Form analyst, RIC CHAPMAN, looks at every runner in Saturday’s Group 1 $2million Sydney Cup with horse racing tips for the first four. Read on to see how he maps – he has included the potential for a damp track in his thoughts. Good luck!
Randwick R7 – $2million Sydney Cup 3200m
1. GOLD TRIP (16) 335291×257
T; Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace / J: James Mcdonald (59.5kg)
Gr 1 Melbourne Cup winner by a big space and this is easier. Was not ridden all that positively last start in the Gr 1 Tancred when sitting back on a track that didn’t play for finishers, then hitting the line well for 7th. Should win this.
2. KNIGHT’S ORDER (12) x13439x866
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/ J: Tim Clark (56.5kg)
Led all the way to win this race in the mud last year and is going just as well. Looks his only option again. Go hard from the get go and run them into the dust. Or mud as it may well be again.
3. BARON SAMEDI (20) x36x403x2x
T: Joseph O’Brien / J: Tom Marquand (55kg)
Irish stayer with talent. Can carry massive weights and has Group form over this trip to his credit. Loves it wet too. Hard to imagine a horse resuming here in a Gr 1 two mile race but he is and has been backed. Have in your numbers.
4. STOCKMAN (5) 4188×00587
T: Joe Pride / J: Sam Clipperton (54.5kg)
Solid stayer in useful form and loves the mud. Is very fit as most of his races this time up have been in strong Gr 1 events. Can run a big race.
5. ARAPAHO (8) 23820×7711
T: Bjorn Baker / J: Rachel King (53kg)
Ticks so many boxes. Comes into this in career best form winning past two starts, latest in the Gr 1 Tancred carrying 6kg more. Was superbly ridden that day. Likes it wet and should get this trip. Big show.
6. SELINO (14) 16x13x121x
T: Chris Waller / J: Tom Sherry (53kg)
Can stay and has been a Gr 1 performer in the past but not currently racing well enough.
7. SUREFIRE (6) 55021×8891
T: Chris Waller /J: Joao Moreira (52kg)
Hard to beat here. Is back in form following a powerful lead up win last weekend. Had been worrying his fans until last start. If he repeats that he looks very hard to hold out with this weight. Top hope.
8. EXPLOSIVE JACK (4) x9500x7720
T: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace /J: Dylan Gibbons (52kg)
Gr 1 winner here but isn’t racing well enough. At his best he is a threat.
9. SIR LUCAN (15) 1x2480x139
T; Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/ J: Winona Costin (51.5kg)
Nuisance value horse. Can stay all day and will be fooled to the front from the get go. Well, as close as he can be because his own stablemate Knight’s Order will also be on that assignment. If this bloke with his postage stamp weight can slot in on the fence and go to sleep he can be a player.
10. TORRENS (1) x8x601x060
T: Marc Chevalier / J: Alysha Collett (51.5kg)
SCRATCHED
11. CLEVELAND (17) 51x51226x5
T: Joseph O’Brien / J: Kerrin McEvoy (51kg)
Here’s the one they all want to be on. Carries no weight and his first-up 5th when rattling home last start had back me written all over it. Comes from Ireland, can stay and did win 2nd up last campaign. Perfectly weighted.
12. HIGH EMOCEAN (19) 341613×584
T: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace / J: Robbie Dolan (51kg)
Is a genuine lightweight hope. Runs home hard at the end of his races and likes it damp. Stablemate of Gr 1 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip and could very well flash down the outside of the track with him late. Have in your numbers.
13. AMADE (10) 1x8045x833
T: Phillip Stokes / J: Reece Jones (51kg)
Can stay all day and is 4th up into this after a two year break. Has raced his way into fitness and was a good hard closing 3rd in the Adelaide Cup this trip last start. Sneaky place hope.
14. KING FRANKEL (11) 6x1311x143
T; Mark Newnham /J: Tyler Schiller (50kg)
Is pretty tough and is in supreme form. And doesn’t mind if the track is soft either. Won the Parramatta Cup over 1900m in good style with 53kg but has improved since then. Last start for instance, led most of the way and went down a length with 59kg in the Gr 1 Tancred over 2400m. This is harder because it’s longer but he has a great weight pull.
15. NERVE NOT VERVE (2) 9248×97223
T: Michael Moroney / J: Dean Holland (50kg)
Is just a beautiful, tough, honest mare well capable of winning this. After a grafting 2nd in the 2500m Torney Cup when attempting to lead all the way, she went ross the Tasman to NZ and ran the most courageous of 2nds in the Gr 2 Auckland Cup this trip. That was a month back. Since was a strong 3rd here in the Gr 2 Chairmans.
16. GIN MARTINI (18) 064314×612
T: John Sargent / J: Zac Lloyd (50kg)
Eearns a shot at this with recent history. Has won at stakes level over this trip and last start stormed home to just fail in the 2600m Chairman’s behind Surefire. Drops 4kg here and doesn’t have an issue with the mud. Big danger.
17. TIMOUR (3) 4565×70431
T: Chris Waller /J: Jay Ford (50kg)
Is going to take some beating. Mainly because he just doesn’t get tired. On pace yet rallied late to win the 2400m Gr 3 Manion Cuo last start and rops 4kg here. Real live light weight hope.
T: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace /J: Brock Ryan (50kg)
More than handy handicap stayer who is very fit now. Just failed when coming hard at the end when 4th to Timour in the Gr 2 Manion o ver 2400m. Seems suited to this trip with this weight.
19. PESTO (9) 234×747905
T; Team Hawkes/ J: Tyler SchillerAndrew Adkins (50kg)
Handy handicap stayer but out of his depth in this.
20. TRUE MARVEL (7) 0572505230
T: Matt Smith / J: Kathy O’Hara (50kg)
Plugging type of stayer who has been up a long time. May find this grade too tough.
