Following last weekend’s busy couple of days on the track (highlighted by Gallic Chieftain’s win in the Stony Creek Cup and Gailo Chop’s 2nd placing in the Group 1 Australia Cup), we look to the St Patrick’s Day weekend of racing with hope that three of our Irish-breds now plying their trade in Australia can bring home a pot of gold for their owners.
In Sydney, our beloved Tom Melbourne (IRE) returns to Rosehill in the Ajax Stakes. So unlucky first-up last preparation, Blake Shinn returns to the saddle. The barrier draw will give an advantageous position to start the race and enable him to hit the line strongly. A strong effort here will see a start in the Doncaster Handicap on April 7.
Heading to Flemington, we have Condamine (IRE) stepping out for the Cumani stable. This is the final of the Grand Handicap Classic Series. An impressive win last time out saw Condamine over the line by five lengths and the other two races this campaign he was a placegetter.
On Sunday, our attention turns to the hurdles where we will see Renew (IRE) stepping out over 3200m at Oakbank. This is the first time over hurdles this campaign and following a trial win over the hurdles earlier this week, the Weir stable are expecting a strong effort by this horse.
We are now excitedly preparing for the Sydney Carnival to commence, with our team for Sydney likely to be made up of:
- Tom Melbourne (G2 Ajax Stakes and G1 Doncaster Handicap)
- Gailo Chop (G1 Ranvet Stakes and G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes)
- Lord Fandango (Listed Manion Cup, G2 Chairman’s Quality and G1 Sydney Cup)
- Vin de Dance (G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 AJC Derby)
- Aloisia (G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 AJC Oaks)
- Gallic Chieftain (G2 Chairman’s Quality and G1 Sydney Cup)
Add to this the impending debut of Given Time, who has been trialling well in Sydney for Chris Waller, and the continued progression of Plymouth Road, exciting times lie ahead north of the border.
