McCreery has blinkers back on in All Aged Stakes

Tough competitor McCreery will wear the blinkers again when he lines up in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

McCreery, above, will wear blinkers again in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

McCreery, above, will wear blinkers again in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

McCreery had the blinkers on when he won the 2016 Listed $100,000 Le Petit Rose Hawkesbury Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury and trainer Chris Waller thinks it is the right time to try them again.

“He had one start in them and he won in them, but his better ratings have been without them,” Waller said.

“In saying that, he has only had the one try with them and that was the Hawkesbury Rowley Mile.”

McCreery was a winner three starts back in the Group 3 $150,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on February 25 before having two tough runs at Group 1 level for a fifth to Winx in the $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18 followed by a sixth to It’s Somewhat in the $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1.

Waller has freshened the five year old after his Doncaster Mile run when he was beaten less than six lengths and said that he is in good order going into the weight for age All Aged Stakes.

“He is going terrific, he only a little fella but we have freshened him right up for Saturday’s race and it is a very open event.”

Kerrin McEvoy has been aboard McCreery (barrier 6) for his last two starts and will sticks with him again in the All Aged Stakes.

McCreery is listed at $9.50 for the All Aged Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au and Waller will also saddle up $31 chance Japonisme.

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.

Glyn Schofield gets the ride again on Japonisme who will jump from barrier five in the ten horse All Aged Stakes field.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English at $3.70 and multiple Group 1 winner Le Romain at $3.80 are fighting for favouritism at the top of the All Aged Stakes market order ahead of the Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad at $7 and market mover Tivaci at $8.50.

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.