Saturday preview: Six things to keep an eye on

Cover image courtesy of The Image is Everything

G1 Lightning: Switzerland and Growing Empire out to boost their stallion resumes

Flemington on Saturday will be the battleground for a clash between two of the nation’s breeding titans, where Coolmore's Switzerland (Snitzel) and Yulong’s Growing Empire (Zoustar) will face off for the first time since the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring.

Switzerland emerged the clear victor on that occasion, bulldozing a quality field by 2.75l to claim his first Group 1 - the first of many, if his owners and trainer Chris Waller have their way. The colt is already destined to join the ranks standing in Jerrys Plains, so it just remains to be seen how many more top level wins he can collect on the way. James McDonald has forgone reuniting with Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) in favour of teaming up with the colt again.

A talent who flew under the radar for his juvenile season, Growing Empire was cruelly denied his maiden Group 1 by Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in the G1 Manikato Stakes, and finished the spring with meritorious placings in the G1 The Everest and behind Switzerland in the Coolmore. He won a trial at the beginning of the month without much effort, and Ciaron Maher has seen enough to throw him in with the heavy hitters from the jump.

This has been a stallion-making race - Coolmore’s hot young thing Home Affairs won the 2022 edition of the race, as have household names Fastnet Rock, Choisir, and Testa Rossa - but it has been the dominion of the fillies for much of the last 15 years. Obviously, Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) took naming rights after three straight wins, but more recently it has been added to the resumes of In Her Time (Time Thief), Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), and Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).

Only four mares line up for this weight-for-age, led by 11-time winner I Am Me (I Am Invincible), who has had two midfield trial finishes where she wasn’t asked to do much, and Benedetta (Hellbent), who became her sire’s third Group 1 winner last autumn when winning the G1 The Goodwood. She missed the spring due to injury, but landed third in a red hot jump-out on the track a week ago, behind Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) and Espionage (Zoustar).

They are joined by Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) - who was second behind Benedetta in the Goodwood before a mixed spring, culminating in an agonising fourth by 0.76l in the G1 VRC Classic - and Skybird (Exosphere), who was also winless in the spring but showed plenty of grit to only be beaten 3.93l in the $10 million Golden Eagle. She snatched up a Group 1 placing at her fourth lifetime start, so shouldn’t be dismissed.

G2 Apollo Stakes: Spring stars kick off their autumn campaigns

A field of just eight will face the judge for the G2 Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday - but it is a field representative of some of Australasia’s best older horses, all of whom are kicking off their much-anticipated autumn campaigns. The Waller stable will rule the mounting yard by majority, lining up three of the team’s best mares as well as Woppitt Bloodstock favourite Lindermann (Lonhro). He has trialled well on two occasions leading in to Saturday, finishing second by 0.05l to Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in his most recent.

What will have most people excited, however, is the return of Via Sistina, whose spring domination needs little recap - four Group 1s in the space of four months is hard to forget. Both of her public jump-outs have been quiet, under a steady steer from James McDonald, and Kerrin McEvoy takes the reins on Saturday with McDonald riding the Waller team in Flemington. She has picked up a Group 1 in both of her Australian first-up runs and jumps from the middle of the pack.

Waller won this race last year with Fangirl (Sebring), who will jump from Via Sistina’s immediate left. Her trials have been equally quiet, giving nothing away ahead of her return to the races. She has Jason Collett to guide her this year - again, a regular beneficiary of McDonald’s partnership in the past, including last year’s victory.

Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) rounds out the Waller team, in what connections have told Loveracing.nz will almost certainly be her last preparation. The 7-year-old mare won her third Group 1 in the spring with the G1 Empire Rose Stakes, so anything from this point forward is a bonus.

Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) propelled himself into the spotlight in the spring with back to back Group 1 wins for Joseph Pride. He kicks off an autumn campaign here under Chad Schofield, who steered him to a smart trial win at the end of last month.

The 4-year-old gelding is set to head to the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes second-up, before lining up in either the G1 George Ryder Stakes or G1 Ranvet Stakes en route to a G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes tilt - a path that might see him clash with Via Sistina several times over the next few months. Pride has indicated that if he can run a good 2000 metres, a trip south for the G1 Cox Plate may be on the cards for the spring.

