SEVEN SUNRISE STAKES G2

RACE 8 - 1600m

AUTUMN GLOW / CEOLWULF / IDLE FLYER

AUTUMN GLOW won't go the way of the Epsom most likely but rocks up after here after a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) to begin her campaign. The Australian horse of the year won three Group ones last season with an incredible 12 win from 13 starts and a lone 3rd in the QEII Stakes at the unsuitable distance of 2000m. A daughter of THE AUTUMN SUN, Waller will be aiming the star mare towards more G1 glory this spring and up it the mile they will find it hard stopping her with seven victories on this course.

☆☆☆☆☆

CEOLWULF, under the guidance of trainer Joe Pride, performed admirably in the Winx Stakes at Randwick, securing a fast-finishing fifth place behind the exceptional mare AUTUMN GLOW. This performance suggests a return to his best and a strong potential for CEOLWULF to achieve peak form this spring. His spring carnival aim is likely to be his attempt to complete a rare hat-trick of wins in the King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day. Spelled and oh so unlucky eating up ground late for 2nd in the Chelmsford over the mile here last start behind LINDERMANN, so near peak condition.

☆☆☆

IDLE FLYER is a Group 1 winning mare 3rd-up after taking out the Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The five-year-old DUNDEEL mare won here last September, tgen won the Gr.3 Angst Stakes on the course. Failed in her first crack at in a Melbourne Group 1, but chased hard to come away from them in the Emancipation (1500m) at Rosehill which set her up nicely for the QOTT when defeating TREASURETHE MOMENT and LANDY SHENANDOAH. Needed the resuming Winx run, and not suited by the tempo in the Tramway.

☆☆

THE SHORTS G2

RACE 9 - 1100m

HEADWALL / JOLIESTAR / NINJA

HEADWALL was tremendous ducking and weaving in the Gr.2 Concorde at Randwick ahd probably would have caught TEMPTED with a clear run. Based on his last trial it was no surprise to witness such a slick effort fresh up and the DREAM AHEAD gelding hadn't raced since winning the Concorde 12 months earlier. Ran 2nd in the Quokka, 2nd in a Newmarket and 3rd in the T.J Smith, so he is a genuine Group 1 sprinter getting back to his very best. 2nd-up likely to be jumping out of his skin and only needs a clear passage over the final stretch.

☆☆☆☆

Impossible to rule out JOLIESTAR on sheer class alone and the Waller-trained mare last ran an admirable 3rd in the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Won the SHORTS last season, then went on to finish 5th in the Everest and 3rd in the VRC Champions Sprint before winning the Gr.1 Expressway, Coolmore Stakes and T.J Smith on her favoured course. The ZOUSTAR mare is as tough as they come and Waller will be looking for a strong hitout here heading towards the 2026 The Everest.

☆☆☆

The MyRacehorse sprint sensation NINJA is the first slot horse nominated in the Everest and he is a particularly quick unit who should be competitive here. The FARNAN gelding kept chasing to take out the Gr.2 Missile Stakes at Randwick over NAPOLEONIC and ANGEL CAPITAL. Won the Vo Rogue Plate in January and the Hobartville in February for Michael Freedman and it looks like the full development is complete now as a more mature four-year-old sprinter. Plenty of ability and his best is possibly yet to come.

☆☆

TEA ROSE STAKES G2

RACE 7 - 1400m

BANGKOK HOTTIE / CHILLY GIRL / STRIKING ALIBI

BANGKOK HOTTIE is as hot as a Patpong sauna house at present and trainer David Payne may have found his next Group 1 horse who accounted for a smart field of three-year-old fillies in the Furious Stakes at Randwick. Showed genuine speed from the gate to sit outside the leader before surging to the front and holding out Silver Shadow victor PEMBREY and Rosebud winner CHILLY GIRL. Likely to be ridden a bit differently at the 1400m but definitely has the goods heading towards the Flight Stakes.

☆☆☆☆

CHILLY GIRL put the sharp Baker horse BLUE DOOR to the sword with a stunning display of sprint power to overhaul her in the Rosebud at Rosehill and the TRAPEZE ARTIST filly really lifted that last bit for an impressive win. Kept coming at BANGKOK HOTTIE in the Furious last start, only half a length off her at the line and even though the winner was too strong, the step up to 1400m could be the key for this progressive horse.

☆☆☆

The HANSECTIC filly STRIKING ALIBI looks another fine Waller protégé who has come across from the West where she won on debut as a two-year-old at Ascot. Trialed up a treat in Sydney under the new trainer and then ridden conservatively in the Furious and kept coming late to finish into 3rd place. A fair bit of promise with this horse and up in trip seems the right fit.

☆☆

KINGSTON TOWN STAKES G2

RACE 6 - 2000m

BONIFACE / GREEN SPACES / ELIYASS

BONIFACE was too strong last time out at Randwick claiming the Gr.3 Premier's Cup (2000m) and will use the Kingston Town as a build up into the Hill Stakes. The four-year-old MAKE BELIEVE gelding finished 2nd on two occasions over 1800m at Randwick as the Price/Kent Jnr team worked on his development and was never totally clear in the Prelude looking for clear racing room after being trapped away in a horror watch. He is a good stayer getting better each time we see him, with more distance likely to suit and with a bum to chase can find that late winning surge.

☆☆☆☆

BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP G3

RACE 5 - 1400m

MR MILLER / HEADLEY GRANGE / ALTHOFF

MR MILLER, a four-year-old by ALMANZOR, was having only his fifth start, scoring his third win to go with his two unlucky second placings and he does look something special for Waller following a blazing victory racing away at Rosehill last start over 1500m. The Warwick Farm win in August was even more impressive and gets an opportunity here early in his career to snare some black-type.

☆☆☆☆

HEADLEY GRANGE was a Group 1 winner in the Autumn when taking out the Kingsford Smith (1300m) at Eagle Farm but had no excuse in the Stradbroke. Fantastic return by the EXOSPHERE gelding running through the line to claim the Gr.2 Tramway (1400m) here at Randwick and he looks back in good order for Joe Pride. Sticks at the trip so needs to be taken very seriously as likely to have trained and just a freight train at best.

☆☆☆

ALTHOFF is moving though the grades nicely and is currently in a purple patch of form for Chris Waller Racing. Came back in early August to run 2nd over 1300m at Rosehill before finding the front at the 200m and racing clear in the Spring Preview up to the 1400m there. Settled at the rear sticking to that course and powered up to prevail in the final stages with a fine display of ability. Back in trip should suit and Waller has this WRITTEN TYCOON gelding flying.

☆☆

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