Today, Saturday February 25, Royal Randwick Racecourse hosts 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes Day featuring Winx, a full track report and the race day scratchings and previews in Sydney found below.
Winx running in the 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes is what all the punters are out to see in Sydney this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
There are showers predicted across the afternoon in Sydney today meaning the current Soft (6) track rating of the course proper at Randwick is unlikely to be upgraded, giving the wet trackers a chance to shine.
Randwick Track Report â 25/02/2017
- Rail: True Position Entire Circuit
- Penetrometer: 5.64
- Weather: Showers
- Track Type: Turf
- Track Rating: Soft (6)
- Irrigation: Nil last 24hrs; 4mm last 7 days
- Rainfall: 7mm last 24hrs; 25.8mm last 7 days
Sydney racing kicks off today at 12:45pm (AEDT) and continues through until the nine-race program comes to a close at 5:50pm (AEDT).
The meetingâs marquee event is of course the 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes scheduled to jump as Randwick Race 7 at 4:30pm (AEDT) and featuring the second-up autumn run of Winx.
Winx is odds-on to successfully defend her Chipping Norton Stakes title and take her winning streak to fifteen straight, so check out the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au to enjoy Enhanced Odds on Winx (T&Cs apply / Max Bet $100).
Other key features on the card include the two Golden Slipper Stakes lead-up races â the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Race 3) and the Skyline Stakes (Race 4) â plus the Liverpool City Cup (Race 5) for Doncaster Mile hopes.
See below for our full Chipping Norton Stakes Day 2017 Preview including race times and the Randwick scratchings across the card.
Randwick Race Previews & Scratchings â 25/02/2017
Total Scratchings: 10
Race 1 (12:45pm) – $100,000 Auckland Racing Club Trophy (2000m)
- No current scratchings
A benchmark 85 to kick off the day and just six are in the mix including the Chris Waller-trained top weight Montauk ($4.20) who can kick things off for the stable on a high with a proven record at the track and distance despite the weight.
Race 2 (1:25pm) – $60,000 TAB Highway Plate (1600m)
- #12 Dia De Reyes (2)
Second-up is a Class 3 mile clash where Medieval ($3.70) and Dreadlock ($3.70) are battling for favouritism. Medieval gets the run of the race from a gun barrier and has winning form at this distance in Brisbane, while Hugh Bowman gives Dreadlock the x-factor and heâs got the ultra-consistent record leading up to his Randwick debut.
Race 3 (2:00pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Vale Edgar Britt Oam Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m)
- No current scratchings
The Golden Slipper bound fillies face off in the third and it is a typical open affair. Arctic Angel ($4.80) comes over from Melbourne off a third behind Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Catchy in the Prelude, but faces stiff Sydney rivals including the undefeated Teaspoon ($5).
Read the full 2017 Sweet Embrace Stakes Tips & Preview
Race 4 (2:35pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Schweppes Skyline Stakes (1200m)
- #2 Menari (1)
The colts and geldings get their shot at a Golden Slipper Stakes ballot exemption next and money is flying in hard and fast for the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Dracarys ($3.60) who is from the right stable. Value punt is definitely Diamond Tathagata ($18) at double-figures with form around the Slipper favourite She Will Reign.
Read the full 2017 Skyline Stakes Tips & Preview
Race 5 (3:10pm) – $150,000 Group 3 Openmarkets & Bmyg Liverpool City Cup (1300m)
- No current scratchings
Doncaster Mile-bound gallopers are next-up on the card and the bookies are taking no chances with Chetwood ($2.30) in the top barrier (2) who is second-up and out to show the first-up sixth in the Australia Stakes was because of the Valley track. Big Money ($7) is well weighted and gets the rails run from barrier one and is never far from the finish.
Race 6 (3:50pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Theraces.com.au Surround Stakes (1400m)
- No current scratchings
Class galore in this three-year-old filliesâ clash with dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour ($2.80) the favourite after a gutsy win the Light Fingers Stakes. Runner-up in that from the Waller stable Foxplay ($4) is the market mover out to turn the tables second-up over a more suitable distance, while all eyes will be on her stablemate Omei Sword ($4.40) who hasnât raced since the Golden Rose second.
Read the full 2017 Surround Stakes Tips & Preview
Race 7 (4:30pm) – $600,000 Group 1 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m)
- No current scratchings
Winx time! She faces a similar field to that she easily accounted for first-up in the Apollo Stakes, thrives over the mile, loves this track, gets things her way from the barrier and Bowman is clear for the ride. She wonât get beaten even on a rain-affected track.
Read the full 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes Tips & Preview
Race 8 (5:10pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m)
- #5 Thames Court (10)
- #9 Press Report (7)
Nice field of mares in this The Championshipsâ lead-up including Danish Twist ($4.20) who will strip fitter second-up and nicely-priced Group 1 winner First Seal ($6.50) drawn ideally in barrier four for her resuming run.
Read the full 2017 Guy Walter Stakes Tips & Preview
Race 9 (5:50pm) – $100,000 Byron Thomas Recruitment Handicap (1200m)
- #1 Meursault (4)
- #4 Denpurr (2)
- #6 Encostanati (8)
- #7 Quatronic (9)
- #9 Machinegun Jubs (6)
- #10 Zara Bay (1)
Plenty are out of the card closer and only four are left to do battle in the Benchmark 85 sprint. No value now and Your Way ($1.60) â who is six from eight to date â will be winning at the short odds.
*All times are local (AEDT) and odds quoted from Ladbrokes.com.au â subject to change