Free-going Fabrizio a fine Villiers chance

6 min read

Horse for all seasons Fabrizio (High Chaparral {IRE}) has been in good touch for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott this preparation and should again prove ultra-competitive at Randwick on Saturday.

The 7-year-old has proved versatile as far as the ground goes, so the weather shouldn’t prove a concern in his quest for success in the G2 Fugen Construction Villiers S.

He will meet a number of rivals on better terms following his last-start second when he lumped 61.5kg in the Goulburn Cup.

Fabrizio winning at Hawkesbury

If he can cross early without being forced to burn too much petrol early on to take up his customary front-running role, he looks sure to give another bold account of himself.

The progressive Sky Boy (Pendragon) faces the sternest test of his fledgling career and he will meet it at the top of his game.

The 4-year-old has been in electric from this preparation for Anthony and Edward Cummings. With four straight wins on the board, he has emerged from a Benchmark 70 success in October to stakes company.

While it is a significant step up in grade, he couldn’t be going any better and will drop five kilos on his most recent victory.

Interlocuter (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) beat Fabrizio in the Goulburn Cup and, despite being a kilo worse off, he should still prove competitive for James Cummings. Godolphin also has Gaulois (Street Cry {IRE}) and Duca Valentinois (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor {IRE}) as handy back-ups.

My Nordic Hero (GB) (Archipenko {GB}) was a comfortable winner of the G3 Festival S. last time out and the manner of that performance strongly suggested he can be a threat again.

His stablemate Exoteric (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) won the Listed ATC Cup when last seen in the hands of James McDonald for Chris Waller and there’s no reason to think his winning sequence can’t be extended in the Listed Christmas Cup.

Razor sharp sprinter

Runner-up to Redzel in the G3 Concorde H. in October, Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock) was again second at his next start in the Listed Century S. and he can go one better in the Listed Razor Sharp H.

Deploy (Fastnet Rock) was off the scene for some time before a promising return at Rosehill where he ran fourth in the Listed Starlight S.

He is sure to be improved for that outing and is a quality act at best while winning form is always good form and Cradle Mountain (West Quest {CAN}) has that in spades.

Hot Nursery hope

The Restricted Inglis Nursery is an interesting line-up and from an inside gate Accession (Brazen Beau) should get every chance to one better following a debut second at Rosehill.

He will however face stern competition from the impressive Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Newcastle debut winner Strasbourg (I Am Invincible) and his stablemate Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) has also made an encouraging start to his career.

If experience counts for anything then Kurt Goldman's Outta Reach (Your Song) can be in the frame. She has performed well in both of her starts for matching second placings.

Trainers have strong hand

In New Zealand, the black type focus is on the Cal Isuzu S. and Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are odds-on to take the title again.

They won it 12 months ago with Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and she is back to defend her title following a last-start second behind stablemate Saint Emilion (INZ) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}) in the G3 OMF S.

She will, however, face stern opposition from Love Affair (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the G3 Eagle Technology S. last time out while Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel) is also racing particularly well.

The G3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup presents Igraine (GER) (Galileo {IRE}) with an opportunity to add to her silverware. She was good claiming top honours at her most recent appearance in the G3 Counties Cup.

Maygrove (Authorized {GB}) is a quality and from an inside gate will be given every chance by Opie Bosson while a chance at longer odds is Excalibur (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

He was unplaced at Pukekohe in his first appearance for more than a month and improvement is expected. He is also a two-timer on the course.

Magnum a force

The G3 J Swaps Contractors Sprint provides Magnum (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) with an opportunity for another feature scalp.

The former Singapore galloper won a Listed event during the autumn and enjoyed a first-up success at Ruakaka in the spring before finishing third in the G3 Red Badge Sprint behind the highly-regarded Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}).

Baker and Forsman have black type hopes at Awapuni as well where the regally-bred filly Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) will tackle the G3 Lawnmaster Eulogy S. She was an impressive last-start maiden winner and while this is a step up, it isn’t the strongest edition of the event.

The stable will also play a strong hand in Sunday’s Listed Barfoot & Thompson Salver at Ellerslie with G1 New Zealand Derby hopes Cutadeel (Dundeel {NZ}), Thomas Aquinas (NZ) (Jakkalberry {IRE}) and Bobby Dee (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).

Prince a royal Ascot chance

Meanwhile at Ascot on Saturday, Arcadia Prince (Pierro) should be hard to roll in the G3 Glenroy Chaff AJ Scahill S. following his run of form this season.

This is his toughest test, but is in the right form to rise to the challenge with three wins from his last four appearances.

The 3-year-old Valour Road (Frost Giant {USA}) looms as another major chance off the back of his bold fifth in the G1 Winterbottom S.

Brisbane focus on juveniles

In Brisbane, five Listed events feature on the Doomben card with particular interest in the Spirit Of Boom Phelan S. and the Boomer Bloodstock Calaway Gal S. for the 2-year-olds.

In the former, Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. runner-up Sun City (Zoustar) has drawn the ace and should be particularly hard to hold out while last-start winner The Odyssey (Better Than Ready) has already been successful over this course and distance.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are enjoying a good run with their juveniles and Single Blonde (Not A Single Doubt) might add to their tally in the Calaway Gal S. She was a sound debut third in Sydney and gets the nod.

With the benefit of a resuming second on the track last month, Tarzan (Drumbeats) might be the horse to follow in the IPG Marketing H. He has been a second-up winner in the past and genuine throughout his career.

Zoustyle (Zoustar) has a tricky gate to overcome in the Pages Event Hire Gold Edition Plate if he is to retain his unbeaten record, but he certainly looks up to the task while stablemates Most Important (I Am Invincible) and I’m A Rippa (Love Conquers All) give trainer Tony Gollan a formidable hand in the TAB Lough Neagh S.