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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 Randwick on Saturday.

1. Zaaki (Annabel Neasham): Missed the bulk of the autumn due to a lacklustre trial in mid-February and is now the fresh horse on the scene. We know he can be lethal fresh having won the past two editions of the Tramway over the Randwick 1400m. An All Aged is a different assignment at weight-for-age against some of the best sprinters in the land but the 1400m puts the race right in his wheelhouse, especially if the track is wet. Trialled a lot better recently, draw is perfect for him and if he’s anywhere near his best he’ll take a power of beating.

2. Lost And Running (John O’Shea): Ran a more than respectable race first-up in the TJ Smith after sitting three and four wide without cover throughout. He didn’t have a sprint left at the finish but boxed away bravely in sixth place. Unfortunately he’d drawn out again though there’s not high speed engaged in the race so he may be some chance of getting across into a position. He’s just had no luck at all in the past 12 months or so, if he produces his Premiere Stakes winning performance from the spring he’s right in the finish.

Zaaki (Pic: Steve Hart)

3. Private Eye (SCRATCHED).

4. Cascadian (James Cummings): Marvellous galloper who won this race last year coming off a run in the Doncaster Mile and was third in 2021 after winning the Doncaster. This time around he’s back from a win over 2000m in the Australian Cup three weeks ago so the question will be whether he’s been able to get that sharpness back into his legs. No doubt he’ll give away a start but he’ll be charging at them late.

5. Mazu (Peter & Paul Snowden): Hasn’t won a race this season but he’s put in some big performances and earned over $4 million in prizemoney in the process. Came from well back in his Everest third placing which was the last time he’s drawn out (16 down the straight doesn’t count) so that bodes well for this race. Hit the front in the TJ Smith and momentarily looked the winner and at peak now for his first go at 1400m. He will run his usual honest race, he just needs to knock one of these off.

6. Bandersnatch (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): Generally runs his best races when on the speed and gets the chance in this event to be somewhere up there. Wasn’t up to it in the Doncaster after finding a handy spot and that’s the big question mark here at Group 1 weight-for-age level that he’s a rung or two below this company. Could give some cheek but place prospects best.

7. Ho O Amazon (Yoshito Yahagi): It’s a mystery exactly where this Japanese sprinter-miler will find himself in the run. Two runs back in a Group 3 at Tokyo, which is left handed, on dirt he was around midfield in the run and didn’t get into the race at all. The latest was at Hanshin which is right handed and he sat third, a little wide, after drawing the outside and looked to be gone early in the straight. He found again in the last 200m or so and finished up a clear third. All three wins are at a mile and two from two on soft. Hard to line up.

8. Kolding (Chris Waller): Four zeroes on end against this high class, when right, gelding makes you wonder where he stands. We know he’s not a big fan of wet tracks so he may not line up if we’re talking heavy but it seems he’s being pointed towards Brisbane where he found a bit of form last year. Hasn’t run a place in Sydney since he won this race in 2021 and trial is no guide to how he’s going. Have to oppose until we see something from him.

9. Roch ‘N’ Horse (Michael Moroney): Often underestimated mare if her starting prices are a guide on that but she’s found form again at the right time with an eye-catching third in the William Reid a few weeks ago. Form ties in around Private Eye from the spring and she did beat Nature Strip in the VRC Classic. She’s only been beyond 1200m once and that was two years ago in NZ on a heavy track so is no pointer. Would certainly put her in the trifectas.

Giga Kick

10. Electric Girl (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): She’s always been a handy mare and she’s edged her way through the grades in the past 18 months to be a two-time Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed at weight-for-age. She was gallant leading in the Canterbury Stakes and was only run down late by Artorius and Imperatriz, the latter a Group 1 winner since, and can forgive her George Ryder Stakes unplaced effort. Perhaps 1500m at that level is beyond her. Drawn to be given every chance in what is admittedly a stronger race than the Canterbury Stakes.

11. Jacquinot (Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr): Freshened up since a forgive run in the Australian Guineas where he found himself right out the back and wide and was enormous in only being beaten 1.6 lengths. Won the Orr on protest at this trip prior to that. He was given a clean out on the synthetic at Randwick in a trial just over a week ago and is the type that can make some use of an inside gate. Doesn’t want it too wet but on mid-range soft he’s a serious threat.

12. Giga Kick (Clayton Douglas): Everest champ having his first look at 1400m. Fair to say he’s been excellent in two runs back in Sydney this carnival with a luckless third in the Challenge and his gallant second in the TJ Smith. He might not have loved the heavy 9 last time, that was the feedback from Zac Purton, but he still tried to match I Wish I Win at the finish only failing by half a length. Imagine he’ll be ridden cold from the wide gate and given the chance to unleash his sprint down the outside. On a soft 7 or better he’ll be hard to hold out.

SELECTIONS:
12 GIGA KICK
1 Zaaki
5 Mazu
7 Ho O Amazon

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