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A star-studded quartet of Group/Grade 1 races this Friday night highlights Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick.
By Michael Wrona, International Racing Expert
Thursday, 4 April 2024
More than AU$25 million in purses will be distributed across the two-day Breeders' Cup-style event, which continues next Friday night. Sky Racing World's Jason Witham and FanDuel TV's Andrew "Dubbs" Anderson will be broadcasting live from Randwick on FanDuel TV, while yours truly will be in the FanDuel TV studio alongside Jose Contreras. Additionally, DRF en Español will carry a Spanish broadcast with Roberto Rodriguez. Nine of the ten races are graded stakes, with first post set for 9:25 p.m. Eastern / 6:25 p.m. Pacific.
PREVIEW OF THE FOUR GROUP 1s:
Race 6, the million-dollar Sires' Produce for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs, is the second leg of Australia's 2-year-old Triple Crown. The field includes the first five horses home in the six-furlong Golden Slipper (world's richest juvenile race) two weeks ago. They are the top five in the market for the Sires' Produce and by no coincidence – 12 of the past 20 winners of this race have come through the Golden Slipper, including the last five in a row. Storm Boy was beaten for the first time when 3rd as favorite in the "Slipper," after a slow start and unfavorable trip thereafter. He is again favored, in his second start since being purchased by Coolmore in a massive deal that values the son of Justify at some AU$50 million. Stablemate Lady of Camelot was bet down from 9-1 to 6-1 when winning the Golden Slipper, and is one of two fillies entered. The other, Manaal, finished a terrific 5th in the Slipper at 40-1 and will love her first taste of seven furlongs. Coleman was also 40-1 when coming up a neck short in the Golden Slipper. Traffic Warden, an excellent Slipper 4th at 25-1, is one of only three horses with experience at seven furlongs and the only winner at this distance.
Race 7, a spectacular renewal of the AU$3 million TJ Smith Stakes at six furlongs, is headed by 19-for-26 superstar New Zealand mare Imperatriz, who seeks an 11th career Group/Grade 1 win and sixth of the season (which runs August – July in the southern hemisphere). Second wagering choice I Wish I Win has raced only twice since winning the 2023 TJ Smith, and not since finishing 2nd in The Everest last October. Six other Group/Grade 1 winners have signed up. The wetter the better for 12-1 shot Bella Nipotina, who's been on firm tracks in her past seven races. Even 60-1 shot Buenos Noches has a knockout chance in the wet conditions, despite a disappointing campaign this year.
Race 8, the AU$4 million Doncaster Mile, is a handicap race inaugurated in 1866. The 20-horse field includes the winners of The Everest and Golden Eagle, the world's richest and 4th-richest turf races respectively. The Everest winner, Think About It, is stretching out to a mile for the first time under highweight of 125 pounds. Japan's Obamburumai (121 pounds) hasn't raced since his successful hit-and-run mission in last November's Golden Eagle. 3-year-old Militarize (119 pounds) won the Sires' Produce on this card last year, in extremely wet conditions. His trainer, Chris Waller, strives for a record-equaling seventh Doncaster success (he would tie TJ Smith, for whom the preceding race is named, and Gai Waterhouse, the late TJ's daughter). Celestial Legend and Southport Tycoon, each a last-start G1 winner at a mile, are lightly raced 3-year-olds carrying a featherweight of 107 pounds. There are six other Group/Grade 1 winners in the field, yet the favorite has never even raced in G1 or G2 company. Another Wil (110 pounds) had to win last week's G3 Doncaster Prelude just to scrape into this field. In taking his record to 7:5-1-1, the 4-year-old's star continues to rise.
Race 9, the AU$2 million Australian Derby at 1-½ miles, was first run in 1861. Despite favorite Riff Rocket having won the Victoria Derby at 1-9/16 miles in November, trainer Chris Waller is not convinced this distance range is optimal for the son of American Pharoah. The Australian Derby is one of only two Group/Grade 1s on the Sydney calendar to have eluded Waller. The lone filly, Zardozi, is second wagering choice after finishing 3rd to star New Zealand filly Orchestral last weekend. Orchestral is awaiting next week's Australian Oaks on Day 2 of The Championships. Does Godolphin think Orchestral is a bigger obstacle than tackling colts in the Derby on a one-week turnaround? It's noteworthy that Zardozi's victory in last November's Victoria Oaks came on a five-day turnaround. Godolphin also has third market choice Tom Kitten, winner of the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick in October. He scratched out of last week's Tancred Stakes against older horses. Owners of the exacta horses from a recent G2 prep race, Wymark and Noisy Boy, decided to ante up a cool $44,000 to supplement each horse to the Derby.
The Randwick card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night (First Post: 9.25 p.m. ET / 6.25 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Hawkesbury, Eagle Farm and Ascot. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, FanDuel and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances, and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
About Michael Wrona
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.
