Canterbury Stakes next for in-form Napoleonic
It's been a decade since a three-year-old triumphed in the Canterbury Stakes, but co-trainer Tom Charlton is confident Napoleonic has reached the ideal point in his prep to challenge that statistic.
Holler was the last of his vintage to overcome the older speedsters in 2016, and curiously, he was under the care of Charlton's fellow trainer John O'Shea.
Both secured the Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Flemington the spring before, and both approach this Group 1 dropping from 1400m, a pattern Charlton believes benefits Napoleonic on Saturday.
"That should leave him in good stead this weekend," Charlton said.
"He's got good form, he comes into this third-up and, we feel, ready to run the best race of his preparation, which should put him right among the chances."
March 7 has been highlighted on the schedule for Napoleonic for some time, but his second place in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) confirmed his race choice.
The Randwick Guineas (1600m) was also considered by O'Shea and Charlton, though they opted for the snappier distance.
"We always had this race day as a plan, and we were just going to work out whether it was Randwick Guineas or Canterbury Stakes," Charlton said.
"His last run was excellent, but we concluded the best option would be coming back to the 1300, rather than try to stretch him to a Randwick mile."
Notwithstanding the absence of three-year-old winners lately in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), Napoleonic will line up with Beiwacht and Nepotism from the same age group.
O'Shea and Charlton's strong contingent also features resuming stars Linebacker, the 2024 Randwick Guineas champion, and Yorkshire, winner of The Ingham.
They chase Doncaster Mile glory, Yorkshire overcoming a minor issue that scratched him from the Liverpool City Cup last weekend, while Linebacker has targeted this as his seasonal debut.
Scintillation, the juvenile, skips Randwick following a poor draw in the Reisling Stakes (1200m).
Instead, per Charlton, she heads to the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on the day.
"She's going to run in Melbourne. Just the draw was a bit tricky in Sydney on Saturday.
"She did a good job on debut. She's a nice, racy filly and hopefully we can get some black type.
Check the latest online bookmakers for racing betting markets on the Canterbury Stakes.
More Racing News
Recon hands Carey elusive Hareeba Stakes success
Pat Carey, the hometown conditioner, has banished his Hareeba Stakes hoodoo after Recon unleashed a dazzling closing effort to take out the prize at Mornington.Carey had endured ongoing frustration in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m), pursuing a victory across several campaigns, notably second with Kelthorpe in 2006 and third via...
All Aged Stakes delivers Beiwacht's second elite victory
Hall of Fame conditioner Chris Waller's unbeaten autumn dominance in Sydney received a fitting finale from Godolphin's Beiwacht, who powered to a determined lead-all-the-way success versus a elite opposition in the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.In addition, Waller filled the first two...
Mornington Cup win gives Kings Valley direct entry to Caulfield Cup
Kings Valley, under the guidance of trainer Ciaron Maher, has clinched a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup courtesy of a gritty performance at Mornington.The Listed Mornington Cup conquest on Saturday delivers the 'Golden Ticket' access to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) scheduled for October.Maher notched his second Mornington...
Pride stable trifecta topped by Mazu in Hall Mark Stakes
At eight years old, the exceptional Mazu maintains his sharp turn of foot and zest for competition, setting the tempo wire-to-wire for his third consecutive triumph in Saturday's Group 3 $250,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).Previously, Pride's star had mastered the Hall Mark on rain-affected surfaces where he excels, but facing...
Waller's record Sydney autumn run ends with Fireball edging Champagne Stakes
Chris Waller, the celebrated Hall of Fame trainer, notched a historic Sydney Saturday Group 1 sweep as Fireball got the better of stable companion Campione D'Italia in Saturday's $1 million Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.The autumn carnival's eighth straight (and last) Sydney Saturday of Group 1 races saw Waller...
JRA Plate victory confirms Asterix at his sharpest
The win by Asterix stood out as somewhat surprising compared to Waller's earlier triumphs, given the progressive eight-year-old gelding was dispatched at $16 into the race.Having captured the New Zealand Derby four years back, Asterix lost momentum for a period before flashing his class last summer with a win in...
Strong Frank Packer Plate win boosts Matias for Queensland Derby
With a powerful victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m), Matias has positioned himself firmly in the Queensland Derby picture.Stablemate Snitzel Dancer had triumphed in the Group 3 Carr Stakes only 35 minutes beforehand.Snitzel, under Ryan's guidance, took out an Oakleigh Plate before retiring to Arrowfield Stud,...
Snitzel Dancer's stakes win opens door to Queensland Oaks campaign
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's belief in Snitzel Dancer was rewarded as the filly claimed her first stakes victory in the Group 3 $250,000 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).The trainer was puzzled by the filly's efforts in back-to-back Warwick Farm appearances that launched her season.Yet, her dominant Hawkesbury performance...
Price straps The Speed Machine ahead of Mornington triumph
At Mornington, trainer Mick Price returned to his early career tasks by parading The Speed Machine himself.The youngster, under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, got lively during the saddling process, so Price handled the strapping before the Mornington Sires (1000m) took place on Saturday.It proved a...
La Fracas back in Victoria for rain-affected Hareeba Stakes
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr's operation was banking on soggy conditions during Sydney's autumn and tailored La Fracas' program accordingly.The trainer has described the gelding as one of his premier, perhaps the premier, performers on rain-affected tracks.Nevertheless, the surface failed to favour La Fracas across his two Sydney outings,...