All Aged Stakes day at Randwick today will be run on another rain affected surface after both days of ‘The Championships’ kicked off on heavy tracks.
All Aged Stakes favourite Chautauqua will have no trouble handling a rain affected track at Randwick. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
The Randwick track has been rated a soft 6 for the final day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival after receiving 15.8mm of rain during the last seven days with 0.8mm falling in the last twenty-four hours.
The first day of ‘The Championships’ was scheduled for Saturday April 4 but had to be postponed until the following Monday after the Randwick surface was deemed unraceable following a week of heavy rain.
The Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) was run a soft 7 after the track was upgraded from a heavy 9 earlier in the day.
While the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) was also run on a soft 7 on the second day off ‘The Championships’ the following Saturday after the rain continued during the week which had the Randwick track rated a heavy 8 at the start of the day.
The forecast for today in Sydney is for a fine day with a top temperature of 27 degrees with the prospect of rain in the early evening.
The rail is out 8m from the 1600m to the winning post and 5m for the remainder of the course.
Sky Racing commentator Michael Fraser said that he walked the track on Friday morning and said it was a genuine soft 6.
“It’s a very competitive meeting here today. I thought there was several races with plenty value in it,” Fraser said.
“We have this 8m rail and I had a walk on Thursday and I went for another walk on the track yesterday morning around about ten o’clock, I think we had most of the rain by then. It was a genuine soft six for sure and certain yesterday, how much has dried out I am not really sure but I’d say it is still going to be into the dead range when you get out to the centre of the track.”
“Unfortunately I do think that the fence is going to be a little bit firmer in the early races for sure and certain.”
“Initially the firmer surface is on the inside.”
The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua will have no trouble handling the wet conditions in the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) after coming from last on the turn on a soft 7 to win the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’.
Chautauqua is still a comfortable favourite at $3.30 at Ladbrokes.com.au with T J Smith third placegetter Terravita next in the betting at $6 ahead of Lucky Hussler at $7, Wandjina at $8 and Shooting To Win at $8.50.
The lightly raced Pasadena Girl has been well supported leading up to the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) and indicated that she would be able to handle the rain affected track after she made up many lengths in the straight on a soft 7 when fourth to Pride Of Dubai in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires (1400m) at Randwick on April 6.
The Peter Moody trained filly is a clear favourite at $2.60 ahead of Odyssey Moon at $4.40, Takedown at $6 and Tarquin at $8.
Both Group 1s on the final day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, the All Aged Stakes and the Champagne Stakes, are free of scratchings.
