There’s always good horses set for the final Group 1 race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, but nothing like what we’ll be faced with on Saturday.
Simply put, the 2020 All Aged Stakes field is world class. Some of our best sprinters will take one some track and distance specialists, with some of the country’s best three-year-olds also engaged. I just cannot wait for it.
All Aged Stakes – Winner
No. 2 Santa Ana Lane – Bet Now: $5.00
He was well accounted for by Nature Strip, but Santa Ana Lane was the best of the rest in the TJ Smith a fortnight ago and the small rise in trip he gets in the All Aged looks ideal at this point of his prep and career. The Lope De Vega gelding is a five-time Group 1 winner and importantly, is proven over the 1400m having given his rivals windburn in the Stradbroke a couple of years ago and also having won the Sir Rupert Clarke the year prior. He can settle pretty much where he’s comfortable from the rails draw and with even luck, he’ll take a power of beating.
All Aged Stakes – 2nd
No. 1 Pierata – Bet Now: $4.60
Pierata won this race in 2019 and is every chance of defending his crown on Saturday. Stud duties were put on hold for the Pierro entire, with a view towards driving up his value further this year and while he is yet to record a win in two autumn starts, he’s stripped fitter for good efforts in both The Galaxy and the TJ. He’s another horse that will enjoy the small rise in trip and Tommy Berry knows him like that back of his hand – it’s tough imaging him not fighting out the finish.
All Aged Stakes – 3rd
No. 4 Fierce Impact – Bet Now: $13.00
He is always the forgotten horses in races like this and Fierce Impact would not look out of place in the All Aged Stakes winner’s stall. The Deep Impact entire has always hinted at above-average ability, but clearly went to another level in the spring with wins in both the Toorak Handicap and the Cantala Stakes. He hasn’t won this time in, but he also hasn’t run a bad race – finishing second in the Neds CF Orr, third in the Chipping Norton and fourth in the All-Star Mile. He’s rock-hard fit and over the odds at $14 (at publish).
Champagne Stakes – 4th
No. 7 Star Of The Seas – Bet Now: $41.00
This inclusion is probably more dependant on the All Aged Stakes field striking a heavy track on Saturday but regardless, Star Of The Seas has proven that he is up to this class and is unlucky not to have won a Group 1 feature already. The Ocean Park gelding filled the minors of the Epsom Handicap in spring and has returned to the track in slick form this time – winning the Maurice McCarten first-up and going within a bee’s you-know-what of taking out the Doncaster Mile a fortnight ago. It’s a rise in weight and drop in trip, but I think he’s up to it.
All Aged Stakes Suggested Bets
- 2 Units straight out #2 Santa Ana Lane
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below