A capacity field of twenty runners will line up in the Group 2 $250,000 Inglis Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Frespanol, above, has drawn the inside barrier in the 20 horse Villiers Stakes field. at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Gosford galloper Mighty Lucky has dawn midfield at barrier nine with Nathan Thomas retaining the ride after the pair scored a narrow victory over It’s Somewhat and Peace Force in the Listed $150,000 Sky Thoroughbred Central Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last Saturday week.
Trainer Fred Cowell said that Might Lucky deserves his chance to win a Group race and will be hard to beat again if he can repeat his last start gutsy win.
“He’s not a Group One horse but the Villiers won’t be a lot stronger than that (The Festival Stakes),” Cowell said.
“He’s a lovely horse. He’s by Casino Prince and they are all lovely horses.”
The John O’Shea trained It’s Somewhat will be lining up against Might Lucky again and has drawn awkwardly at barrier fourteen and will also have to contend with the top weight of 59kg.
James McDonald was aboard It’s Somewhat in the Fesitval Stakes and takes the ride in the Villiers Stakes.
O’Shea will also saddle up Malice who is having his first start since running fifth to Casino Dancer in the Group 3 $150,000 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on November 14.
Sam Clipperton takes the ride and Malice should get a good run from barrier seven.
Casino Prince has drawn well at gate three and has also made the trip up from Melbourne with Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield replacing James Winks.
The Mike Moroney trained Rhythm To Spare is also making the trip north after wins in a BenchMark 96 (1600m) at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and a win in the Listed $120,000 Kilmore Cup (1600m) at Kilmore on November 22.
The Chris Waller pair of I’m Imposing and Telepathic both had no luck at the barrier draw, coming up with gates seventeen and eighteen.
Joss Parr rides I’m Imposing, taking over from regular rider Tye Angland who will be riding at Doomben on Saturday while Jason Collett replaces James McDonald on Telepathic.
Ten year old I’m Imposing showed that he still has some life left in his old legs when he made up ground from the back to be beaten four lengths when eighth to Mighty Lucky in the Festival Stakes.
While Telepathic will be stepping up in class as she chases a hat trick of wins following her victories in a BenchMark 85 Handicap over 1500m and in the Listed $100,000 Tyreel Stud ATC Cup (2000m) both at Rosehill.
Happy Clapper is another chasing his third win on the trot and has drawn well at barrier six with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle again.
Avdulla was aboard Happy Clapper for his two previous wins in a 1200m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Randwick and again in the same class over 1500m at Rosehill.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Frespanol has drawn the inside gate in the Villiers Stakes while stablemate Pheidon has come up with barrier eleven.
Zanbagh, from the John Thompson stable, has drawn barrier nineteen while Gerald Ryan’s Red Excitement will jump from the extreme outside gate of twenty.
