Sydney Cup For Almandin?

[Wandering Eyes]

Tough when winning the G1 Tancred S. (2400m) over Ambitious (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) last start, the Liam Howley-trained Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is in a purple patch of form, which should see him good enough to be the first G1 Melbourne Cup winner since the great Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King (Ire}) in 2004 to take out the Sydney Cup as well.

Contesting his fifth consecutive Sydney Cup, having finished second on two occasions as well as fourth, there would be no more worthy winner of the A$2-million contest than the Chris Waller-trained Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}), and after working home well at a big price for third in the Tancred last start, the rising 10-year-old looks capable of another big run in the race.

A stablemate to Almandin, 6-year-old Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the one at the weights to watch, carrying just 51kgs on his back. A winner over 2600m last time in the Listed Roy Higgins Qty, where he defeated Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) by a length, with the runner-up next winning the G2 Adelaide Cup on her next start, the Liam Howley-trained runner is already a winner over 3219m at Listed level and looks to have everything in his favour here.

With only 52kgs on his back, Richard Freedman’s Auvray (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) has two wins over 3000m and although he failed in the 2016 Sydney Cup, he heads into Saturday’s race in a lot better form, and owners the China Horse Club could be in for their first Sydney Cup winner. Battling it out down the Randwick straight in the G2 Chairman’s Qty, the New Zealand-based visitor Sir Charles Road (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) both drop significantly in weight here over the 3200m, which should see both capable of playing their hand when it counts.

 

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