3 minute read

The Timeform Team at Racing and Sports look at the final day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival discussing both the All Aged Stakes and Champagne Stakes.

Timeform Preview – All Aged Stakes

A quality line up is set to do battle in the All Aged Stakes over 1400m at Randwick this afternoon headed by last year's winner Pierata  who is looking to bounce back into the winner's circle.

While he comes into today's race off a similar preparation that saw him take victory in 2019, the race sets up nicely for arch-rival Santa Ana Lane .

A five-time group one winner including once at 1400m in the 2018 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Santa Ana Lane has been in consistent form without winning.

In six runs in the last twelve months, Santa Ana Lane has been placed three times, most recently in the T J Smith behind speed machine Nature Strip where he made up many lengths reeling off one of the fastest last 400m sectionals of the day.

That was his second run this preparation and the step up to 1400m third up from a spell places him in strong statistical territory, a state he has already been successful in three times.

Santa Ana Lane has not raced at a distance further than 1200m since winning the Group One 2018 Stradbroke Handicap over 1350m almost two years ago.

While Santa Ana Lane's Timeform ratings have been below his all-time master rating of 128 in the recent runs, don't be surprised to see him get back to peak form today. Everything is in his favour including a four to zero head to head match up with his main rival Pierata.

In contrast to Santa Ana Lane who has been winless in his last twelve months, Pierata has three wins from seven appearances, the most recent last November in the Redzel Stakes over 1300m at Rosehill.

Pierata is also third up from a spell following unplaced, but none the less encouraging efforts, in both the Galaxy Stakes and T J Smith.

Pierata is also racing as if 1400m will be more ideal for him than the shorter trips of late. In fact the last time Pierata raced at 1400m was winning the 2019 All Aged Stakes.

With a Timeform rating of 125, Pierata looks ideally placed and aims to join the great Rough Habit as the last back to back winner of the All Aged Stakes in 1992/3.

Star three-year-old Bivouac  is the query of the race.

An effortless winner of the Newmarket Handicap three runs back, that has been Bivouac's only winning performance in four starts this preparation.

In three losing efforts, all when well backed, punters have been left holding worthless tickets, seemingly with different excuses for defeat each time.

It is hard to predict just what he will do today, however a return to a better racing surface will certainly help.

Last start on heavy ground in the T J Smith, he had no chance after getting too far out of his ground, eventually running 6th just over three lengths from the winner.

Stepping up to 1400m today should be a positive.  If he can take up a more forward position then Bivouac has the potential to run to a Timeform rating of 127 and that is a figure certain to put him in the finish.

Tofane and Dreamforce both have potential to run figures good enough to be competitive, especially if the market leaders fail to turn up.

Timeform Preview – Champagne Stakes

There have been 40 horses complete the Sires/Champagne Stakes double and King's Legacy will be out to make it 41 on Saturday at Randwick.

King's Legacy is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden who were responsible for the most recent to do the double – Guelph in 2013.

A Timeform rating of 115, courtesy of his Sires win, has King's Legacy top-rated going into Saturday in a race that typically looks stronger in the rearview mirror.

That race-high rating came in the Sires where the pace collapsed late on, leaving King's Legacy to swoop in and pick up Prague in the final strides.

A repeat of that performance would go a long way towards winning on Saturday, but it is worth noting that he was 20-1 there and the race fell into his lap to an extent.

King's Legacy is one of four through the Sires. He was obviously the best performance there, but Ole Kirk took the best SP into the race and, where King's Legacy sliced through the field, Ole Kirk was left to bump and push his way clear before staying on well and recording a Timeform rating of 110.

He might have more to come on that rating and can bridge the gap on King's Legacy up to the mile on Saturday. There may not be a lot between the pair at all.

A rating of 110 doesn't make Ole Kirk the main threat to King's Legacy, however, with Bailieu winner Holyfield coming off a 111 rating there and he shapes as a strong horse who will see out the mile well.

He was strong on speed over 1400m there last time on testing ground and his racing pattern, rolling along on speed, can give him an advantage over the two main chances through the Sires.

Jockey Tom Marquand is having a great run on similar types this autumn and there is a big chance that can continue in the Champagne with Holyfield seen as a terrific winning hope.

He saw off Untamed to win that Bailieu and Untamed has since gone on to show the worth of that form by winning the Fernhill up to the mile last week.

That was a softer race than the Champagne but he stayed the mile out well enough and having that run at the trip could be a big asset for him come Saturday.

The other horse that piques interest is the kiwi visitor No Doubt who jumps quickly to the mile from 1100m but he does so off a good effort in a hot race last time out.

He finished off really well in a Kindergarten Stakes that rated highly and while that doesn't seem the ideal platform for the mile he looks to have the talent to mix it with Saturday's rivals.