Godolphin stablemates to kick off Spring Carnival in Tramway Stakes

Godolphin stablemates Hauraki and It’s Somewhat are set to kick off their 2016 Spring Carnival Campaigns at Randwick on Saturday in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m).

Hauraki, above, is set to kick off his Spring Carnival campaign in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Hauraki, above, is set to kick off his Spring Carnival campaign in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Both Hauraki and It’s Somewhat will be having their first race start since running second and third respectively behind the Lee and Anthony Freedman trained German import Our Ivanhowe in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben in May during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Trainer John O’Shea is keen to get both geldings racing with their main Spring goals being later on in the Carnival with Hauraki nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups as well as the Cox Plate while It’s Somewhat is only entered for the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate.

O’Shea expects both gallopers to take a great deal of benefit from Saturday’s run but the prospect of a rain affected track won’t help the changes of Hauraki.

“It’ll be good to get him started, although the wet track won’t be ideal. He’s only had one trial and he’s a bit big and a bit fresh,” O’Shea said.

“We’re looking for him to have a nice day out and lay a good foundation for the rest of the Spring.”

English import It’s Somewhat has some winning form on a soft track and has won first up on two occasions in the past.

“He’s still quite big in condition but he loves the ground,” O’Shea said.

“I think he’ll be effective enough, it’ll be good just to get him started again.”

Godolphin’s number one rider in Australia, James McDonald,will stick with Hauraki who has drawn barrier seven in the eleven horse Tramway Stakes field and Tim Clark got the nod for It’s Somewhat who has drawn next to his stablemate at gate six.

Harauki showed some staying potential during his three year old season when second to Mongolian Khan in the 2015 Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick and then later in the year as a four year old ran eighth to Mongolian Khan again in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield.

O’Shea limited Haruaki up to 2000m during the Autumn and Winter Carnivals which resulted in three Group 1 placings and as well as running second in the Doomben Cup, finished third in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick followed by a second in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

It’s Somewhat’s Doomben Cup placing is his best effort on Australian soil and he is well suited to distances up to 2000m.

In a wide open betting race with seven runners under double figures at Ladbrokes.com.au, It’s Somewhat is marked at $8 just ahead of Hauraki at $8.50 with the Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper coming up the favourite for the Tramway Stakes at $4.60.

Market order for The Tramway Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Happy Clapper, $6 Dibayani, $6.50 Le Romain, $7 Heaven’s Above, $7.50 Sadler’s Lake, $8 It’s Somewhat, $8.50 Hauraki, $15 Cosmic Cube, $18 Sons Of John, Messene, $67 Gust Of Wind.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.