Joe Prideâs former Group 1 winning sprinter Tiger Tees leads the field for Saturdayâs Southern Cross Stakes 2016 at Randwick Racecourse on the Apollo Stakes Day card.
Former Group 1 The Galaxy winner Tiger Tees carries top weight in Saturday’s 2016 Southern Cross Stakes field at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Running as Randwick Race 5 at 3:05pm (AEDT), this yearâs $150,000 Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) field features nine sprinters led by Prideâs 2014 The Galaxy winner Tiger Tees.
Drawn in gate seven the rising nine-year-old carries the 59kg top weight with Christian Reith aboard second-up.
Tiger Tees resumed racing with a brave fourth to Our Boy Malachi in Rosehillâs Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) on January 30 and looks to continue his good second-up record of five wins from 11 runs to date.
He is a four-time winner over the 1200m and chases his first victory since the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) back in August of 2014.
Following Tiger Tees in the Southern Cross Stakes field and weights is the John OâShea-trained stablemates Generalife and Vashka both first-up carrying 58.5kg.
James McDonald returns to the saddle of Lonhro six-year-old Generalife whose last start was a Group 3 second over 1300m at Sandown in November.
He is yet to win from four previous Randwick runs, but had a stellar winter in Brisbane last season running third in both the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m).
Vashka jumps from gate five this weekend with Tye Angland booked for the ride on the Exceed And Excel five-year-old who won back-to-back races last time in.
The first was the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) before his Caulfield Cup Day win in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m).
A gelding that performs well fresh, Vashka enjoyed a trial win over 900m at Rosehill in the wet on January 4.
The only galloper coming off a win this campaign is the Ron Quinton-trained Boss Lane who has been improving over a good summer campaign.
His last performance was at Randwick in mid-January when winning the Summer Sprint (1000m) by two lengths, and the step-up in distance looks a non-issue for the Dubawi five-year-old.
Also coming off a good lead-up run is Rodney Northamâs Scone-based son of Choisir Big Money who was third in the Summer Sprint before a third in the Expressway Stakes.
Other notable Southern Cross Stakes hopes this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival including Kim Waughâs Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) winner at Newcastle from last September Forget who is out to improve on a last when sixth first-up in the Expressway and the Clarry Conners-trained Decision Time.
See below for the full Southern Cross Stakes 2016 field, barriers and jockeys before heading to our preferred online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au who will reward you as a new customer with up to $500 in bonuses when you deposit and quote the code BETBONUS!
2016 Southern Cross Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
Randwick Race 5 (3:05pm) â 13/02/2016
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x80x568x4 | TIGER TEES (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Christian Reith | 7 | 59kg | 107 |
| 2 | x1533x652x | GENERALIFE | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 2 | 58.5kg | 106 |
| 3 | 11x0x3711x | VASHKA | John O’Shea | Tye Angland | 5 | 58.5kg | 106 |
| 4 | 11x9607x33 | BIG MONEY | Rodney Northam | Robert Thompson | 3 | 57.5kg | 104 |
| 5 | 1127x2600x | RICH ENUFF | Peter & Paul Snowden | TBA | 4 | 56.5kg | 102 |
| 6 | 4x1120x341 | BOSS LANE | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 55.5kg | 100 |
| 7 | 61143121×6 | FORGET | Kim Waugh | Tim Clark | 1 | 55kg | 99 |
| 8 | 664169×505 | DECISION TIME | Clarry Conners | Jason Collett | 8 | 54kg | 93 |
| 9 | x29151x200 | AUSSIES LOVE SPORT | Peter Robl | Brenton Avdulla | 9 | 54kg | 91 |