Saturday saw the first of the two-year-old features run and won at Sandown, with Blue Diamond Stakes Day featuring the three Group 1 races: Blue Diamond Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Oakleigh Plate. Meanwhile, in New South Wales at Randwick, the Chipping Norton Stakes and Surround Stakes took top billing.
Although most of the runners at Sandown and Randwick were deep into their preparations for the two- and three-year-old features, we also saw a number of older spring champions return to the racetrack on their way to bigger races later in the autumn and winter carnivals. Below we have found three runners that are worth following wherever they choose to go next.
Sandown Lakeside – Blue Diamond Stakes Day
Track rating: Good 4 (up to Good 3 after R5)
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 2: Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) | Time: 1:23.64
- Horse to follow: Call Di (3rd)
The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Call Di jumped as a second favourite in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at Sandown after late money came for her in the final five minutes of betting. Before the race, Alexiou mentioned that they could potentially go to the Coolmore Classic over 1500m next start at Rosehill Gardens if she performed well in the Angus Armanasco. After settling at the back of the field, Damien Oliver and his filly found themselves second last on the home turn, giving Oliver no other option other than to wait for a run to appear on the outside. With 300m to go, a gap opened up, and this filly took it and burst through to end up finishing third by just under two lengths, having given the eventual winner a couple of lengths’ head start as the field straightened.
When to bet: The Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on March 11 looks the obvious step for Call Di now, as she was one of the better runs in defeat all day. If she can draw a better barrier and settle midfield, there is no doubt that this filly will be a massive player in the 1500m Group 1 for the fillies and mares.
Race 6: Peter Young Stakes (1800m) (Hillside Track) | Time: 1:48.40
- Horse to follow: Gold Trip (2nd)
Saturday saw a number of Melbourne Cup runners return to the track in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes over 1800m, with Gold Trip being the best run in defeat for the entire day at Sandown. The 2022 Melbourne Cup winner was brilliant on return, flashing at his stablemate Steinem in the final 100m to go down by a long neck on the line. The race was definitely run to suit the superior stayers, as it was two seconds inside standard time for the class and track and only 0.4 seconds slower than the track record that has stood since 2010. After such a stylish return from Gold Trip, there is no doubt that he is in for a big autumn carnival, on his way to the Sydney Cup in early April.
When to bet: After such a massive gut-busting run first-up following a long spring campaign that included appearances in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, we could see Gold Trip race a bit flat second-up. Therefore, we suggest following him when he is third-up over 2400m-plus or in the Sydney Cup when he is at peak fitness and over a distance that clearly suits him better.
Randwick – Chipping Norton Stakes Day
Track rating: Good 4
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 9: Liverpool City Cup (1300m) | Time: 1:16.51
- Horse to follow: Think About It (1st)
This particular runner has been flying under our radar for sometime now, but now that he has won his fourth start in a row and Joseph Pride has suggested that he will be targeting a Stradbroke Handicap, he is well within our sights. Think About It has only had the seven race starts for his career, winning six of them and finishing third in the other. On Saturday, this four-year-old son of So You Think took out the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup over 1300m, after leading from start to finish without ever being challenged. With four wins in a row coming in stronger grade every time he steps out, there is no doubt that this gelding is one to follow wherever he goes next.
When to bet: Think About It is nominated for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile over 1600m on April 1; however, he currently sits outside the top 100 in the ballot, which says to us that he won’t be going there and could instead head to the paddock for a few weeks before he returns for a Stradbroke Handicap preparation. No matter where Pride takes this gelding next, we will be following him.
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