3 minute read
Day 2 of The Championships with four Group Ones on the card.
Plenty of good racing on what should be an even better track than last week, which surprised everyone with how well it played.
Happy to make Atishu in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) the best on the card. Very glad she's here and not in the QEII because it does look a race in two between Waller's mares.
She tried hard off what probably wasn't the best platform in the Australian Cup, off a very slowly run mile win up to chasing Pride Of Jenni in a fast 2000m. Nothing wrong with being finishing third, beaten 2 lengths in that and back to a mile looks fine to me.
She'll get a bit of cut out of the ground (at least compared to Flemington) and her peak ratings win this.
Zougotcha was very good first-up beating Lady Laguna before a perfect ride won her the Coolmore Classic. She likely needs to lift off that and I'm just a bit suspect on that form. I also think Atishu will be stronger at the end of the Randwick mile and Shinn is drawn to follow McDonald throughout.
I think you could mark her favourite and 4-1 is good betting.
The value play(s) comes up in what is always a cracking race, the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).
If Estriella were here, I'd be taking very short odds about her, but with her Sangster-bound, I want to follow the form behind her with two at odds.
Arkansaw Kid resumed in the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m) and tried hard in second behind her, running to an equal career peak- the same rating he ran in the Coolmore last Spring.
That bodes well given the $3 favourite is Coolmore winner Ozzmosis who bucked the start and took no part first-up in The Galaxy. It's a clear forgive, but he looks awfully short.
The other horse with Estriella form is Raikoke, who beat the unforuntately ill-fated Brave Mead two back at Caulfield before a sound effort behind Estriella in the Inglis Sprint. Brave Mead beat a few of these in the Sydney lead up last start.
Raikoke can improve again here at just his fourth start and 25-1 for the Mighty Micks looks a bit of value.
SYDNEY SPECIALS
Bet of the day: Race 9 #1 Atishu at $5
Each-way play: Race 5 #2 Arkansaw Kid at $12/3.5