Looking to become the seventh horse in history to achieve Australia’s coveted two-year-old Triple Crown, Fireburn could also become the first filly to accomplish such feat since Burst in 1992 if she was to win Saturday’s Champagne Stakes (1600m).
With devastating victories in the first two legs of the Triple Crown; Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce, the Rebel Dane filly will deservedly head the market at a comprehensive short quote.
Hoping to flip the script on the filly, placegetters from the Sires’ Produce She’s Extreme and Victorian colt Let’Srollthedice are expected to take their place in the field, as well as the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained colt Williamsburg – who will be vying for his third consecutive victory.
With only seven horses nominating for the $500,000 event, the deadline for nominations has been extended to 11am, Tuesday morning.
As two previous winners eye off a repeat of their successes in the All Aged Stakes (1400m); Kolding (2021) and Tofane (2020), it’s fellow Group 1 victors Forbidden Love and Mo’unga that lead the way in early betting, with the former hoping to bounce back from her fourth-place finish in last fortnight’s Doncaster Mile.
Expected to be on the quick back-up is last weekend’s Queen Of The Turf victor Nimalee, Arrowfield Sprint runner-up In The Congo and South Pacific Classic placegetter Loch Eagle.
Other intriguing nominations for the race include last start Group 3 winners Mr Mozart (Doncaster Prelude), Gem Song (Star Kingdom Stakes), and Shout The Bar (Sunline Stakes).
As for the four Group 3 races on Saturday (all worth $160,000), Mark Newnham will be hoping Big Parade can gift the trainer a third Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) victory and second in as many years, with Splintex taking out last year’s edition.
Newnham will likely face fierce competition from Godolphin pairing Gravina and seven-year-old stalwart Kementari, with trainer James Cumming eager to add another edition of the race to his tally after taking it out in 2020 with Trekking.
In the JRA Plate (2000m), the ultra-consistent Icebath is likely to line-up on the seven-day back-up after charging home for third in last weekend’s Queen Of The Turf. Hoping to add a black-type victory to her impressive rap sheet (which includes four G1 placings), if trainer Brad Widdup goes through with the nomination it will be the mare’s first attempt racing at a distance greater than 1600m.
Other notable nominations for the race include Albury Gold Cup winner Harmony Rose and Chris Waller’s talented mudlark Polly Grey, who was defeated narrowly at her latest by last weekend’s Queen Elizabeth placegetter Mount Popa.
Following on with Waller’s nominated runners, exciting three-year old Straight Arron spearheads the nominations in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m), following her decisive display in last fortnight’s Group 3 Carbine Stakes.
As for the fillies in the remaining Group 3 contest; the James HB Carr Stakes (1400m), the highly touted Espiona stands alone on the top line of betting.
Currently rated a Heavy 9, there is hope the Randwick surface can be upgraded into the soft range by Saturday, with clear conditions forecast for the backend of the week.
The rail is set in the eight-metre position from the 1600m to the Winning post, and in the five-metre position the remainder.