time and will enjoy the conditions of this race, while Vassal (barrier 4) is drawn ideally and weighted to be right in the finish of the race. Get On The Grange (barrier 7) has produced several impressive performances this time, including a close second in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) and looms as the major danger to Sayed.
Tip: No. 1 Sayed ($1.50)
Race 3 (1:15pm) Harvey Norman TAB Highway Plate (1600m)
Fourteen horses have been drawn to this weekend’s Highway Handicap, including Arrestar (barrier 1). The Star Witness gelding was a comfortable winner at Doomben on August 5th and should find no issue in taking up the running on Saturday from the rails draw. Whiskey Throttle (barrier 12) has only made one appearances at the races so far, but was a dominant winner at Scone and should find a good position off the pace from a wide draw. Vee Eight (barrier 10) was luckless before finishing fourth last time out and is over the odds and his current quote, while Zardabba (barrier 5) faces a step up in class, but has posted two wins through his three most-recent starts and is not without a hope.
Tip: No. 5 Vee Eight – Each Way ($17/$5)
Race 4 (1:50pm) Broccolini Handicap (1400m)
An open field of ten will line up in Race 4 on Warwick Stakes Day and there is a case to be made for several horses. Comin’ Through (barrier 4) has not been seen at the races since he finished eighth in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), but he is a notable first-up performer, has drawn well and is arguably the class horse of this field. Mogador (barrier 1) has failed to find his best form this time in, but he has the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle this weekend and has plenty of early options from the rails draw. Embley (barrier 7) has also failed to fire in two previous starts this time, but will be rock-hard fit ahead of this race and is drawn and weighted well, with in-form hoop Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle. Francesco (barrier 6) and Ebenos (barrier 2) are both live chances.
Tip: No. 2 Comin’ Through ($4)
Race 5 (2:25pm) Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m)
Ten three-year-olds have been confirmed in the final field for the Up And Coming Stakes; a race often used as a lead-up to the Group 1 Golden Rose. Trapeze Artist (barrier 6) produced several strong performances and results as a three-year-old and will relish the conditions of the Up And Coming Stakes first-up. Godolphin pair Toga Picta (barrier 8) and Sanctioned (barrier 7) will both resume in the race, but have trialled well and should run well fresh. Assimilate (barrier 9) is yet to contest a race at black type level, but is undefeated through two career starts and has conditions to suit in the Up And Coming Stakes. Calculated (barrier 4) ran second behind Siege Of Quebec last time out and should have no issue finding a position close to the early pace from barrier 4.
Tip: No. 5 Assimilate – Each Way ($8/$2.70)
Race 6 (3:00pm) Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m)
Eight talented horses will take a place in the Warwick Stakes field, but equine superstar Winx (barrier 2) should surely just prove too difficult to beat. The two-time Cox Plate champion is seeking her eighteenth-consecutive race win on Saturday and has trialled exceedingly well in the lead-up to this race. Stable mates Foxplay (barrier 3) and Antonio Giuseppe (barrier 5) are both drawn to receive good runs in transit and neither would look out of place in the first three. Ecuador (barrier 6) performs well in races like this and is over the odds for a place at his current quotes, while stayers Red Excitement (barrier 4) and Allergic (barrier 1) probably need the run and more distance to figure in contention.
Tip: No. 7 Winx ($2 to finish 1st or 2nd at Ladbrokes.com.au*)
Race 7 (3:40pm) Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m)
Eleven horses will chase black type success in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality on Saturday afternoon. several of the fillies and mares confirmed in the field are resuming and there is a case to be made for a horse like Rocket Commander (barrier 10), who has steadily built to the task this time in and should relish the conditions of this race, particularly with only 53kgs in tow. Zanbagh (barrier 7), Dixie Blossoms (barrier 5) and Imposing Lass (barrier 9) were strong and consistent performer through the recent Autumn Carnival and have the class to win this race first-up, while Shazee Lee (barrier 8) and Perfect Rhyme (barrier 3) also have first-up claims.
Tip: No. 5 Rocket Commander – Each Way ($14/$4.10)
Race 8 (4:20pm) Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m)
Ten talented horses have been confirmed in the Show County Quality field and it is shaping as one of the more hotly-contested events on the nine-race card. Omei Sword (barrier 7) has been plagued by injury in recent seasons, but is the class horse of this field and should prove tough to beat. Spectroscope (barrier 5) burst onto the Australian racing scene in autumn, will have taken plenty of benefit from his time in the paddock and will be partnered by Hugh Bowman. Ron Quinton will launch a smart two-pronged attack in the form of Boss Lane (barrier 8) and Daysee Doom (barrier 6); both of whom are live chances of winning the race. Burning Passion (barrier 9) failed to fire last time, but is a live chance in this field if that run is forgiven.
Tip: No. 3 Spectroscope – Each Way ($5.50/$2)
Race 9 (5:00pm) Primo Handicap (1000m)
Twelve horses will step out in the final race on 2017 Warwick Stakes Day. It is an open field and there is a case to be more for close to every runner, however consistent performer Clipper (barrier 6) has continued to herald the greatest market share of bets to win the race and is set to start an outright favourite. The Beneteau mare won each of her first two starts this time and has finished in the minors in her two most-recent appearances. Gibraltar Girl (barrier 9) has not been seen at the races since May, but has trialled well leading into this race and is one of the field’s class horses. Sangiovese (barrier 2) has been racing well and would not look out of place in the winner’s stall at good odds.
Tip: No. 10 Clipper ($4)
