Complacent Headlines Hill Stakes Field

The 2015 Hill Stakes field has been released and Complacent is set to take on a capacity field of rivals in the Group 2 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Complacent has the chance to record back-to-back wins when he contests the 2015 Hill Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Complacent has the chance to record back-to-back wins when he contests the 2015 Hill Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Complacent stamped himself as one of the most promising staying talents in Australia when he took out the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and finished second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2400m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but he suffered a tendon injury that kept him away from racing for almost two years.

The Authorized entire was run off the truck by Burbero when he returned to the races in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22, but he led from start to finish to record a massive upset in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 5.

16 horses as well as two emergencies have been included in the Hill Stakes field and leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is set to have nine runners in the field after including Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, Beaten Up, Foreteller, Junoob, Opinion, I’m Imposing, Hawkspur and Preferment in the final field.

Another stable that will have multiple runners in the Hill Stakes field is the Macedon Lodge team of Lloyd Williams, who have included both Gallante and Chance To Dance in the final field.

Gallante took out the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris (2400m) in France last year before he was purchased by Williams and he made his Australian racing debut with a flat effort in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5, while Chance To Dance upstaged stablemate The United States to take out the Craig Opie Cup (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5.

The sentimental favourite in the 2015 Hill Stakes will be veteran stayer Precedence.

Precedence returned to the races with a credible tenth in the Chelmsford Stakes and he is set to take plenty of benefit from the Hill Stakes as he heads towards the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2600m) at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes Day – a race that is named after his recently deceased trainer.

The 2015 Hill Stakes field is rounded out by imported stayer Bonfire, veteran galloper Tremec and Ciaron Maher-trained Kapour, while Godolphin-owned Magic Hurricane and Gai Waterhouse-trained Bohemian Lily are the two emergencies.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.