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By Ray Hickson

It might be a winter sprint but the Listed $160,000 Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) has been won by some smart horses, most notably Everest winner Classique Legend three years ago. Here's an in-depth look at the chances of every runner in Saturday's feature at Royal Randwick.

1. Tycoonist (Chris Waller): Honest five-year-old and this is about his level though he wasn’t disgraced in a couple of relatively strong Group races in the spring. He hasn’t been exposed in two trials, the latest featured a runaway leader and he cruised along okay in fourth. Kicked off last campaign in the G2 Theo Marks but ran down Malkovich to win at 1100m two preps ago and narrowly beaten at the trip the prep before. If he finds the right set up he’s way over the odds for a horse with his record coming back in grade.

2. Zethus (James Cummings): Fitter for two runs back and there was some merit in his second-up performance in the Chief De Beers in Brisbane. He bungled the start, or was squeezed out, and found himself last before weaving his way through and finishing on okay for fourth. Last win was the Listed Starlight back in November and he was a $9 chance there. Draw gives him every hope to land a lot closer than last time and that could see him in the finish.

3. She’s All Class (SCRATCHED).

4. Never Talk (Kris Lees): She’s a mare we know well now and she’s always capable of pulling out a big run if things pan out for her. You only have to look back three starts and she’s run second in the G2 Sapphire Stakes. Her record does show she is at her best with some moisture in the track, she probably doesn’t need it bottomless but more mid-range soft to bring out her best. May not quite get that sweet spot. She’s a pattern watch, if they’re swooping it might bring her into the race.

Dragonsone (Pic: Bradley Photos)

5. Conscript (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou): He’s worked his way through the grades in the past 12 months and arrives at his first Listed assignment on the back of an impressive win in what is essentially the lead up race over the same course two weeks ago. In that race he sat wide around midfield behind a solid enough tempo and powered down the middle to score. He did have 51.5kg after a claim and rises to 56kg here but on his side is his versatility so you’d imagine he’s not giving away such a start from a handier gate. Hard to beat.

6. Dragonstone (Joe Pride): Won his race a year ago and that was his latest win. Since then his form has been a bit patchy though he did end his last campaign with a string of placings in Listed or high benchmark races. First run for Joe Pride was an even fifth behind Conscript where he kept coming but the third and fourth placegetters did come from behind him so on face value he needs to improve. He can and any extra sting out wouldn’t hurt his cause. Probably about his right price just on double figures.

7. Fox Fighter (SCRATCHED).

8. Surreal Step (John Thompson): He’s the type of horse that you’ve always got to be wary of and on the evidence of his last start third behind Conscript, where he attacked the line hard, he is not the worst. Started $41 there in a race he won a year ago before starting $9 in this race and managing fifth. Does tend to give away a start in his races and imagine he will again from a slightly awkward gate. A repeat effort would see him competitive.

9. Sneaky Paige (Brad Widdup): Just the one placing, in a Group 3 for mares, since her last win back in September. Two runs for the new stable aren’t overly encouraging, she probably had excuses first-up when sitting wide at Scone but she did weaken but she landed in a good spot here two weeks ago in the lead up race and couldn’t go on. If she can find her best and get some sting out of the ground she could surprise.

10. Ourbullseye Beauty (Joe Pride): American import whose two trials have been satisfactory but she is very hard to line up. Last win was at Turfway Park in the US on a dirt track in December 2021 and hasn’t raced since May last year. Wide gate and no jockey booked early suggests she’s waiting for another day but has picked up Blake Spriggs to ride. Prefer to see her.

11. Dehorned Unicorn (Joe Pride): Thought there was merit in his first-up run at Scone in his first attempt at Listed grade but he wasn’t as effective in the race won by Conscript. He had the leader’s back coming to the turn and wasn’t able to reel that horse, Titanium Power, in while the swoopers pounced. We haven’t seen him ridden conservatively so he’ll be trying his luck to get into a good spot from a wide gate. Last win was over this course on New Year’s Eve in a Benchmark 78 with 59.5kg but he had the light weight last time so he’ll need to find his best to be in the finish. Blinkers going on again may help.

Spacewalk (Pic: Steve Hart)

12. Spacewalk (James Cummings): You can make a strong case that he should have beaten Golden Boom at Doomben last start. Went back from an awkward gate and found all sorts of trouble before he was able to get across heels and launch a sprint. He launched but had left it a bit too late as he went down by about a neck with one or two strides needed to win. Where does he go from the outside alley here? Can’t see him closer than three wide with cover unless he goes right back or right forward so thought he was a little unders but has an undeniable chance.

13. Wewillrock (John O’Shea): Kiwi sprinter who created quite a good impression at his local debut in a Benchmark 78 at Rosehill three weeks ago where he had 60.5kg and give a big sight only to be run down in the shadows. Nothing wrong with the form from that race, the winner Devil’s Throat has won again as has third placed Robusto. Plummets in weight, any sting out would only help his cause and looks the leader from an inside alley. Obvious class question mark but there are no superstars, that we’re aware of, here and he can take running down.

14. Forzanini (Peter & Paul Snowden): Been a while between wins for this mare but she did open her last campaign with a close second under a big weight. In Benchmark 78 mares grade. And her two subsequent runs were handy enough up in 94 grade. She’s trialling quite well which is not unsual and she can take a forward position from the draw. Couldn’t put her on top but it wouldn’t shock if she was to sneak into a minor placing.

SELECTIONS:
13 WEWILLROCK
5 Conscript
12 Spacewalk
1 Tycoonist

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting