Fourteen stayers will line up in the 2017 Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on day two of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.
Who Shot Thebarman, above, will carry the top weight in the 2017 Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will saddle up the two top weights with Who Shot Thebarman to carry 57kg while Libran has been handicapped with 56.5kg.
Waller will also saddle up Kinema who is at the bottom of the weights with 52kg.
Who Shot Thebarman has had plenty of experience running over the 3200m with a win in the 2014 Group 1 NZ$500,000 Stella Artois Auckland Cup at Ellerslie his best result.
The eight year old has also been placed on several occasions over the two miles with a third in the 2014 Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington and a second in the 2015 Sydney Cup.
Libran has only had one attempt at running over 3200m and is hoping to go one better than last year when second to Gallante in the 2016 Sydney Cup.
Who Shot Thebarman and Libran both had their final Sydney Cup lead up runs in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 25 finishing fourth and sixth respectively behind the Ciaron Maher trained Jameka.
Blake Shin Takes over from Tim Clark on Who Shot Thebarman who has drawn barrier four while Hugh Bowman replaces Glyn Schofield on Libran who will jump from gate thirteen.
Craig Williams will again be aboard the Darren Weir trained Big Duke after guiding him to victories at his two latest outings in the Group 3 $150,000 Irresistible Pools & Spas N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on March 18 and in the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Big Duke is currently the ruling favourite for the Sydney Cup at $2.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au and has drawn barrier five in the fourteen horse field.
Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby will have two runners in the Sydney Cup, Penglai Pavilion who drew barrier six and Polarisation who came up with barrier eleven.
Early market order for the Sydney Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.80 Big Duke, $7 Assign, $8 Who Shot Thebarman, $9 Penglai Pavilion, $13 Tally, Polarisation, $15 Libran, Chance To Dancer, Vengeur Masque, $21 Almoonqith, $26 Annus Mirabilis, Kinema, $51 Mister Impatience, $67 Pentathlon.
