The two emergencies were not required for the 2018 Group 2 $250,000 Bisley Workwear Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick today, leaving the final field of fifteen intact for the weight for age contest.
Cabeza De Vaca, above, is a market mover in the 2018 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Randwick track for the Chelmsford Stakes race day has been rated a Good 4 with the rail out 10m from the 1600m to the winning post and 7m for the remainder of the course.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Cabeza De Vaca has attracted some early morning support in the betting for the Chelmsford Stakes, firming in from $7.50 to $6.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Cabeza De Vaca ran a solid race when a first up fifth to Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.
The Chris Waller trained Unforgotten remained the solid favourite at $3.60 ahead of Prized Icon at $6 while Single Gaze at $8 and Sedanzer at $9 are also in contention.
Irish import Mr Moonlight Magic has drifted slightly in the betting to be $11 on race morning and trainer James Cummings is eager to see how the six year old performs in his first outing on Australian soli.
“If we could have raced him sooner we probably would have,” Cummings told AAP.
“But it’s taken him a while to get accustomed to the firmer tracks in Australia than some of the others in the past so we’ll wait and see what he’s able to show us on race day.
“It will be great to see him make his Australian debut and get his preparation underway and let us learn a bit more about him.”
Eleven horses are set to contest the Group 2 $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) after Pierata and Foxplay were both early scratchings on Friday.
Pierata was ruled out on Friday after being found to be lame and trainer Chris Waller is happy to leave Foxplay home and give her another week before resuming for the 2018 Spring Carnival.
The scratching of Foxplay was left Waller with four runners in the Tramway Stakes with Tom Melbourne the shortest priced in the betting at $6.50 ahead of Comin’ Through at $9.50, Egg Tart at $19 and Youngstar at $26.
The Kris Lees trained Le Romain is at the top of the Tramway Stakes market order at $2.60 ahead of Mark Newnham’s Lanciato at $5.50.
