Sydney Specials – October 4

3 minute read

Sydney’s best wagers bookend the six Group races conducted at Randwick on Saturday.

Super Saturday at Randwick rarely disappoints.

With fine weather, a firm track and most importantly a brilliant nine race program, it will prove to be no different this weekend.

Three listed events kick off proceedings before the big guns start to make their presence felt.

The Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) is the first of the Group events conducted at Randwick on Saturday where Hallowed Crown is largely expected to maintain his unbeaten run.

Hallowed Crown has been brilliant in both runs this campaign where he has claimed the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose double.

He could not have been more impressive in doing so and on Saturday lines up as favourite in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).

Connections have given the colt three weeks between runs heading into Saturday.

This method was used to good effect 12 months ago when Zoustar claimed the Golden Rose – Roman Consul double before taking out the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

Hallowed Crown is following the same path this spring and should take another step towards completing the treble on Saturday.

The Northern Meteor colt is the best performed runner of the event and should be suited in the small six horse field.

Leading rider Hugh Bowman will settle back in the field where the Gerald Ryan-trained duo of Time For War and Klammer should provide the colt a genuine tempo to settle behind.

Expect the Gooree-raced three-year-old to settle in the last pair before unleashing his impressive turn of foot down the straight.

Snap up the black type figures currently available for a colt who rates well clear on best disclosed form.

The best each way play comes in the final race of the day, the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m).

Spillway is favourite for the event.

The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained import has performed extremely well in three starts this campaign.

Spillway kicked off the preparation with a narrow second in the P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and a fourth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Dropping back to handicap conditions, Spillway was well tried to win the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

Sadly, Spillway looked a certainty beaten as the Rail Link entire worked to the line untested behind a wall of horses.

A strong case can be made that Spillway just needs even luck in running to claim the final Group 1 feature on Super Saturday.

Barrier 9 does have the potential to prove awkward however jockey James McDonald is riding in fantastic form at present.

Spillway rates clear of his rivals on weight adjusted figures returned so far this campaign.

He should be closing in on peak fourth run from a spell and connections have always been of the opinion 2400m will be Spillway’s pet trip.

The UK import has ventured north to Randwick on one prior occasion and the trip yielded a success in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) during the autumn.

There is a lot to like about Spillway in The Metropolitan and after a luckless Naturalism Stakes run, deserves a change in fortunes.

Recapping last week, Sydney Specials had two minor placings.

Ninth Legion placing in the Shannon Stakes (1500m) was a good result for the Each Way Play if you supported the gelding at his $12 quote on Friday morning.

The Best Of The Day last weekend was Catkins who ran second as odds-on favourite in the Golden Pendant. The less said about that the better.

Sydney Specials – October 4

Best Of The Day: R4, #1 Hallowed Crown @ $2.30