All Aged Stakes Day marks the final Group 1 meeting of the season in Sydney on Saturday as a bumper lineup of 14 will step out with $600,000 in prize-money on offer.
William Reid Stakes winner Masked Crusader has opened the early short-priced favourite in betting, but there is a case to be made for most of the top five with Kolding, Newmarket Handicap winner Zoutori, and Doncaster Mile winner Cascadian taking their place.
Further down, Savatiano will take on the boys in the hopes of securing back-to-back Group 1’s, while Prague returns on the quick backup after making up good ground for third in last week’s Arrowfield Sprint.
For thoughts on every runner, we’ve got you covered in our 2021 All Aged Stakes Preview below.
Kolding
Kolding should appreciate a firmer track on Saturday after struggling to make up ground from a three-wide position last time out in the George Ryder Stakes.
The son of Ocean Park failed to fire in what was supposed to be his grand final, but it appears Chris Waller and connections fancy him a chance to bounce back this week after finishing off well for second three runs back over this track and trip in the Apollo Stakes.
Losing Hugh Bowman in the saddle is a slight knock, but barrier 3 should afford Brenton Avdulla every chance to get back and run on.
Kolding has found the money in seven starts previously at Randwick and is no doubt one of the major players.
Masked Crusader
Masked Crusader is searching for his second Group 1 to cap off the Autumn after bolting in to take out the William Reid Stakes at The Valley under William Pike last month.
Since then, the son of Toronado has gone on to run second to Nature Strip in the TJ Smith Stakes – a performance that drew plenty of criticism after Kerrin McEvoy found himself trapped three-wide without cover and too far back to strike.
The red-hot Tommy Berry will now take over after winning last week’s Queen of the Turf Stakes with Probabeel.
Berry rode the Hawkes-trained galloper to a comfortable two-length win first-up in the Southern Cross Stakes before closing off well for third in the Canterbury Stakes three runs back.
If he can offset the awkward draw nice and early, the pair are the ones to beat.
Zoutori
Zoutori is having his fourth run back from a spell after making up good ground from out wide in his Sydney debut for sixth in the TJ Smith Stakes.
Last month’s Newmarket Handicap winner has been kept fresh for the run, and there is certainly lots to like about his chances as he prepares to race over the 1400m for the first time since the 2019 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm.
It’s tough to read too much into his run in the TJ Smith Stakes after drawing wide, while he can also be forgiven for not finishing off in his usual style on the wet track.
Back on top of the ground from the inside gate makes Zoutori a big danger.
Dreamforce
Dreamforce returns for another crack at the All Aged Stakes after pulling up lame to run second-last last year.
The gelding by Fastnet Rock strips fitter for two runs back and should appreciate getting back to his preferred trip where he’s won seven times previously.
John Thompson’s galloper was fast into stride three weeks ago in the George Ryder Stakes and did appear the likely winner at one point before being gunned down right on the line by Think It Over.
The eight-year-old won the George Ryder last year third-up from a spell, and although the barrier is against him, another finish inside the top three would not surprise.
Cascadian
Godolphin will lineup Doncaster Mile winner Cascadian this Saturday in what will likely be his grand final.
The drop in weight helped the son of New Approach to a brave win right on the line over Icebath two weeks ago, but this does look a tougher assignment now rising back up to 59kg.
Jamie Kah remaining on board is a big tick, and there’s no question his form since last October is tough to fault. How he handles the extra 6kg on a firmer track looks the query though.
Fifty Stars
Fifty Stars returns to the races after six weeks off between runs.
The Lindsay Park-trained six-year-old is a proven customer over this trip, but he does look tough to have after a luckless run for 10th two runs back in the Australian Cup, before struggling on the wet going at Moonee Valley in the All-Star Mile.
Imaging
Imaging is still searching for his elusive Group 1 after coming very close two runs back when half a length second to Streets Of Avalon in the C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield over this trip.
He failed to go on with it in his next start running 12th in the Newmarket Handicap, but the Chris Waller galloper could be worth forgiving on that run after a post-race examination found him lame in the off hind leg.
The European import tends to do his best racing a few runs into his prep and has also found the money in six of seven starts over this distance.
He has struggled at Randwick in the past but looks a very strong knockout chance worth considering each way.
Kementari
Kementari broke his long winless drought in the A.J. Scahill Stakes at Ascot back in December, only to return to his old self first-up when sixth to Masked Crusader in the William Reid Stakes.
He’s been kept fresh for this run and has had a trial in between starts, but his inconsistent record in black-type races makes him a very tough horse to trust.
I Am Superman
I Am Superman has returned in great order this time in work to run fourth first-up in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue at Flemington prior to his last start win at Rosehill over the 1500m in the Ajax Stakes.
Like a few others, he’s been kept fresh for Saturday’s run and should appreciate stepping back to his preferred distance where he’s won three times previously.
The Snowden-trained five-year-old went unplaced in two starts at Group 1 level during the spring, but a top-three finish does look within his grasp fitter for two runs back.
Savatiano
Savatiano returns from a seven-week let-up looking to become the fifth horse to complete the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes – All Aged Stakes double.
The Street Cry mare has missed the money only three times in 13 starts over the 1400m previously, while she’s also turned into a bit of a Randwick specialist with three wins and two placings on the board.
Hugh Bowman remaining in the saddle is a big plus as the pair will likely look to push forward early from the inside draw.
Tagaloa
Tagaloa returns to the races after finishing less than a length third to Lunar Fox in the Group 1 Australian Guineas back in February.
The run prior saw the 2020 Blue Diamond winner take out the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes by a similar margin over the 1400m, a performance that indicates he should see out this trip just fine in his return to Sydney.
The lightly-raced colt looked a treat running third in a soft trial at Cranbourne earlier this month and warrants strong consideration in exotics with a firm track expected.
Prague
Prague has been around the mark since venturing over to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable at the start of the year.
The colt by Redoute’s Choice resumed to run third to Saturday’s rival Peltzer in the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick back in February, before running fourth in the Newmarket and third in last week’s Arrowfield Sprint over shorter.
The three-year-old returned on the quick backup to run sixth in last year’s Golden Slipper and based on the way he made up ground from well back in the field last week, the short turnaround does look a nice option for him.
Peltzer
Peltzer earned himself a hat-trick first-up with an impressive win in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick but has struggled to go on with it since rising through the grades.
The son of So You Think was no match over the mile in the Randwick Guineas on a firm track two runs back before finding himself caught a little wide and too far back three weeks ago in the Star Kingdom at Rosehill.
This only looks tougher.