The best of Australian racing takes centre stage at Randwick, Sydney, this weekend, with Team Godolphin attempting to follow up one of its most successful weekends internationally.
The best of Australian racing takes centre stage at Randwick, Sydney, this weekend, with Team Godolphin attempting to follow up one of its most successful weekends internationally.
Not only did His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's global stable have four winners at Rosehill last Saturday, including Hartnell, the BMW winner, hours later Godolphin jockey William Buick and trainer Saeed bin Suroor combined to land the Dubai World Cup with Prince Bishop for the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.
"It was a very special day for the team," John Ferguson, bloodstock advisor to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, commented. "It is very satisfying when the horses are running so well, and it is a great tribute to those putting in the hard work to achieve those results.
"We again have several serious chances at Randwick this weekend, but after last week, the bar has been set very high," he added.
There are four Group One contests on the first day of The Championships at Randwick, Sydney's showcase racing carnival, and each has the potential to be among the best races of the year. At the time of writing, the going is officially Soft (7), but rain is expected on Friday and Saturday.
Godolphin's Hauraki, saddled by John O'Shea and ridden by James McDonald, will be attempting to become the first since Starcraft in 2006 to complete the Tulloch Stakes-ATC Derby double. The son of Reset had plenty in hand as he recorded a facile win last Saturday, and there should be no concern about his backing up seven days later.
But there is very strong opposition in the shape of Preferment, the Chris Waller-trained winner of the Victoria Derby in November. Staying is all that Preferment knows, and thus he will be in his element. Others such as Volkstock'n'Barrell and Mongolian Khan are also solid rivals.
The Doncaster Mile has long had a reputation of being one of the hardest races in Australia to win, and this year's renewal does little to dispel that theory. Godolphin has It's Somewhat in the field, with Sweynesse as first emergency, waiting for a late call.
It's Somewhat won the Liverpool City Cup first up and then disappointed when ninth in the George Ryder Stakes. Earlier in his career in the UK, It's Somewhat showed plenty of latent stamina when placed in the G1 Eclipse Stakes, over 2,000 metres at Sandown Park.
Hallowed Crown has drawn very wide but must have serious claims, and hardy Sacred Falls bids for a third win in this most demanding of races.
Tarquin, a winner at Rosehill for William Buick, is the Godolphin runner in the Sires Produce Stakes. An unusual feature this year is that only three horses, who contested the Golden Slipper, are backing up in the Sires. Pride of Dubai was impressive in Melbourne and comes here after by-passing the Golden Slipper.
The remaining G1 race on the first day of The Championships is the T J Smith Stakes, over 1,200 metres, which features big names Chautauqua, defending champion Lankan Rupee, and the brilliant Terravista. Of the trio, it is worth noting Chautauqua was very unlucky in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
