An incredibly tough week off the track for OTI & connections will hopefully be brightened up by a strong lineup of weekend runners. With seven Group runners, including three Group 1 contenders at Randwick and a Group 1 chance in South Africa, a win in one of these would be a fitting tribute to the late I’m Thunderstruck.
Saturday, April 1
Dundalk
Current Track Rating: Synthetic
Tom The Second
Tom The Second, a half-brother to Tom Melbourne, will get our weekend underway in the early hours of Saturday morning. He is certainly one that will improve with time, but it will be most exciting to see him head to the track for the first time. Hopefully, he can emulate the path of his half-brother, who kicked off his illustrious career in winning style at Dundalk.
Race 6 – 6:00am | 2150m 3yo Maiden | T: Johnny Murtagh | J: Ben Coen TBAkg | Barrier 7 | Saddlecloth 10
Randwick
Current Track Rating: Soft
Athabascan
Athabascan has been consistent this time in and appears to be looking for this rise in trip. He’s had a busy period of racing but will present a very fit and healthy horse on Saturday. He’s always shown John and the team at Randwick a terrific lung capacity, so hopefully the 2600m journey brings about the necessary improvement.
Race 3 – 1:20pm | 2600m Group 2 Chairman’s Quality | T: John O’Shea | J: Brett Prebble 53kg | Barrier 4 | Saddlecloth 14
Timour
A final decision will be made on race morning as to whether Timour takes his place in the Chairman’s. He showed his Sydney Cup credentials in a deserving Manion Cup win two weeks ago and has continued to thrive at Rosehill. Should he need to further lift his rating to gain a berth in the two mile feature, then he’s well-placed to be in the finish tomorrow. He should appreciate the Randwick circuit and any give in the ground is a positive.
Race 3 – 1:20pm | 2600m Group 2 Chairman’s Quality | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy 54kg | Barrier 5 | Saddlecloth 10
Cepheus
Cepheus’ win in the Ajax was no fluke, recording the fastest last 200m of the race from the front. He’s a tenacious horse who should appreciate a stiff Randwick mile. Like any horse in a big handicap, he’ll need luck, particularly from the wider draw but he’s come on for his latest win and can give his owners a sight at big odds!
Race 8- 4:35pm | 1600m Group 1 Doncaster Mile | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Dean Yendall 50kg | Barrier 16 | Saddlecloth 18
Full Of Sincerity
Full Of Sincerity ran a brave 3rd in the New Zealand Derby, showing he’s right up to this level over 2400m. As is typical with Andrew Forsman trained horses in the past, he had an encouraging pipe opener in the Tulloch Stakes last week. His work through the line was good and that run should have taken the edge off him. The barrier is far from ideal but if we have some luck early in running, he’ll be amongst when the pressure comes on.
Race 9- 5:15pm | 2400m Group 1 Australian Derby | T: Andrew Forsman | J: Damian Lane 56.5kg | Barrier 16 | Saddlecloth 7
Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s run in the New Zealand Derby was terrific, and he’s done nothing but please since then. At this stage of his career, he doesn’t have the most favourable pattern but if he can be building with 800m to go, he should get his chance. He’s a 3yo on an upward spiral and it would not surprise to see him charging home late.
Race 9- 5:15pm | 2400m Group 1 Australian Derby | T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood | J: Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg | Barrier 5 | Saddlecloth 9
Lady Laguna
Lady Laguna has been ultra-consistent at stakes level and is once again presented with an opportunity at scoring a black-type win. She was game in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes last time out and now looks ready to run out a strong 1200m. We feel she’ll appreciate getting back to racing the Sydney way, and any rain on race day will only help her. It’s a wide open event but she deserves to be in the mix.
Race 10- 5:50pm | 1200m Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Michael Dee 54kg | Barrier 1 | Saddlecloth 10
Doomben
Current Track Rating: Heavy
Barade
Saturday’s race poses as an important one for Barade’s future, with the 8yo needing to show some improvement to warrant pushing on. Jack Bruce cannot fault the horse’s condition heading into Saturday, with the gelding appreciating a varied training routine. The small field means he shouldn’t be too disadvantaged by his customary slow start, but it would certainly be nice to see him beginning cleanly on Saturday.
Race 2 – 1:28pm | 2200m BM90 | T: Jack Bruce | J: Brodie Loy 58kg | Barrier 2 | Saddlecloth 2
Scarlet Tufty
In the same race as Barade, Scarlet Tufty will look to break through for a much-deserved win. He looks well-suited here with the light weight, in a race that doesn’t appear to have a whole lot of speed. If he is able to control things from the front, he should be giving a nice kick with race fitness on his side.
Race 2 – 1:28pm | 2200m BM90 | T: Jack Bruce | J: Angela Jones 51kg | Barrier 6 | Saddlecloth 6
Bendigo
Current Track Rating: Soft
Sous Les Nuages
Sous Les Nuages will be our sole Victorian runner on Saturday, as he takes his place in the 2400m BM84. His last run had merit to it, considering the interrupted lead up he endured. The 6yo has had a much smoother time heading into tomorrow’s race, so he should be ready to put his best foot forward. Remarkably, this will be his 15th run of the preparation!
Race 4 – 2:15pm | 2400m BM84 | T: Matt Cumani | J: Declan Bates 55kg | Barrier 11 | Saddlecloth 6
Turffontein (SAF)
Current Track Rating: TBA
Under Your Spell
To read more about Under Your Spell’s chances on Saturday evening, click here.
Race 6 – 11:40pm | 1600m Group 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes | T: Sean Tarry | J: Luyolo Mxothwa TBAkg | Barrier 5 | Saddlecloth 9
Sunday, April 2
Hamilton
Current Track Rating: Soft
Darci’s Debut
Darci’s Debut rounds out our weekend at Hamilton on Sunday, where she will look to bounce back to winning form. She was a touch disappointing last time out, but her first-up performance would have her right in the mix here. Her work has been good heading into Sunday, so all signs point to a positive showing.
Race 9 – 5:27pm | 1400m BM64 | T: Symon Wilde | J: Linda Meech 57kg | Barrier 1 | Saddlecloth 11
Best of luck to all connections!