Australian racing's equivalent of the Breeders' Cup commences this Friday night, as Day 1 of “The Championships at Randwick” showcases global Group 1 talent across a multitude of conditions and distances. The two-day elite event, which concludes next Friday night, features AU$20 million in purses. Sky Racing World's Jason Witham and FanDuel TV's Andrew “Dubbs” Anderson will be broadcasting live from Sydney's Royal Randwick on FanDuel TV. First post is 9:10 p.m. ET / 6:10 p.m. PT.
The TJ Smith Stakes (Race 7) exemplifies Australia's status as the world's premier source of turf sprinters. Nature Strip (7-2), who crushed his rivals at Royal Ascot last summer, appears to be finally succumbing to the reality of aging. Yet, after two subpar efforts this campaign, trainer Chris Waller is bullish that the 8-year-old has rebounded and is fully capable of a record fourth victory in this race.
The performance by Godolphin mare In Secret to win last month's G1 Newmarket Handicap rated so highly that connections of sixth-place finisher The Astrologist sent their horse to Dubai. The Astrologist, ignored in the wagering at 26-1, went within a head of upsetting the G1 Al Quoz Sprint last Saturday. There is no question that In Secret would have won comfortably, but she's only the 5-1 third wagering choice for the TJ Smith! Giga Kick (5-2 favorite) won last October's The Everest, the world's richest race on turf, at just his 5th career start while still three days short of his actual third birthday. Giga Kick's comeback race from a layoff was tremendous, as he savaged the finish line from well off the pace in a G2 five-furlong race on March 3.
Giga Kick will have the services of Australia's international riding star, 40-year-old Zac Purton, who has spent the past decade dazzling racing fans in Hong Kong. Purton secured a release from Hong Kong to ride at the “Sydney Autumn Carnival,” and made an immediate impact by landing a G1 double on March 3. Purton has enjoyed an epic Hong Kong rivalry with Brazilian Joao Moreira, holding a 5-4 edge in riding titles after outdueling Moreira on closing day last season. Moreira is now in semi-retirement, but rode on Dubai World Cup night and has now joined Purton in Sydney for The Championships. Moreira rides 50-1 longshot Paulele in the TJ Smith.
Friday night's richest race is the AU$4 million Doncaster Mile (Race 8), a time-honored handicap dating back to 1866. The Doncaster Mile features the delayed Australian debut of star U.S. mare Going Global (40-1), who was profiled in last week's article before being scratched. Going Global was withdrawn from a Group 1 race for fillies and mares after drawing an extremely wide gate. While faring much better in the Doncaster draw, her 19 opponents include numerous top-quality males.
Mr Brightside (9-2 favorite) is the defending Doncaster champion, and will be another first-time ride for the in-demand Zac Purton. Joao Moreira, Purton's Hong Kong sparring partner, rides Fangirl (6-1) for champion trainer Chris Waller. A high-class mare, Fangirl has three straight minor placings behind Australia's best horse, Anamoe. Waller also prepares 3-year-old filly Zougotcha (7-1), a G1 winner at the Randwick Mile last October. Alligator Blood (10-1), whose popularity borders on a cult following, is 5-for-10 in Group 1 races.
The Doncaster Mile's handicap conditions make Protagonist (9-1) the horse to beat. With solid, but non-stakes, form in England, the William Haggas trainee has snuck under the radar of the racing secretary. Protagonist will carry only 110 pounds, versus highweight Alligator Blood's 126. Protagonist won a G3 at 1 1/4 miles in his Australian debut, beating impressive subsequent winner Zeyrek. His biggest obstacle is cutting back to below his typical distance range. While Protagonist's English form lacks Group status, his last race there yielded a second-place finish to Algiers, runner-up last Saturday in the Dubai World Cup.
The Australian Derby (Race 9) looks to be at the mercy of ace New Zealander Sharp 'N' Smart, who boasts Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Sharp 'N' Smart is already lurking near the top of future book markets for November's Melbourne Cup. He won last October's Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick, and showed he's right on song with a last-start victory in the New Zealand Derby at the same journey (1 1/2 miles) as Friday night's assignment. Bookmakers eased his odds fractionally to 5-2 after Smart 'N' Sharp drew a horrendous post position. However, the tough Kiwi gelding has overcome wide trips previously – including in the Spring Champion when ridden by Hugh Bowman (of Winx fame), who again is entrusted with the navigational duties this Friday night.
Golden Slipper runner-up Cylinder headlines the Sires Produce Stakes (Race 6). Two weeks after finishing second as favorite in the world's richest 2-year-old race, the Godolphin colt (6-5) will aim to go one better while rising from six to seven furlongs.
The Randwick card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night (First Post: 9:10 p.m. ET / 6:10 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Hawkesbury, Doomben and Ascot. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, 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.
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.
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