It’s the grand final for the Autumn Carnival’s stayers on Saturday and we’ll be treated to an exciting edition of the Group 1 Sydney Cup at Randwick.
A couple of classy international raiders will line up alongside some of Australia’s best distance horses and as it always is, the Sydney Cup shapes as one of the more open contests on Day 2 of The Championships.
Sydney Cup – Winner
No. 1 Mustajeer – Bet Now: $5.00
Mustajeer is a classy stayer and is up to winning the Sydney Cup 2020. The Medicean gelding returned some outstanding performances in Europe last year, culminating in a lovely win in the famed Ebor Handicap at York, and he hit the ground running in Australia when attacking the line to finish sixth in the Caulfield Cup. He never looked a chance in the Melbourne Cup, but resumed this year for a win in the Listed Parramatta Cup and has since finished second in both the Sky High Stakes and the Tancred, albeit well beaten in both. Getting out to two miles at this point of his preparation looks ideal and as long as he handles the weight, which he always has, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Sydney Cup – 2nd
No. 2 Young Rascal – Bet Now: $2.45
Young Rascal was one of two impressive winners for William Haggas on debut in Australia three weeks ago and he does look up to winning again in Saturday’s Sydney Cup. Having won races like the Group 3 Chester Vase and the Group 3 Legacy Cup in Britain, Young Rascal was sent off a $7.50 pop in the NE Manion Cup at Rosehill and produced a superior staying performance to beat the in-form Mugatoo late. The five-year-old son of Intello has recorded a career total of six wins and a second placing from only eleven starts and while he is untested over the two miles, his performances over the mile and a half have suggested that he will certainly get the trip.
Sydney Cup – 3rd
No. 4 Raheen House – Bet Now: $8.00
Raheen House is on the short back-up from last week’s impressive win in the Group 2 Chairman’s Stakes and he very much looks up to making it two in a row. The six-year-old son of Sea The Stars (interestingly trained formerly by William Haggas) was only fair in his first two starts for Kris Lees this time in, but a rise in trip was just what the doctor ordered last week, and I simply cannot wait to see what he does over the two miles of the Sydney Cup. Brenton Avdulla jumps into the saddle and the horse could very well receive the run of the race from barrier 3.
Sydney Cup – 4th
No. 13 Corncrake – Bet Now: $26.00
There’s no denying that this is a big step up in class for Corncrake, but he has found peak condition at his last two starts and I think that he’s a sneaky lightweight chance in the Sydney Cup. The four-year-old son of Mastercraftsman did take a couple of tune up upon debuting for Matt Smith in January, but getting out to a mile and a half at Kembla Grange and Warwick Farm has proven the difference at his last two appearances and he looks another horse that will appreciate the rise in trip this weekend. Happy to throw him into the mix for a bit of value.
Sydney Cup Suggested Bets
- 2 units straight out #1 Mustajeer
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below