Group 1 racing wraps up for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival this Saturday but we have an excellent afternoon of ahead of us.
And to top it all off, the sun might actually be out! Fingers crossed.
Our full 2022 All Aged Stakes Day Tips & Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Race 1: Highway Handicap (1200m) 11:30am
Tip: No. 14 Sparring
Sparring was a winner on debut at Albury by over six lengths back in February before a very narrow defeat at Sandown.
The three year old gelding then found a bit of trouble over the short course at Sandown last time out but he picked up well to run right through the line.
This will be his first go beyond 1000m but he looks to have a bit of class about him and James McDonald will steer.
Race 2: Midway Handicap (1400m) 12:05pm
Tip: No. 7 Alpha Go
Alpha Go has been a consistent performer over his racing career so far having placed in 14 of 21 starts.
The four year old gelding didn’t handle the really heavy track first up at Gosford when he was beaten by Kinloch who went on to win the Provincial Championships Final last weekend.
He bounced back with a dominant 1.6 length win at Gundagai last start and the track will be much more suitable this Saturday with some sunshine forecast later in the week.
The $41 currently available is overs.
Race 3: Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) 12:40pm
Tip: SRM: No. 4 Straight Arron to win & No. 8 Inverell Top 4 @ $5.50
Straight Arron proved he is a very excited three year old when he won the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes with a leg in the air at this track last start.
The step up in distance should suit and he is the horse to beat.
Inverell made a long and sustained run at the The Valley last time out being Look Sharpish who was just that bit fitter.
This is another step up in grade for the son of Shocking but he can sneak into the top four.
Race 4: Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) 1:10pm
Tip: No. 1 Let’srollthedice
Fireburn proved she is good filly by winning the Golden Slipper in dominant fashion but she proves she is an exceptional race horse when again coming from well back in the field to win the Sire Produce.
There is no denying that she is flying at the minute and she does look to have these covered.
In saying that, she does have to prove herself over 1600m for the first time and it looks as though she won’t get a real heavy track on Saturday.
I can’t back her at $1.45.
Let’srollthedice was excellent late in the Sires Produce’ when showing a really sharp turn of foot over the concluding stages of the race.
The son of Dundeel is the only runner in the race that is bred to get out over a distance and at $13 he appeals as an each way bet.
Race 5: Group 3 James H.B Carr Stakes (1400m) 1:50pm
Tip: SRM No. 2 Espiona win & No. 1 Festival Dancer Top 4 @ $4.70
There was so much hype for Chris Waller’s filly Espiona heading into this autumn campaign that punters can feel a little disappointed she hasn’t returned to the winners stall in three runs so far.
But the truth is that she has been pretty good considering the races she has contested.
She was narrowly denied by Fangirl first up before running third in the Group 1 Surround Stakes.
There was too much to do in the Coolmore Classic last start but she was doing her best work late in the race and getting back on top of the ground will advantage her this Saturday.
Festival Dancer put together four wins in a row last prep and finished with a third in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas.
She can run top 4 first up.
Race 6: Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) 2:30pm
Tip: Boxed Trifecta 1/3/4/8
This is an outstanding edition of the Hall Mark Stakes with plenty of winning chances.
Big Parade is the deserving favourite after his narrow defeat in the Group 1 Galaxy but I’m keen to have a boxed trifecta in this event.
Kementari seems a rejuvenated horse in recent times and he trialed really well in the lead up to this first up assignment.
If I was having one bet in the race it would be on him each way.
Race 7: Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) 3:10pm
Tip: No. 2 Polly Grey
Polly Grey had a wall full of horses in front of her at the 400m last start on the bog track at Rosehill but once she found clear running, she found the line nicely.
The winner of that race Mount Popa placed in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth last weekend so the form looks to have held up.
Th grey mare has been a consistent performer at this level for some time and she should be nearing peak fitness at this stage in her prep.
Race 8: Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) 3:50pm
Tip: No. 1 Mo’unga & No. 13 Hungry Heart
The Queen Elizabeth was talked up as the race of the season but the 2022 All Aged Stakes may just eclipse it in my opinion.
Mo’unga has had just the one run so far this prep when he finished second in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.
He has five wins and five placings from 15 career race starts and amassed $1.8 million in prize money.
He’s the horse to beat with even luck.
Hungry Heart is one that I want to have a little bit on each way at $40.
The Chris Waller trained mare has been kept fresh for this event and so long as the forecasted sunshine is revealed later in the week, she is a knockout hope.
Race 9: Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) 4:30pm
Tip: No. 5 Our Playboy
This is one of the better benchmark 100 I have ever seen with plenty of Group performed horses contesting the race.
Our Playboy was beaten just under four lengths in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue at Flemington before finishing second behind Mr Mozart in the Doncaster Prelude last start.
They beat home the third horse by a further two lengths in that race and he will take plenty of benefit out of the run.
Race 10: Group 3 P J Bell Stakes (1200m) 5:50pm
Tip: Box Trifecta 3/4/6/9