Crio’s Racing: Sydney’s Autumn Carnival Continues

 

The big ticket races at Randwick on Saturday are some vindication for those who threw their lot in with the expensive “Championships” concept – simply put, the features are as good as we’ll get anywhere in Australia.

Unfortunately much of this excitement will escape mainstream sports fans as AFL’s blanket smothers other events – a fair enough reason to keep this preview brief despite the significance of the meeting.

Easter’s long been a paradox for Sydney racing, traditionally hosting 2 huge holiday meetings to coincide with the biggest Yearling Sales  during their flukiest weather conditions.

The ATC’s taking time to bed down the calendar – a national approach would help – but indications are that their Autumn’s back near the top of the pile. All of their (Easter) eggs are in the one basket now, with Monday banished “off-Broadway”, but the forecast is not great.

Ironically, Melbourne has the more stable weather at this time of the year and Sydney shines in Spring……it will never happen!

Hours could (can?) be spent discussing the card at Randwick, but let’s stick to the Group Ones for now:-

 

SR6- SIRES (1400m, 2yo, SW)

This is always more significant that the VRC’s version but can still be problematic. English and Pride Of Dubai are obviously the ones to beat in an open race. I’ll go with the Miracle Man on Always Allison.

SR7- DERBY (2400m, 3yo, SW)

The Kiwis have really added intrigue to this year’s edition and Preferment has found form as he hopes to find fame. Good Derby. No idea.

SR7- T.J.SMITH (1200m, WFA)

WFA conditions change the equation. Funnily, there are more negs than plusses from recent outings. Terravista time?

SR8- DONCASTER (mile!, Handicap)

This is a magnificent field complicated by wicked barrier draws. Reeks of a “result”. The best Doncaster in a long while.

 

I’ll be at Caulfield and hopefully plenty of people patronise the tracks on Saturday – one of the busiest days in the racing year.

Good luck!

Comments

  1. Peter Flynn says

    I’m at Randwick on Saturday if anybody is interested in knocking off a fair proportion of a barrel.

    Crio, I’ve been away, what happened to Vancouver?

    PF

  2. Spelling

  3. Peter Flynn says

    So should I

  4. cowshedend says

    The United States goes around at the heath sat. After a freshen up, this thing goes very well and hasn’t had an ounce of luck in its 2 starts here, its first start was a blinder , was 3 wide from the gate andonly just failed, it gets the added bonus of M Payne(all yours Budge) and the 14 gate.
    Oges fave Northern Zhar makes the trip to east as well, a terrific horse against a mediocre field, although gets the visitors draw with 14 as well.
    Good luck all

  5. Study day tomorrow.
    Serious wet track for Sydney…warming to It’s Somewhat in The Doncaster

  6. Crio,

    You are 114% correct. Best Doncaster in a long time, in that it will carry a capacity field. There are more runners in the Doncaster than there are usually in the first 3 or 4 races in Sydney on a Saturday. Great to see.

    Now, if we can just get 24 in a Newmarket,, I can stop whining.

    Budge was all over the Kiwis in the Rosehill Guineas and paid his keep. This time, I think Waller, Zabeel and if you need more, a Victoria Derby winner off a short prep will win by panels. Preferment.

    Doncaster. God knows. Need to look at the field under a strobe light for a couple of hours and hope to dream something up, but am leaning, early days to the horse named by a creatively bankrupt cretin with a quid who figured that if you write the name Zabeel and hold it in front of a mirror, you will get a name for your expensive acquisition. Please…give the horse’s name some F***ing thought.

    Got a bit of time for Hooked also, and I see Dom Tourneur is down to ride. And ride he can. Hard working jockey who would justly deserve such a big pay day.

  7. Northern Zhar has a crack at Melbourne on Sat after good runs in SA.
    Oakbank kicks off its big weekend Saturday and follows up Monday with big fields- a picnic bonanza

  8. If in doubt, narrow the field down to the ace jockeys. For Sydney, Joao Moreira (aka Magic Man), James McDonald and D Oliver. At Caulfield, follow W Pike.
    Cowshedend- if you had a horse that had 2 runs without luck, obviously Michelle Payne goes on!?

  9. If it’s a wet track in Sydney, do I reconsider Rudy ? His last two runs were poor, costing me a few $$. I’ll think about it.

    Glen!

  10. Randwick meeting now postponed until Monday!

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