The 2016 Carrington Stakes nominations have been extended after only eight horses were included in the initial entries for the Listed event.
Barbed could be one of three Godolphin-trained gallopers in the 2016 Carrington Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
John O’Shea is the only trainer with multiple runners in the Carrington Stakes nominations and Barbed, Medcaut and Sarajevo could all represented Godolphin in the feature event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Medcaut is set to take winning form into the Carrington Stakes following his narrow win over Monton in the December Handicap, but Barbed and Sarajevo have both failed to fire this preparation.
Barbed missed the placings in both the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick on December 12 and the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 1, while Sarajevo was beaten as an easing favourite in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Team Hawkes won the 2015 edition of the Carrington Stakes with Ninth Legion and they are set to be represented in this year’s race by Agent.
Agent started his summer campaign with a couple of flat performances in the Flying Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm on October 5 and the Bradford Soundscreen Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 31, but he has since performed well without winning in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) on November 28, the Sportsyear Diary Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on December 19 and the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1400m) at the same venue on January 2.
One of the most interesting horses in the 2016 Carrington Stakes nominations is Red Excitement, who will have the chance to record his first race win since he took out the Chester Manifold Stakes over a year ago.
Red Excitement started his summer campaign with a flat effort behind Disposition in the Group 3 Guvera Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 31 and he produced a slightly improved performance when fifth behind Mighty Lucky in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 28 before he never looked likely in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on December 12.
Chris Waller-trained You’ll Never has not been seen at the races since he finished sixth in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 1, while both veteran gelding Hidden Warrior and Matthew Smith-trained Zin Zan Eddie could round out what is likely to be a very small Carrington Stakes field.
