Randwick Racing Preview: Tattersalls Club Carrington Stakes

Tattersalls Club Carrington Stakes 1400m – Listed

Race 3 at Royal Randwick is the feature event in Sydney this weekend, which is a Listed race over 1400m. The Listed Tattersalls Club Carrington Stakes sees a field of just seven set to line up for the $150,000 race.

Sydney is set to be hit by ‘possible severe storms’ and up to 10mm of rain on Friday, as well as showers on Saturday. Given the ease at which Randwick takes on water, I’d expect if we get that kind of rainfall we will be racing on a Soft track at the very least.

Six of the seven horses engaged have won previously on a Soft track, though some are better suited than others, with AGENT the only horse not to have recorded a win on a wet track.

VOILIER looks to be the most likely horse to lead, having raced up on speed consistently throughout his nine-start career. With the low weight of 54kg I expect them to be aggressive and try to pinch a few lengths on the turn.

We saw MEDCAUT race outside the leader in his latest win and from barrier 1 we should see him kick up once more. He may in fact lead, though I think the more realistic outcome will be him taking a sit on the rail just behind Voilier.

AGENT has drawn barrier 2 and will likely look to hold a position on speed, as will ZIN ZAN EDDIE from barrier 6. With the top weight of 59kg and the widest draw, RED EXCITEMENT may look to slot in behind the speed and take cover, and HIDDEN WARRIOR may be just ahead of him in the run from barrier 3.

YOU’LL NEVER came from well off the pace when he won first up last preparation and he generally tends to settle near the rear, so under similar circumstances here we can expect Hugh Bowman to ride him quietly and save him for the last shot at them.

Overall we can expect a fair tempo. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Kathy O’Hara ride VOILIER quite aggressively in order to catch a break on the small field, but there are a few on-speed types that could pour the pressure on. VOILER comes into this third up from a spell but the 1400m is the big question mark for me.

Despite dropping back from 1600m to 1400m, MEDCAUT looks a good chance of making it three wins on the trot. He proved last start he can race on speed and that he can handle the wet conditions, so if he repeats that effort he should go very close. Importantly, he ran down ZIN ZAN EDDIE two starts back and meets that horse at the same weights today.

This is the right time of year for YOU’LL NEVER, a horse that has cost punters plenty over the course of his career. He’s a hard one to catch, but he did win first up over 1350m last preparation on a Soft track. He’s never finished outside of the top two when he’s been first up and he should get every chance of keeping that intact today.

ZIN ZAN EDDIE loves this track and distance and comes into this well placed back down on 54kg after lumping 58kg at Canterbury last start. He is another that doesn’t mind the cut out of the ground and with a good run in transit he will get every chance.

RED EXCITEMENT is a shadow of his former self, HIDDEN WARRIOR is hard to catch and hasn’t won in a long time, while AGENT will need to improve significantly to win this and he won’t enjoy the rain.

1st MEDCAUT – $3.20 at Sportsbet
2nd YOU’LL NEVER – $4.20 at Ladbrokes
3rd ZIN ZAN EDDIE – $7.00 at Ladbrokes
4th VOILIER – $5.00 at CrownBet