This year’s Group 1 Sydney Cup runner up Athabascan is bright and ready to make his spring return in the 1600m Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Athabascan starting to make his mark on this very day last year, taking out the Listed City Tattersall’s Club Cup in strong fashion before claiming the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality a few weeks later. Now entrenched amongst the top stayers in the country and with three preparatory trials under his belt, a 1600m weight-for-age kick off will lay the platform for his preparation ahead.
Athabascan runs 2nd in G1 Sydney Cup
Co-trainer Tom Charlton said in an update to owners on Tuesday that “We all know he won’t be getting warm until we get him to 2000m and beyond but he’s ready to go racing and blow out the cobwebs. He’s been working beautifully and is a fresh and happy horse.”
Whilst Saturday shapes as a starting point, we expect him to prove more competitive a fortnight later in the 2000m Group 3 Kingstown Town Stakes before he really starts to hit his straps in the 2400m Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap on October 5. A trip south for the 3200m Group 1 Melbourne Cup then beckons.
Jason Collett will partner Athabascan from gate 6 in a field of 10. Full details can be found here.
We look forward to watching Athabascan’s campaign unfold and wish his connections the very best of luck for Saturday and beyond.