Sydney Preview: Zou Tiger can take Eskimo Prince Stakes
Royal Randwick, Sydney (Courtesy of Sky Racing World)
February 3rd, 2023
A look at the day's feature, the Eskimo Prince (G3), and spot plays for other features at Royal Randwick on Friday.
Race 8, 12:40 a.m. Saturday ET: Eskimo Prince Stakes (G3), 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs), 3yos
Eskimo Prince Stakes Selections
- #8 Zou Tiger
- #3 Aft Cabin
- #5 Osipenko
Eskimo Prince Stakes Wagers
The boom horse for this contest is #3 Aft Cabin, from the Godolphin team of James Cummings. He distanced his opponents in wet conditions in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (G2) and probably would have started favorite for the Caulfield Guineas (G1) itself but for bleeding after the race, prompting an automatic three-month break.
There are some decent opponents for Aft Cabin, who is no certainty. #5 Osipenko, who didn’t handle the wet track in the Guineas Prelude, later finished third in the Caulfield Guineas and will get 2.5 kg from Aft Cabin, but the one that may take it out is #8 Zou Tiger. In the hands of visiting English rider Tom Marquand, Zou Tiger was good enough for third in the Golden Rose (G1) in spring and gets the same 2.5 kg weight concession from Aft Cabin. The improving #6 Communist can also go a cheeky race.
🇦🇺AUSTRALIA(Rosehill ) 24/09/2022 : (GR.1) Jacquinot(Rubick/Ponterro By Pierro)
— NAHEEZ RACING نحيز ريسنغ (@musallamqatan) September 24, 2022
Wins Chandon Golden Rose Stakes
3 years old
1400m Turf(01:22:56)
O : S J Tuxen, Ms K N Cooper Et Al
T : @MichaelRhysKent
J : @LaneDamian
2nd : In Secret
3nd : Zou Tiger
4nd : Golden Mile pic.twitter.com/PmcaHz5cQL
Race 1, 8:20 p.m. Friday ET: Lonhro Plate (Listed), 1,000 meters (about 5 furlongs), 2-year-olds
As with last week’s juvenile races, many of this field are making their debut, with connections hoping they may be good enough for the Golden Slipper (G1) later this autumn. The two most-wanted horses in the local markets are #3 Mexico, who’s already earned A$100,000 from two starts in sale-restricted races, and #9 Sicilian, sixth on debut in the Gimcrack (G3) Oct. 1. Sicilian has drawn the inside gate and has won two trials since her debut, and she looks tough to beat.
- $20 win: #9 Sicilian
Race 6, 11:20 p.m. Friday ET: Drinkwise Mile, 1,600 meters (about one mile), 3yos and up
The Chris Waller pair #1 No Compromise and #2 Soulcombe are the best-performed horses in the race, but both generally want middle distances and are resuming here. They can run well, Soulcombe especially, but at this trip they will struggle to give weight to #6 Banju, winner of his last two.
- $20 win: #6 Banju
- $4 exacta: 6 with 1, 2
Race 7, 12:00 a.m. Saturday ET: Yarraman Park H., 1,000 meters, 3-year-olds and up
A competitive handicap, in which the big question is whether the Group 2 placegetter #1 Remarque can give away 8-10 kg (17-22 pounds) to improvers like #6 Quick Tempo and #10 Kote. It’s not the easiest race to predict — horses like #2 Andermatt, #3 Dragonstone, and #5 Key Largo also have claims — but I’m going to support Quick Tempo.
- $10 win/$30 show: #6 Quick Tempo
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