All Aged Stakes 2023 preview, tips & form | Saturday, April 15

We’ve got an outstanding edition of the All Aged Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Randwick with eight of the 12 gallopers engaged for the event already finding Group 1 glory in the past. With chances all over the page, the final Group 1 of the Sydney Autumn Carnival is a tricky race to dissect.

We’re racing over the 1400m at weight-for-age level with form-lines converging all over the eastern side of Australia. Cascadian will be looking for back-to-back wins in the race, after travelling back from Victoria having taken out the Group 1 Australia Cup. Three-year-olds Jacquinot and Giga Kick will be seeking to take on the older horses, while Zaaki will be looking to add to his four Group 1 wins. Throw in some overseas flavour with Ho O Amazon making the trek from Japan and you’ve got the recipe for a mouth-watering edition of the Group 1 All Aged Stakes.

2023 ALL AGED STAKES ODDS

Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes runner-up Giga Kick has opened a clear favourite with online bookmakers at $3.10, with Zaaki ($5) not far behind him on the second line of betting. Two-time Group 1 winner Jacquinot ($7.50) finds himself well supported, while Mazu ($8) and Private Eye ($8) share the same quote after racing behind I Wish I Win in the TJ Smith Stakes. Cascadian ($10) starts the double-figure chances, with Japanese galloper Ho O Amazon ($16) has seen some early money. Roch N Horse ($19) runs for the first time in New South Wales as well, while Kolding ($201) is the rank outsider for this year’s All Aged Stakes.

2023 ALL AGED STAKES SPEED MAP

Zaaki (6) is renowned for his early speed, and you’d imagine Annabel Neasham gives James McDonald the instruction to lead. He should have some company with Electric Girl (2) drawn the inside barrier, and Mazu (9) likes to be ridden forward as well. Jacquinot (4) has lacked early speed in the past but should be looking to find the one-one, and the same can be said for Private Eye (3). Favourite backers will be getting a nervous watch with Giga Kick (11) drawn wide alongside defending champ Cascadian (10).

2023 ALL AGED STAKES FORM & BETTING PREVIEW

In what can only be described as a terrific Group 1 field, we’ve landed with Jacquinot on top in the All Aged Stakes. Both of his Group 1 wins came at this trip – one in Sydney in the Group 1 Golden Rose, the other in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes in Melbourne, with the latter coming this preparation. He then got too far out of his ground in the Group 1 Australian Guineas from a horrid barrier but still powered to the line, running into fifth. Now, after month between runs, we could be seeing the best version of Jacquinot on Saturday. He’s had to tick-over trial on the synthetic surface at Randwick, and based on what we saw, he looks ready to pounce. It’s unfortunate Damian Lane can’t take the reins, but Chad Schofield draws to get the perfect run throughout the journey. This guy should be much shorter in the market.

Lost And Running is the one at stupid odds and warrants plenty of respect. The six-length margin in the TJ Smith Stakes is sure to look disappointing to punters, but it isn’t a clear indicator of what unfolded on April 1. He was cast three and four wide throughout the 1200m journey and stuck to the task nicely considering he was first-up. He’s won three of his five starts second-up and has a wet-track profile to suit in a race like this, plus the booking of Tom Marquand looks a positive one. This looks to have been the set play by the John O’Shea yard a long way out, and despite the widest barrier to overcome, we’re happy to have something on this son of Per Incanto.

Giga Kick would’ve lost no admirers when running into second behind I Wish I Win and is a deserving favourite; however, we couldn’t separate the three-year-olds as far as the market is concerned. Both he and Jacquinot get a minor swing in the weights against the older horses, and with luck Giga Kick can be winning. We have reservations, however, due to the short quote and the fact this is his first look at the 1400m trip.

Zaaki is the highest-rated galloper in the race for a reason and can clearly win this at his peak; however, he’s been placed first-up here by Annabel Neasham after the stable admitted it didn’t love how he was travelling on initial resumption. If he’s overcome any issues, Zaaki will look the winner a long way out.

2023 ALL AGED STAKES SELECTIONS & BEST BETS

• 11

  JACQUINOT

• 2

  LOST AND RUNNING

• 12

  GIGA KICK

• 1

  ZAAKI

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