The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English will have to pass a vet check before being given the all clear to defend her title in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
English, above, has to pass a vet’s check before being cleared to run in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
English will be looking for back to back wins in the weight for age Group 1 after beating Black Heart Bart in a tight finish last year and will start as one of the favourites after a last start second to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1.
Racing New South Wales Stewards ordered a veterinary inspection of English by Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Craig Suann on Thursday April 13 after the stable reported that the mare had sustained a minor laceration to its near hind hock which is being treated.
English is currently on the second line of betting at $4.40 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the All Aged Stakes behind Black Heart Bart and Le Romain who share favouritism at $4.20.
English is racing in great form and resumed for the Autumn Carnival with a first up win over Redzel on a heavy track in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 4.
At her next start the Encosta De Lago mare was well beaten when seventh of fourteen behind Russian Revolution in the Group 1 $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18 but then bounced back with a first class performance to only be beaten a head by champion sprinter Chautauqua who claimed his third T J Smith Stakes with a spectacular last to first win.
English will be facing a tough line up in the All Aged Stakes which includes Black Heart Bart who has won five Group 1 races since they last met twelve months ago.
Black Heart Bart’s 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival form has been excellent with a Group 1 winning double at Caulfield at his last two starts with victories in the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and in the $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m).
The Darren Weir trained gelding also saluted at Group 1 level in the $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in May last year before claiming a Melbourne Spring Carnival Group 1 double at Caulfield with wins in the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) and in the $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m).
Early betting for the All Aged Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Black Heart Bart, Le Romain, $4.40 English, $8 Voodoo Lad, $9 Tavaci, $10 Hellbent, Redkirk Warrior, $12 Jungle Edge, McCreery, $16 Spectroscope, $17 Divine Prophet, $26 Japonisme, $31 Counterattack, $31 Rebel Dane, $34 Flamberge, $51 $Articus, $61 Arod, $101 Famous Seamus.
