Group 1 racing returns to Royal Randwick on 2022 Chipping Norton Stakes Day.
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (8) range.
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Race 1 – 12:25pm – Highway Handicap (1000m)
This week’s Highway race is a typically open affair and at publish, we’re faced with around $5 the field.
This is a rise in class for Salire, but he won with authority at Muswellbrook when resuming, and a race like this one doesn’t look beyond him.
The Dream Ahead gelding has made just three appearances at the races so far, but has stamped himself as one to watch in winning twice.
Race 2 – 1:00pm – Midway Handicap (1100m)
Delexo returned a competitive effort to fill the minors in a similar race to this one when resuming, and he’s ready to win when he steps out on Chipping Norton Stakes Day.
The Exosphere gelding was a strong and consistent performer last time in, winning a couple of nice races at Kembla Grange and Randwick-Kensington most notably.
He ran into some fit opposition here a fortnight ago, but harbours plenty of upside and is certainly up to saluting.
Race 3 – 1:35pm – Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m)
Coolangatta has opened a clear favourite in Sweet Embrace Stakes betting, and she is the galloper to beat again.
The talented daughter of Written Tycoon stamped herself as one to watch with a dominant win on debut in the Gimcrack Stakes, and she has kept alive her unbeaten career start with subsequent wins in the McLachlan Stakes and the Magic Millions Classic.
With the Golden Slipper representing her major autumn target, there’s no doubt that she’ll improve off whatever she does here, but I think her class will see her just winning.
Race 4 – 2:10pm – Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m)
The Skyline Stakes is one of the more open races on the Chipping Norton Stakes card and there is a case to be built for nearly every colt and gelding.
Calgary Stampede was pretty disappointing first-up in the Inglis Millennium, but he showed ability during his short debut prep, and I am happy to give him another chance at Skyline Stakes odds of $15.
The Snitzel colt trialled well prior to debuting and put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching win on debut at Rosehill Gardens, before finishing a head second in the Inglis Nursery.
He will need some luck after drawing wide, but we can have an each-way play at the price.
Race 5 – 2:45pm – Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m)
It’s fair to say that he was a long way below his best following a long spell and under the care of Billy Healey in Brisbane, but Alligator Blood has been transferred to the Waterhouse & Bott stable for his autumn prep, and I’m keen to give him a chance this week.
He was nothing short of outstanding during his three-year-old season, only just missing in the Caulfield Guineas and winning the Australian Guineas most notably.
Nash Rawiller can take him forward from barrier 3 and he’s another whom we can back each-way at around the $8 mark.
Race 6 – 3:25pm – Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m)
Icebath absolutely flies on a wet track, and she will take a power of beating in the Guy Walter Stakes.
The daughter of Sacred Falls has been the stable star for Brad Widdup since debuting, and she is probably the most well-credentialed mare yet to record an elusive Group 1 victory, having now placed several times.
She takes her place in this contest second-up and following a credible run in the Apollo Stakes a fortnight ago, and with even luck, I think she’ll be winning.
Race 7 – 4:05pm – Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m)
This is an outstanding edition of the Chipping Norton Stakes, boasting some of the best horses in Australasia, but I personally believe that Think It Over is the best miler in the country, and I have put him on top.
Think It Over went to a new level in 2021, and he was rewarded in autumn with a maiden Group 1 victory in the George Ryder.
While he didn’t add another during his spring prep, trainer Kerry Parker’s placement was outstanding, and the horse did notch consecutive victories in the Hill Stakes, Craven Plate and Rosehill Cup.
He returned to the races a dominant winner over many of these rivals in the Apollo Stakes a fortnight ago, and he will only improve for that effort and getting out to 1600m.
Race 8 – 4:45pm – Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m)
The Surround Stakes has proven to be one of the most open features of the carnival since gaining Group 1 status and that looks to be the case again in 2022.
I’m going to have something on a couple of gallopers this year; Espiona and Jamaea.
Espiona had two starts in spring for two utterly dominant wins, and the sky does look to be the limit for this daughter of Extreme Choice.
She was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the Light Fingers Stakes when resuming, but I don’t think she got close to top gear, and I think she’ll improve noticeably for the hit-out.
Jamaea has been excellent for Robert & Luke Price since debuting, and she has picked off a couple of nice feature races along the way.
She showed good improvement when third, beaten less than a length in the Light Fingers last time, and we can have something on her each-way.
Race 9 – 5:25pm – Petaluma Wines Handicap (2000m)
This is a wide-open contest ($6 the field at publish), and I am going to have something on the consistent Canasta at a big price.
Canasta doesn’t win out of turn, but he also rarely returns a poor effort, and he has missed placing only once in his last six trips to the races.
He strikes this contest at peak fitness, Josh Parr knows the horse extremely well, and he has options in transit from the rails draw.
Race 10 – 6:00pm – Garvan Institute Sprint(1200m)
I’m going to stick with The Bopper in the last on Chipping Norton Stakes Day.
He has been a consistent performer throughout his career, and things really haven’t changed for The Bopper this time in.
He was too strong for a BM78 field here when fresh, he finished a credible fourth, beaten less than a length second-up, and he only just missed behind Rule Of Law last time.
This looks to be about his level, he has a fitness edge on several key rivals and he rates as a key winning chance.