The Chelmsford Stakes is a good horse’s race. The likes of Winx, Hartnell, Might and Power and Lonhro have all claimed the weight for age feature run over the iconic Randwick mile. With rain around Sydney on Saturday, we are looking at a track on the worst side of soft if not heavy.
Held up at an important stage first up in the Winx but flat out disappointing once he did get clear. Open to improvement but impossible to have at this price off the back of that run.
So much to like here. Maps superbly and can probably lead in a race with little speed. Coming off a relatively short break having last raced in mid June. Won both starts prior to a spell, the last of which was at weight for age. Tommy jumps off Mo’unga to ride him. Tremendous each way bet.
Sydney Cup winner in the autumn and the gelding has never raced over less than a mile in this country. Expect a conservative ride given much bigger targets down the track. Pass.
Didn’t do much first up but he does love wet ground which has kept him in the market here. Better suited over further but if it does get genuinely heavy he can run in the placings.
Chris Waller has won six of the last ten runnings of this race and this is the first of his brigade. Not sure he has the class required.
Bound to get a long way back from the wide draw and hard to see him figuring.
A stayer I am a real fan of but he is yet to win under 2000m and I doubt that changes here.
Hasn’t fired a shot at his last couple of first up runs and happy to risk.
Easy to see why he is favourite. Being a noted stayer, for him to win first up over 1400m was a hugely positive sign for a good campaign ahead. Does that necessarily mean he can go to WFA over 1600m and win though? Possibly, but he looks short enough.
Real staying type who will need this.
One of the best three year old stayers of his year but it was not a strong year. Happy to wait and see what he can do as an older horse.
Derby runner up who was okay first up in the Winx. Looks well and truly short enough.
Ran third in what looked to be a stronger edition of this race last year. The stable is in good form and she is one of the key chances.
Best Bet
Numerian is clearly the one to be on, and at $12 in early markets he can be backed each way.
