Sydney Cup - 3200m, Randwick R7

It’s always great to see a full field in the big staying handicaps, and we’ve assembled a good one here. The Sydney Cup is often a race that has a long tail, but this year you can make at least half a case for almost all of the field.

We start with the internationals given their usual prowess in these sort of races.

The lightly-raced Cleveland has been favourite for this race since his lovely closing fifth in the Tancred Stakes first-up. We know he will relish 3200m given he’s a winner in Europe over further, he drops 8kg’s from that run into this, and should handle whatever track conditions get thrown up. He’s the one to beat.

Cleveland’s well-travelled stablemate Baron Samedi will be first-up, has only raced once in the last 11 months, and hasn’t won since June 2021, but might be the logical danger. He wouldn’t be here if not to be competitive, unless Joseph O’Brien is sneaking in a pacemaker, and he’ll stay until closing time so 3200m is right up his alley.

Can Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip carry 59.5kg’s to victory? He carried 57.5 to his famous victory in Australia’s great race, and while this should be a weaker field he’s not in quite as good form as the spring.

Arapaho won the Tancred, with Cleveland, Gold Trip and others behind him, and is a handy staying type in great form, but two miles appeared to see him out in the Melbourne Cup.

King Frankel is the “weight” horse from the Tancred into the Sydney Cup, dropping a whopping 9kg’s. He was only a length off Arapaho, and was a length in front of Cleveland. He’s racing like he still has upside, but is an unknown quantity at the trip.

Six horses are backing up into this out of last week’s Chairman’s Handicap, won by Surefire. There was nothing splitting him, Gin Martini and Nerve Not Verve across the line – the latter two meet the Chris Waller galloper better at the weights, and are proven at 3200m.

Surefire has won on heavy but flopped in this race last year on absolutely bottomless. He’s a serious stayer though with a record of 5: 3-2-0 at 2400-2600m. Can he extend that to 3200m?

High Emocean was blazing fourth in the Chairman’s, which will have topped her off nicely, and the Melbourne Cup placegetter appeals as a value hope.

The likes of Knight’s Order, Stockman and Selino have been around the block a few times. Amade is one bolter that wouldn’t surprise with a bold showing. The Manion Cup formline through Timour, Sir Lucan and Alakahan doesn’t look strong enough.

Selections: 1.Cleveland 2.High Emocean 3.King Frankel 4.Surefire

Cameron rose's Tip

Cleveland

WIN

Schweppes Sydney Cup 08 April 15:15

11. Cleveland

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Australian Oaks - 2400m, Randwick R6

The Oaks doesn’t look a particularly memorable race on paper this year, but there is still some intrigue given the rising star Prowess isn’t here. She made a mess of her rivals in the Vinery Stud last start, and nine horses that finished behind her there are lining up in this.

Pavitra was the leader of that pack, three lengths adrift of Prowess, but a length clear of a line of fillies finishing on her heels. She’s very consistent, having never missed a place from seven starts at 1600m or beyond on a soft track or better. She was second in the VRC Oaks in the spring, won the Kembla Grange Classic two starts back, and deservers her favouritism.

Pierossa was the best closer in the Vinery Stud, having done similar behind Pavitra the start before. She looks a nice stayer in the making, still has upside, and could represent value if the favourite isn’t quite a mile and a half horse.

From that same race, there are chances to Fireburn, Polygon and Byron Belle, while others would need to turn things around significantly.

Arts is the fresh horse on the scene, tackling the Oaks at only her fourth start. She was too bad to be true in the Kembla Grange Classic behind Pavitra, tailing off last, but a few gear changes and a quieter ride saw her romp in on the heavy track in the Adrian Knox last week.

Arts may be the filly with a sense of timing, especially if the track is wet. It’s often the horse putting their hand up at the last minute that wins in these circumstances.

Pennyweka is the interesting runner, coming off a big NZ Oaks win herself on rain-affected going. Her Kiwi male counterparts didn’t stand up in the Derby last week, which puts a question mark on their crop of three-year-old’s. We’ll see how she measures up.

Selections: 1.Arts 2.Pierossa 3.Pavitra 4.Pennyweka

Cameron rose's Tip

Arts

EACH WAY

The Star Australian Oaks 08 April 14:35

5. Arts

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Queen of the Turf Stakes - 1600m, R9

This is some sort of race, for the mares over the famous Randwick mile. They’ve come from Sydney, Melbourne, New Zealand and Europe. The set weights nature of the race should help us sort it out, but the weather and track conditions will play a key role.

Fangirl is having one of the unluckiest seasons on record. She’s had eight starts this campaign – five of them she’s run into Anamoe, finishing second to him three times, and been poorly ridden or unlucky in those.

Of her other races, two of them have been on heavy tracks (which she doesn’t like) in the Epsom and Doncaster Handicaps. In the other she drew barrier 17 in the Golden Eagle, had to go back to last, and went down by a pimple to I Wish I Win, who is possibly the most talented horse in Australia.

Fangirl has drawn 15 here, but if she can get a decent track then she’s the one to beat. And no mare would be more deserving.

Alcohol Free is the ex-European mare about to make her Australian debut for the Waterhouse & Bott stable, and has James McDonald on board. She’s a four time Group 1 winner that has form around the best there is, and Aussies saw her outgun Artorious in the July Cup last year. She’s high class.

Levante is a serious New Zealand mare that also has four Group 1 wins to her name. She’s been seen in Australia twice before, finishing fourth in both the Newmarket and VRC Classic, alongside Nature Strip and Giga Kick in the latter. She has to be a winning hope.

Sirileo Miss comes up to Sydney after dominating the mares events in Melbourne, and couldn’t be in hotter form. Her last two wins, against good horses, have been by a combined nine lengths. She is just strolling to the front and powering away, but meets a much deeper field here.

Atishu has a big watch on her now that she seems to be putting it all together as a five-year-old mare. Her problem is often giving away too big of a start, which is not going to be easy in a field like this, especially having drawn gate one. Her first-up run was enormous, and she is primed for a big one.

Hinged is always a chance in these races, and unlike stablemate Fangirl she does want a wet track. Hope in Your Heart is oh-so-honest and perennially underrated, but usually finds one or two better. Roots keeps improving, but perhaps isn’t quite there yet. She looks to be another year away.

The rest of the field has either had their chance in these big mares races and not been up to it, or don’t have the class to contend in a field of this quality.

Selections: 1.Atishu 2.Alcohol Free 3.Levante 4.Fangirl

Cameron rose's Tip

Atishu

EACH WAY

Sydney Queen Of The Turf Stks 08 April 16:35

8. Atishu

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds