Sydney’s wet weather has been responsible for the scratching of big name runners from today’s Warwick Stakes Day meeting at Randwick with the track rated a heavy 9 this morning.
Sacred Falls is the new favourite for the Warwick Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
The eight card program has been hit with twenty-nine scratchings after almost 90mm of rain had fallen in the last seven days.
“We have rated it a heavy 9 this morning,” Randwick track manager Nevesh Ramdhani told Racing HQ Saturday.
“The rain is coming in from the north east and it looks like there is a bit in it as well.”
“A heavy 9 is what we will kick off with and we will wait and see what the weather does over the next couple of hours.”
The Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) has been reduced to seven runners after the withdrawal of Boban, Laser Hawk, Messene and Dissident.
While the Chris Waller trained Boban and Laser Hawk from the Joe Pride stable were taken out on Thursday and Friday, pre-post favourite Messene and Peter Moody’s Dissident were withdrawn this morning.
The new market order for the Warwick Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au sees the three Waller mudlarks Sacred Falls ($3.40), Weary ($4) and Royal Descent ($4.60) fighting it out for favouritism with Australian Derby winner Criterion marked at $7.
The field for the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) has been reduced to six with the scratching Earthquake, Twirl and High Above.
The scratching of two year old Group 1 winner Earthquake has seen a dramatic change in the market order with the Moody trained filly Bring Me The Maid now the odds on favourite at $1.85
The Group 3 $125,000 Toy Show Quality (1300m) for the fillies and mares has been hit with five scratchings, Dear Demi, Lucia Valentina, Neena Rock, Miss Promiscuity and the emergency Lesley’s Choice.
Gypsy Diamond from the stables of Peter and Paul Snowden has firmed in the betting to be the clear favourite at $2.70 ahead of the Gai Waterhouse trained Group 1 winner Diamond Drille at $4.40.
The other two feature races on the program, the Group 3 $125,000 Synergy FX Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) and the Group 3 $125,000 Show County Quality (1200m), both have only two scratchings each, reducing their field size to nine.
The Show County Quality has lost Whittington and the fancied Cluster which has forced the price of Terravista to tumble into $2.15 ahead of Bull Point and In Cahoots both at $5.50.
While the withdrawal of Kumaon and Road To Shangrila from the Up And Coming Stakes hasn’t affected the market order greatly with Better Land at $3.20 still maintaining the top spot at $3.20 ahead of last start winner Scissor Kick and Meursault from the Godolphin stables both at $5.
The new favourite for the opening race of the day, the TAB Early Quaddie Handicap (1400m), is the Joe Pride trained Rock Sturdy at $2.70 just ahead of Any Day Will Do at $3.80.
As well as the pre-post favourite As Needed coming out, Bouzy Rouge, Maximillian and Lorna Way will be staying home in their box.
The Randwick City Mayor’s Cup (2000m) has only two out, Lucky Liaison and Slivovitz, while the last race on the program, the Ranvet Handicap (1000m) has been hit with seven scratchings, reducing the field to twelve runners.
A market shake up has seen Mount Nebo elevated to the top spot for the last leg of the quaddie at $3.80 while Diamond Oasis has also firmed to be a $4.20 chance.
