FEATURE PREVIEWS: SYDNEY CUP

Group 1 | Handicap, Minimum Weight 49kg, 3YO+ | $2,000,000 | Rail: +3m | Track Conditions: Good 4

The Group 1 Sydney Cup. Light weights have dominated this race in recent years with the last 6 winners carrying 52.5kg and under.

Historical Profiling (last 12 years)

• 1st/2nd up (1/12), 3rd up (2/18), 4th up (3/46), 5th up (5/50), 6th up (1/24), 7th+ up (0/29)
• 5-7-day break (5/54), 12-14-day break (3/70), 21-day break (2/27), 24+day break (2/28)
• Leader (2), Settled 3rd-6th (3), Settled 7th-14th (5)
• 3yo (0/2), 4yo (0/27), 5yo (6/57), 6yo (1/46), 7yo (4/33), 8yo+ (1/14)
• Geldings (10/137), Mares (1/20), Entires (1/20)
• 50kg-52kg (7), 55kg-55.5kg (3), 58kg (1)
• Barriers 1-12 (12/140), 13+ (0/39)
• Last Start Finishing Position 1 (1/27), 2-4 (10/63), 5+ (1/89)
• Last Start Race Distance Under 2400m (0/16), 2400m (4/75), 2600m (6/69), 3200m (2/19)
• SP Rank 1-2 (2/24)

Circle of Fire got it done in 2024 at the handy price of $6.60, which edged best tote by 2% post commission.

Explosive Jack got up at the massive price of $21.64 in 2023, which was on parity with the competition.

Knights Order won at $8.71 in 2022, which was also on relative parity.

Everyone will be looking and waiting for Tim Clark to work across on ALACANCE here from barrier 15. This mare has led and dominated from the front in her three runs this campaign, stepping up in trip and handling it well each time. RIVER OF STARS has speed, leading the Tancred. ARAPAHO handy, and DUKE DE SESSA getting a perfect run just in behind.

Amazingly, there are not many horses here with 3200m form.

#8 ALALCANCE is clearly the horse to beat here. She walloped 11 of her rivals in the G2 Chairmans at 2600m and showed no sign of stopping. Amazingly, she meets all 11 better at the weights, dropping a whopping 6.5kg off that performance. Her start prior, she won the 2400m Manion Cup in outstanding fashion, again beating a huge number of her rivals she meets today. The 3200m is obviously another query and she is untried at the trip but off what we have seen, it would be a brave person to suggest she won’t run it out strongly. #15 BIRDMAN is another horse with upside and he was probably the pick of the others in that Chairmans. He has a sense of timing about him here, peaking in the right camp at the right time. Fastest final 600 and 400m in the Chairmans, gets in with a light weight and saves plenty of ground from barrier 1. Loved the run of #10 CLEVELAND in that Manion Cup, running fourth. He was off fence there and not suited, but kept coming and ran a really good race. He was first-up there and returning as a gelding which we think can make a big difference rising up to the 3200m. Winner over 3750m and should get a suitable race to show his best. Wish he drew better but like the Jamie Melham booking.

#1 DUKE DE SESSA brings different form and adds huge interest. Brilliant in a Tancred, running second behind Dubai Honour. Query at the 3200m, particularly conceding weight to the field but if there is money for him, be very wary. 5 others through the Tancred. #4 CIRCLE OF FIRE is the only one through that race who ticks the 3200m box and he is worth respecting. He drops 4kg through that race.

#6 ZARDOZI is another with different form. Not convinced she has a solid grounding for the 3200m but she did run 4^th in a Melbourne Cup, showing she stays. Afterthought? It has been over 12 months since she won a race and would like to see her do so before betting.

#8 ALALCANCE
#15 BIRDMAN
#10 CLEVELAND
#4 CIRCLE OF FIRE