Cummings’ Zardozi (Kingman {GB}), Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), and the Bjorn Baker-trained Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) round out the high calibre field. The latter finished his spring with a Group 2 win over 2400 metres, so no doubt is going to improve as the preparation progresses.

G2 Light Fingers Stakes: Top fillies clash at Randwick

A battle of the fillies will heat up Randwick ahead of the Apollo Stakes, when the 3-year-olds fight it out over the 1200 metres of the G2 Light Fingers Stakes. Named for the prolific Light Fingers (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}), a winner of 10 stakes races in the mid 1960s, it has been a coveted race to add to a future broodmare’s resume. Recent winners include Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) last year, who was subsequently snatched up by Yulong for $2.2 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Broodmare Sale and went on to capture a Group 1, the phenomenal In Secret (I Am Invincible), and Fangirl in 2022.

This year’s edition is headlined by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s latest G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), who deadheated with Growing Empire in the Coolmore before running second to rising star Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the inaugural $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight, and four-time Group winner Manaal (Tassort), whose brief spring yielded victory in the G2 Furious Stakes, sandwiched between two third placings in other Group 2 events. Trainer Michael Freedman kept her last preparation short after a lengthy juvenile campaign, and her two trials suggest that Manaal is ready to explode first up. After all, she did win the G3 Gimcrack Stakes at her first start.

Waller presents three threats, with the return of Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) much anticipated after she captured the G1 Flight Stakes at only her fourth lifetime start in the spring. She won her most recent trial, floating past Switzerland to cross the line 1.41l ahead, and is primed to return in a big way.

She is flanked by stablemates juvenile stakes winner Lazzura (Snitzel) and similarly underexposed Amelita (Zousain), a winner of the G3 Red Roses Stakes at her fifth start before being put away in the spring. Lazzura hasn’t won since her juvenile preparation, but did run a brave third - by only 0.76l - behind Manaal in the Furious Stakes first up in the spring.

The unbeaten Dance To The Boom (Exceedance), a last start winner of the Listed Gosford Guineas, accepts here with the aim to make it four in a row on the way to the G1 Surround Stakes at the beginning of next month. Trained by Bjorn Baker, she had a scorching hot tick-over trial leading in to this event, downing Lady Of Camelot by 0.08l at the line. She will meet again with Shohisha (Supido), who was second to her in the Guineas before winning a confidence-boosting Midway BM72 event at Rosehill Gardens last month.

G3 Matamata Slipper and G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes: Juveniles keep rolling in New Zealand

Matamata kicks off the juvenile action of the weekend with two contests on offer on the route to the G1 Sistema Stakes. The G3 Matamata Slipper runs first, and a field of five will line up, with three trained by the Te Akau Racing partnership of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Interestingly, all three are sons of Snitzel - a trio that cost over $2.3 million to secure.

Te Akau proprietor David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) is not renowned for his keen eye for nothing, as all three are already winners, and leading hope Return To Conquer (Snitzel) has been unbeaten in two starts, both at stakes level, and hardly turned a hair when winning the G3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic at the beginning of the month.

Stablemate To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) was unbeaten in his first two starts, before finishing fourth in a hot edition of the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO last month behind fellow Te Akau trainee La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth). He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) has had only the one start last month over the same distance as Saturday’s race, but thrashed his rivals by 2l, and could come on enough to give his Te Akau brothers a scare.

Gallery: Horses that are trained by Te Akau Racing partnership of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and the colts of Snitzel

Gavin Sharrock presents Daylight Robbery (NZ) (Super Seth), a winner and twice placed before his respectable seventh in the Karaka Million, in the same race and Stephen Marsh has the untapped Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) bidding to kick his career off with a bang.

For the fillies, there are seven acceptors for the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, and La Dorada looms over the field in top spot, although has drawn barrier six for a small field. Intention (NZ) (Bivouac), Mike Breslin’s winner of the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes in December, is possibly her biggest threat and draws more favourably, jumping from barrier three. She was beaten last start by Breeders’ Stakes third-elect To Cap It All (Capitalist), victress in the Listed Wellesley Stakes for Stephen Marsh at her only start. She debuted powerfully off of just the one trial and hasn’t had a public outing since - but evidently has no problem being fresh.

Te Akau Racing has a great record in the Breeders’ Stakes, having won the last three, and they achieved the juvenile double in 2023 with Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) and Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}). Given the quality of their hopes this year, they look like they will be hard to beat again.

