Trainer Chris Waller will test Japonisme over 1400m for the first time when he lines up Saturday’s weight for age Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes at Randwick.
Japonisme, above, will step up to 1400m for the first time in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Japonisme hasn’t been to the winner’s stall since his victory in the Group 2 $500,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick twelve months ago and is coming off a last start eleventh to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1.
“I think he is ready for 1400m,” Waller said.
“It will be interesting to see him getting up in distance. I think now is the time to just ride him a little bit quieter, give him a bit of cover and beautiful draw to do so.”
Glyn Schofield gets the ride again on Japonisme who will jump from barrier five in the ten horse All Aged Stakes field.
Japonisme was a surprise winner at big odds when he won the 2015 Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and is listed as one of the outsiders of the All Aged Stakes at $31 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
At the top of the All Aged Stakes market order are Le Romain and English who are sharing favouritism at $3.70 ahead of Voodoo Lad at $7 and market mover Tivaci at $8.50.
Waller will also saddle up $9.50 chance McCreery who will have the blinkers back on for the All Aged Stakes.
The last time McCreery wore the blinkers he won the Listed $100,000 Le Petit Rose Hawkesbury Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury in August last year.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English and Kris Lees’ Le Romain both have strong Autumn Carnival form around Team Hawkes’ super sprinter Chautauqua.
English was beaten a head by Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1 while Le Romain beat the grey flash when they ran the quinella in the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4.
Le Romain then beat Chautauqua home again when they finished second and third behind Winx in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18.
English has drawn in close at barrier two in the All Aged Stakes with Blake Shinn to ride while Le Romain will jump from the outside gate with Hugh Bowman in charge.
