NEALE DONNELLEY previews the three feature races from Royal Randwick this weekend:
Group 2 $300,000 ROMAN CONSUL STAKES. (1200m):
AN evenly graded bunch of quality Sydney-based colts could be surprised by a Queensland raider in the $300,000 Roman Consul Stakes tomorrow.
SESAR ($8.00), a beautifully-bred Sebring colt out of a quality Street Cry mare, goes into this year’s Roman Consul first-up since the Brisbane winter carnival.
He has raced only five times for a win and a second, but his last start was a stunning last to fourth, two-lengths behind boom colt The Autumn Sun in the Group 1 J. J. Atkins in June.
Trained at Eagle Farm by Steve O’Dea, SESAR was impressive and very strong when winning the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast in May.
Back in third place that day was Chris Waller’s exceptionally talented Lean Mean Machine.
SESAR then ran a solid fifth to that horse in the Group 2 Sires Produce before his eye-catching effort in the Group 1.
Now he tackles the 1200-metres first-up of the Roman Consul, taking on some quality colts from Sydney, and from a wide gate.
He comes into the race off a strong trial when second at Doomben last month over 1000-metres, running impressive late sectionals.
SESAR has already been $15 into $8 with the TAB and at that price he still has strong each-way appeal.
SANDBAR ($4.40) from barrier one might be the hardest to beat, given he has raced against and beaten many of these horses before.
Newcastle-trained JONKER ($5.00) has very solid form leading into this and he can definitely win, as too can Chris Waller’s PERFORMER ($6.50) and Team Hayes’ AYLMERTON ($8.50).
Group 1 $500,000 SPRING CHAMPION STAKES (2000m).
THE APTLY named THINKIN’ BIG has the right form-line and credentials to take out tomorrow’s Group 1 $500,000 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
He’s by super sire High Chaparral, trained by Hall Of Fame mentor Gai Waterhouse (and Adrian Bott), and he has the best form coming off a brilliant first-up win in the Gloaming Stakes.
The fact he was first-up over the 1800-metres of the Group 3 Gloaming suggests he has rare talent and has been perfectly prepared.
The Spring Champion over 2000-metres looks the ideal progression now for this lovely colt, heading towards Melbourne for the Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby in a month.
Brilliantly in-form Sydney rider Tim Clark was aggressive early in the Gloaming when he led and controlled the race.
THINKIN’ BIG was dominant late, clearing out to win by two and a half lengths from TARKA and IRUKANDJI, and he will clash with both of them again tomorrow.
The latest TAB market has THINKIN’ BIG the solid $3.30 favourite ahead of six other runners all around the $7.00 and $8.00 mark.
Clearly it looks a tough race on paper, but just as clear is that THINKIN’ BIG has the right ‘ticks’ to win again.
TARKA ($8.00), by All Too Hard out of a Galileo mare, followed three strong wins with his battling second to THINKIN’ BIG in the Gloaming, and he might be the main danger.
The latter of those three wins was in the Group 2 Stan Fox at Rosehill on heavy ground, and he was tough and brave that day.
Godolphin’s ARAMAYO ($7.50) looks a rising star and his last start win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle was impressive.
Chris Waller’s DEALMAKER ($7.00) hasn’t started since his second to TARKA in the Stan Fox, but his form is outstanding.
Team Hayes’ MICKEY BLUE EYES ($9.50) is another with solid each-way claims, having captured the Listed Dulcify beating the smart Gem Song at his last start.
Group 3 $150,000 ANGST STAKES. (1600m).
NOT surprisingly Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse look to hold the key to tomorrow’s Group 3 Angst Stakes for the mares.
Waller has the in-form I AM SERIOUS ($2.80 fav) engaged and Waterhouse/Bott have SHUMOOKH ($4.00) running.
I AM SERIOUS returns to mares-only grade after tackling Godolphin’s impressive Cups hopeful AVILIUS at her past two starts.
She has run second to that horse in the Group 3 Premiers Cup and third to the same horse in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes.
That is seriously good form for the Angst, given Avilius gives the impression he could win one of the Major’s in Melbourne later in the Spring.
Another bonus for I AM SERIOUS is the engagement of leading rider, the brilliant James McDonald from barrier one.
SHUMOOKH was brave winning the Group 2 Gold Pendant at her last start, beating the talented Champagne Cuddles.
Veteran trainer Ron Quinton has the ever-reliable DIXIE BLOSSOMS ($3.70) engaged and she comes into the race off the back of a close sixth in the Gold Pendant.
The other genuine winning chance could be Kris Lees’ PRINCESS POSH ($8.00), who after winning the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle ran a solid third in the Gold Pendant.
There may be only nine runners in this race but there look to be many winning chances, headed by I AM SERIOUS, who appears to have everything in her favour!
ENDS