With the Spring Carnival now behind us we’re fortunate to still have quality feature racing on offer, with our attention turning to Randwick on Saturday where two of our horses will contest stakes races.
Regal Lion, under the care of Annabel Neasham will start in the Listed Christmas Cup over 2400m. There was a great deal of merit to his last start 4th in the Listed ATC Cup, where he made a strong run through the line on a day where it was tough to make ground down the middle of the track. Hopefully he can repeat his performance from Sandown in September this year, shown below.
Regal Lion had a soft gallop yesterday morning to tick him over until his race on Saturday, with Annabel Neasham saying “He is very fit and moving well, it is just a case of ticking him over until the race. He is ready to rock ‘n’ roll in the Christmas Cup with Sam Clipperton booked to ride.”
Regal Lion will jump from barrier 6 in a field of 11 and will carry 56kg.
See the full field and all race details here.
Also running on Saturday is Longvillers, a quality French import who arrived in Australia in mid-October and joined the stable of Chris Waller. Some might remember him from this year’s Five Diamonds, where he closed off impressively into 6th. Already G3 placed in France and with an encouraging first run in Australia, the 5yo entire should present most competitive in Saturday’s Group 2. Unfortunately, he will have the widest barrier to contend with again.
“I could not be any happier with his work this morning out on the course proper. Whilst he is still carrying a bit of condition, I think that is just his makeup given that he is still a colt, but I am very happy with how he is going. It looks like a very competitive race on Saturday as you would expect when you are racing for $2 million, but the horse is very well,” said Chris Waller in an update on Tuesday.
Longvillers will be ridden by Michael Dee in a field of 20, jumping from the widest alley and carrying 53kg.
See the full field and all race details here.
Best of luck to all connections!