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By Ray Hickson

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in the Group 1 $1.5 million Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

1. Antino (Tony Gollan): He’s a hard horse to line up first-up off no official trials, he has had a 1000m jump out at home, since his trip to Hong Kong. No doubt he was in arguably career best form prior to that with his amazing Toorak win and effort behind Mr Brightside, with Fangirl third, in the spring. He’s only been to Sydney once and that was in the 2023 Five Diamonds where he started $2.20 and ran tenth. That’s probably not a guide. The 1400m fresh does suit him and it’ll be interesting to see where he gets to from barrier one given he’s been able to hold a forward spot in the past. Not underselling him.

2. Briasa (Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes): Has that imposing record of seven wins (and two unlucky fourths) from nine starts so he’s virtually impossible to fault. He did have a struggle to get the better of Overpass in the TJ Smith to claim his Group 1 and he now has to face another strong field up to the 1400m. On his side is an ideal barrier that should allow him to land in a striking position once again so he’ll have every opportunity to confirm that rising star status. If he’s able to win this with some authority an Everest slot wouldn’t be too far away.

Sunshine In Paris (Pic: Grant Guy).

3. Desert Lightning (Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman): Group 1 winner in New Zealand in late 2023 and moved into the new camp after last year’s All Star Mile. All three runs in the spring had merit with a win second-up in the Sandown Stakes and he boxed on okay to run fourth in the Toorak behind Antino. Fitter for a couple of jump outs in Victoria and draws a kind barrier so he has some positives, though there’s a lot more depth in this race at weight-for-age as opposed to handicap races last time in.

4. Jimmysstar (Ciaron Maher): Oakleigh Plate winner first-up this prep and it’s fair to say he’s had little luck in his two Group 1 attempts since. The bias was against him in the William Reid but he still exploded into third then in the TJ Smith he bungled the start and wound up further back than planned but he made a huge burst down the outside to finish fourth and leave punters wondering what might have been. While he’s proving to be an effective sprinter he has won up to 1500m so the trip should be no issue. If he can land closer and still have that big sprint he’ll be a major player in the finish.

5. My Oberon (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald): On his day he can mix it with the best as he showed a couple of times in the spring with placings at the Randwick mile behind Fangirl and Ceolwulf. He can be hit and miss, however. Can pull out a big run fresh and he should be up to the mark after a couple of recent trials. Wide barrier probably see him be negative but some forgiving ground is helpful. Hard to be confident but it would not shock if he bobbed up.

6. Osipenko (Chris Waller): Went for a spell having broken a decent run of outs by winning the January Cup over 2000m. His trials have shown he’s in order for a return but this is a different level to what he was contesting through the spring and summer. He’s no doubt destined for Queensland at some point, perhaps via Hawkesbury or Scone, so the stable will be looking for a nice fresh effort but it would surprise if he’s able to win.

7. Sunshine In Paris (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald): Her rotten luck with barriers has continued after 11 of 11 first-up and 11 of 13 last time out in the TJ Smith. She was far from disgraced in that race only beaten two lengths after getting few favours in the run. She’ll rely on finding some cover early and then the right back to follow home, if she can get a break or two in the run she’s going well enough to suggest she can win this race.

8. Belclare (Bjorn Baker): Likely holds the key to the tempo to this race, as we saw in The Invitation and the Hot Danish in the spring she’s very quick. Back with the Baker yard after three runs over in New Zealand where she performed fairly. On face value she’s not suited at weight-for-age in this company but she will race forward and if given any control could give a kick.

9. Magic Time (Grahame Begg): Won this race last year on a heavy track and has continued her honest form in the subsequent 12 months. Sprinted sharply to win the Expressway first-up and her run in the Canterbury Stakes after that was sound. Followed Overpass in the run in the TJ and a gap opened on the inside for her, she just held her ground there and was swamped late to miss a place. Sting out is a plus for her and whether that inside section was the preferred going could be a small excuse. She always runs well here so has a case.

10. Joliestar (Chris Waller): Another who found herself back on the inside in the TJ when a beaten favourite and she also held her ground. It’s likely a wider gate is in her favour this time as she didn’t really get a chance to wind up properly two weeks ago, that won’t be an excuse this time around. You’d think 1400m is an ideal distance for her and she just has to get back to the form that saw her win the Newmarket so impressively last month.

11. Kimochi (Gary Portelli): Caught the eye when resuming at 1000m, getting back and charging home into second, and had genuine excuses in the TJ last time around. She drew the outside and rolled the dice going forward only to be trapped out there. As she usually does she kept fighting on and the beaten margin of 1.7 lengths shows it was brave. Unfortunately she’s drawn out a bit again and probably has to try her luck. If things work out for her in the run you have to consider her a winning chance.

Broadsiding (Pic: Bradley Photos).

12. Benedetta (Jason Warren): Interesting addition to the race coming off a solid second behind Schwarz in the William Reid on that front runner’s track at the Valley. Didn’t have a lot of luck in the Newmarket before that. Only run in NSW was in the 2023 Silver Eagle and she ran a closing fourth over the 1300m there. She’s no doubt racing well and has form around a few of the chances in this race so has to be an each-way hope.

13. Grail Seeker (Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott): Dual Group 1 winner from New Zealand who hasn’t raced since she started favourite and ran sixth behind Here To Shock at Group 1 level at Te Rapa two months ago. She has trialled prior to coming across the ditch but has been served the visitor’s draw for what is going to be a much tougher assignment than she’s met lately.

14. Broadsiding (James Cummings): Freshened up since his tough win over Aeliana in the Rosehill Guineas over the 2000m and is an intriguing runner right back in trip. Might be a good move, though, as we’ve seen previously that he’s been dynamic in races at 1400m and the mile including his dominant first-up win in the Hobartville. A bit of give in the track a plus you’d say and finds James McDonald sticking with him from a draw he should make some use of given he’s between the likely leader and the favourite. He’s good enough to be a major player.

SPEED MAP: Belclare is a noted front-runner and she does tend to like to run along a bit in front. So it's realistic to expect her to set the tempo. Kimochi has to try her luck again and go forward and she could land outside this time. Broadsiding and Briasa have drawn to get nice trails in that second and third pair. Magic Time is the other that can put herself up there. Expect Antino to be around midfield on the fence and Jimmysstar likely settles closer than the TJ where he was slow away.

SELECTIONS:
14 BROADSIDING
4 Jimmysstar
2 Briasa
1 Antino

All the fields, form and replays for All Aged Stakes Day at Randwick