Royal Randwick plays host to Day 2 of The Championships this Saturday, one of Australia’s premier racing days featuring four elite Group 1 contests.
OTI heads into the meeting with a strong team across the card, highlighted by a key contender in the Oaks and multiple chances in the Sydney Cup.
Soverato will fly the flag in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, drawing barrier four with Kerrin McEvoy booked to ride. The filly brings strong form into the race, having looked the winner in last weekend’s Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes before being run down late by Profoundly.
She has the turn of foot to strike at the right moment, if the race is run to suit. Trainer Chris Waller is confident she can measure up:
“She will get a lovely run from that good draw. She got a little bit tired and lost in front on Saturday but she will appreciate a better track this week and I think she can be fighting out the finish to run top three.”
Soverato ~ 2nd in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes
In the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes, Perfumist looks to continue her progression at the top level. After a disappointing first-up run, she took a step in the right direction with an improved performance in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes. As seen in previous preparations, she is a mare who does take a few runs to be seen at her best.
With Regan Bayliss aboard who knows her well, she has the opportunity to take another step forward, despite the challenge of meeting elite opposition such as Pride Of Jenni and Lady Shenandoah. From barrier eight, she is expected to use her early speed to settle in a forward position and give a strong account of herself.
Trainer Bjorn Baker acknowledged the challenge ahead:
“Obviously it’s a big ask, a big race. But you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
The feature staying contest of the day is the Group 1 Sydney Cup. OTI will be well represented with three runners – Athabascan, Highland Bling, and Paradise Storm. Importantly, all three horses are proven over the two-mile journey.
Athabascan brings proven Sydney Cup credentials, having finished a gallant 2nd in the race two years ago, and returns in good form again. His run in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality last Saturday, when finishing 5th, was full of merit given his preference for more genuine footing. Another top five finish for the third time in this race would not surprise!
Highland Bling has been highly consistent this preparation, beaten just a nose in both the Group 2 Adelaide Cup and the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes. Hitting the Adelaide Cup just third up, it’s not unreasonable to think there is improvement to come. He will of course need to go to a new level, but we’re sure he will be staying on well from the good draw.
Paradise Storm arrives off an outstanding win in the Group 2 Auckland Cup before backing it up with a solid 3rd in the Listed Roy Higgins at Flemington just two weeks ago. That run was used to bring him back up to speed, and he now gets his preferred way of going, race distance and a drop in the weights. If he can produce a similar performance deep into his preparation, he’s another with good claims.
The question remains – can one of these three emulate Selino and deliver another Sydney Cup victory for OTI, following his memorable triumph in 2021? We’ll have to wait and see.
Selino wins the 2021 Sydney Cup