All Aged Stakes Preview

It’s the final day of the Sydney Autumn carnival at Randwick this Saturday, which is highlighted by the Group One All Aged Stakes. The 1400m Weight For Age event saw 11 final acceptors although Snitzerland has now been scratched due to the forecast of wet weather and she’ll head up to Eagle Farm.

With the scratching of Snitzerland, Rebel Dane is now the race favourite for the All Aged Stakes. He was runner-up in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes two weeks ago and he tackles the All Aged second-up from a spell. He is a two-time winner over the distance including a Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in the spring.

Steps in Time was a Group One winner of the Coolmore Classic at her first run this campaign which was also her first run for new trainer Joe Pride. She subsequently finished down the track in the TJ having not handling the conditions, and she is one of many who will be hoping for drier conditions come Saturday. The mare has won four times from 12 attempts over 1400m and she’ll jump from barrier six.

Weary has been in good form this preparation with a win and two placings, his most recent run a third in the Doncaster Mile while Tiger Tees had been out of the winners circle for quite some time but has won twice this prep and that includes a Group One Galaxy over 1100m. He showed that he is in form and is enjoying the wet tracks with a fourth in the TJ Smith Stakes at his last run.

Japanese mare Hana’s Goal didn’t know what hit her when she ran on the heavy track in the Doncaster but did manage a creditable sixth, and whilst she has been out of the money both times in Australia her runs have had some credit.

Politeness was an impressive last-start winner in the PJ Bell when she come from the back of the field, and Cosmic Endeavour – who was second on that occasion – has franked that form with a win last week. Atlante is having his fourth run in Australia this prep but has been slightly disappointing since his impressive first-up run, Woodbine backs up after running second last week in the Group Two South Pacific while Shamexpress and Bennetta haven’t won in quite a while. Shamexpress’ last win was over a year ago in the Group One Newmarket but he did run second in a G1 first-up this campaign behind Snizterland while Bennetta’s last win was over a year ago as well and interestingly she is having her debut run at her home track.