Stradbroke Handicap favourite Malaguerra is among the nominations for the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Malaguerra, above, is among the nominations for the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The weight for age All Aged Stakes has only attracted thirteen entries and the Australia Turf Club has extended the nomination deadline until 11am on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.
Malaguerra is racing in outstanding form, winning his last four starts, including his latest victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 26.
Co-trainer Lee Freedman had always had a high opinion of the Magnus four year old and immediately after the Star Kingdom Stakes win said that he would be heading to Queensland for the Group 1 $2m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11 and has been installed the $4.50 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Brisbane Winter Carnival feature sprint.
“The plan is the Stradbroke. He is a very good young horse in form and they might find out how good he is,” Freedman said.
Also among the entries for the All Aged Stakes is the former West Australian galloper Black Heart Bart who is now prepared by leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir.
Weir has saddled up Black Heart Bart on two occasions for a second to The Quarterback in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 12 and a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on March 26.
Black Heart Bart is also a contender for the Brisbane Winter Carnival with Weir also keen to target the Stradbroke Handicap.
Gai Waterhouse has nominated English who has returned in the Autumn in fine form with a first up win in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 5 and with a last start third to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2.
As usual premiership winning trainer Chris Waller has multiple entries and has nominated Kermadec, Kool Kompany, Press Statement and Strawberry Boy.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will be chasing another Autumn Carnival Group 1 win with Italian import Goldstream after producing Lucia Valentina to score an emphatic win in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Goldstream in the winner of 2015 Group 2 Derby Italiano 10Elotto (2213m) at Rome and will be having his first run on Australian soil.
Our Boy Malachi has been racing consistently over the Sydney Autumn Carnival and Team Hawkes are giving him another chance to win his first Group 1 race after running a last start fourth to stablemate Chautauqua in the T J Smith Stakes.
Other early nominations for the All Aged Stakes include the Gerald Ryan trained pair of Bachman and Perignon, the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Fast ‘N’ Rocking and Gary Portelli’s war horse Rebel Dane.
Early market order for the All Aged Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.40 Press Statement, $4.40 English, $4.50 Black Heart Bart, $4.80 Malaguerra, $6 Kermadec, $10 Our Boy Malachi, $21 Goldstream, $26 Rebel Dane, $31 Bachman, Fast ‘N’ Rocking, $41 Strawberry Boy, $51 Kool Kompany, Perignon.