Last year’s fillies winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) went on to place in both the Sistema and the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes to cap off her juvenile season, and will run for the first time on Australian soil this Saturday, where she is an acceptor in the Listed Desirable Stakes at Flemington.

R.Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic & R. Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy: Magic action comes to the West

Magic Millions action comes to Western Australia this weekend with two races each offering $250,000 in prize money for entrants sold through the sales series. This is only the 10th edition of the race series in the far west, but it is always well received, with both races at Pinjarra Park boasting full fields.

In the R.Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic, last year’s winning trainer Luke Fernie returns with another leading chance; speedy gelding Capitola (Capitalist) was a standout winner on debut and hopes to return to form after a midfield effort at the beginning of the month behind Neville Parnham-trained filly Strideway (Alabama Express), who also lines up for the event. The 2-year-old filly has won twice in four starts and never finished further back than fourth.

Sean and Jake Casey line up their Dirty Work son Do I Feel Lucky, who has a win bookended by second placings, the latest behind Strideway. His Ascot win at the beginning of January was particularly impressive, putting 2.04l on his nearest rival.

The 2023 winner, Daniel Morton’s Super Smink (Super One) has come over to the east for a crack at raiding some of Victoria’s banner races. She was a respectable seventh last weekend in the G1 CF Orr Stakes, and holds a nomination for the G1 All-Star Mile next month.

Fernie also has a leading chance in the R. Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy with Keep Ita Mystery (War Chant {USA}), who kicked his spring off with two wins but ran into trouble in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes in November. He ran second last start to Want A Winner (Yes Yes Yes), who does not line up for this event.

Third-elect Horcrux (Rommel) is one of the leading dangers. Trained by Simon A Miller, the 3-year-old gelding has won twice in six starts, but still has amassed over $175,000 in prize money, and his dashing 2.33l win at Belmont last month was against older horses.

Listed Talindert Stakes and Pierro Plate: Juvenile action across the nation

The juveniles will be out in force across Australia as the pathways to both the Golden Slipper and the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes continue to narrow. While a run this weekend may bring the latter up too soon for any of the 21 entrants - 10 in the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington and 11 before scratchings in the $160,000 Pierro Plate at Randwick - to back up, there is still time to rack up enough prizemoney to secure a place in the Slipper.

Just three fillies line up for the Talindert, led by Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Hiatus (Snitzel), a full sister to rising star Snitzanova. A winner of her only start to date, the juvenile showed her potential when demolishing the field at Murray Bridge and will run in blinkers for the first time on Saturday.

Her biggest threat is likely dual winner Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom), who won the Listed Blue Diamond Preview by 1.75l at the end of January and did not line up in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude last weekend. The winner of both of his last two starts, he was also twice stakes-placed in the spring and is trained by the Lindsay Park team, who are renowned juveniles conditioners but are yet to win this race.

The Talindert has kicked off the autumn of several colts that have found homes at stud, including Microphone, Ingratiating, All Too Hard, and Star Witness, and seven face the starter on Saturday. Interestingly, four will debut in the race. Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald colt Mineral Resources - a son of previous Talindert winner Ole Kirk - has scratched from the Pierro Plate to run here.

Over at Randwick, the Pierro Plate plays host to a number of top Slipper hopefuls, including Comedy (Snitzel) and Pallaton (Wootton Bassett {GB}), both impressive winners on debut for James Cummings and Michael Freedman respectively. Pallaton currently sits second in the betting in double figures - Waller colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) sits first. Intriguing to note that Wodeton was originally nominated for this race, but did not accept, and has instead moved through round three of acceptances for the Diamond next weekend.

The only horse in this race to run more than once is the unbeaten Shaggy (Sandbar), the current pin-up for Kooringal Stud and Allan Kehoe, who considers this a throw at the stumps on the way to his actual goal; the $200,000 Wellington Boot at the end of March. He throws an interesting curve ball at some of the Slipper hopefuls - his two wins have come at a combined 8.21l, and he has led all the way.

Well-bred Hillier (Zoustar) came out of the G3 Canonbury Stakes a fortnight ago where he ran second to Blitzburg (Snitzel). With $46,000 in the bank courtesy of that run, a win this weekend would likely throw him solidly into Slipper contention.

Elsewhere, juveniles will be running at Newcastle, Bendigo, Eagle Farm, and Cairns.