RANDWICK PREVIEW

While Randwick doesn’t have a Group 1 on its card, there’s a mob of superstars lining up across the day, with the likes of Via Sistina making her return after one of the most incredible Cox Plate wins we’ve ever seen as we begin to warm up into the autumn carnival.

Plenty of stars resume at Randwick, kicking off with Group 1 Thousand Guineas star Joliestar. The Chris Waller-trained mare was eye-catching when first up last prep, taking out the Group 3 Show County Quality in outstanding fashion before running third to Sunshine in Paris in the Sheraco and two unplaced runs in Group 1 company. She returns from a spell with incredible first-up form at the track; we can imagine she will be back with guns blazing!

Further into the card, we have an interesting contest between the rising stars and the proven champions, with Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot and Group 1 Inglis Sires winner Manhaal taking on the likes of Lady Shenandoah and Lilac. In Lady Shenandoah’s short career of 4 starts, she’s recorded two wins, one of them being the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes, and is yet to finish outside of the placings. She’s returning off the back of a 19-week spell, and by all accounts, the sky is the limit for this filly! Another star on the rise is the Neasham & Archibald-trained Lilac. Always held in high regard by the team, this filly looks like the best is yet to come, having recorded her first listed win last prep. She put in a strong run first up after doing it tough being caught wide without cover and shouldn’t be overlooked here.

Our Randwick headliner is in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes with Cox Plate hero Via Sistina set to make her return alongside another star-on-the-rise, Ceolwulf. Via Sistina arrived on Australian soil and made her presence known immediately with a Group 1 win in the Ranvet in March, followed by a first-up showstopper in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained mare continued her dominance, taking out three more Group 1s: the Turnbull, Cox Plate, and Champions Stakes. We know she can’t be overlooked first up, and all reports are that she’s back and better than ever. Joining her first-up is the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf, who was somewhat regarded as the underdog of the spring. Always a relatively consistent performer among the group company, Ceolwulf broke through for an impressive win in the Group 1 Epsom, followed by him famously defeating Pride of Jenni in the Group 1 King Charles. He’s been out for a spell and had two trials back. Could there be more Group 1 wins in store for the underdog? Outside of Via Sistina, the Apollo looks to be a typical Waller vs. The Rest contest, with last year’s Apollo winner Fangirl set to defend her title and Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes winner Atishu also resuming.