The 2015 All Aged Stakes field has been released and 13 talented gallopers are set to contest the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Dissident will have the chance to end his racing career on a winning note in the 2015 All Aged Stakes. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Chautauqua broke through for an elusive win at Group 1 level when he stormed home late to win the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and he will have the opportunity to record a second straight win at Group 1 level when he jumps from barrier one this weekend.
The Encosta De Lago gelding will be stepping up to 1400 metres for the first time since he finished fifth behind Cosmic Endeavour in the Inglis Guineas (1400m) in May last year, but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes is confident that the step-up in trip will not be an issue for the T.J. Smith Stakes winner.
Terravista is also set to back-up from the T.J. Smith Stakes and he will jump from barrier two in the All Aged Stakes with leading Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Terravista defeated Chautauqua to win the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he finished behind his rival in both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and T.J. Smith Stakes this preparation.
The Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) is also set to be a key form reference for the 2015 All Aged Stakes and impressive winner Lucky Hussler is another galloper that has the chance to record a second straight win at the highest level.
Lucky Hussler stormed home late to record an impressive win in the William Reid Stakes and is sure to relish the step-up to 1400 metres after taking out the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) over that trip in the spring in impressive fashion.
Rebel Dane was slightly disappointing when sixth in the William Reid Stakes, but will have a chance to atone in the All Aged Stakes, while Group 1 winner Famous Seamus has also been included in the field for the Group 1 event.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2015 All Aged Stakes field is four-time Group 1 winner Dissident, who will be having his final race start in the $400,000 race.
Dissident started his autumn with a third place finish in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 24, but he returned to winning form with a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 14.
The Sebring entire went into the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) as an extremely short-priced favourite, but he never looked comfortable in the running and he tired late to finish third behind Suavito and Smokin’ Joey.
Three-year-olds have won two of the past three editions of the All Aged Stakes and Shooting To Win, Wandjina and Scissor Kick all have the chance to improve that record in the Group 1 event this weekend.
Shooting To Win was touted as one of the most talented horses in Australia when he took out the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) during the spring, but he has been slightly disappointing this preparation after failing to return to winning form in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21, the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
The Northern Meteor entire was found with a back issue coming out of the George Ryder Stakes, but co-trainer Paul Snowden believes that the three-year-old is back to his best for the All Aged Stakes.
Wandjina finished tenth in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) during the spring, but he has gone to another level in the autumn and is taking winning form into the All Aged Stakes following his tough wins in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 21 and the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at the same venue on March 7.
Scissor Kick has had a disrupted autumn preparation due to injury and was scratched from the Royal Randwick Guineas and Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m), but has been cleared to returned to racing on Saturday.
Joe Pride-trained Laser Hawk (barrier seven), imported galloper Weary (barrier ten), last start winner Generalife (barrier five) and Anthony Cummings-trained Fontelina round out the 2015 All Aged Stakes field.
