Randwick Offers Breeders' Cup Challenge Races

Two automatic starting positions in the Breeders' Cup World Championships will be on the line Saturday at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia, as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into the Breeders' Cup, which will be held at Santa Anita Park Nov. 4-5.

Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. Winners must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards. 

Saturday's races are two of three Breeders' Cup Challenge races to be held at Royal Randwick this year.

Two Chris Waller trainees, the outstanding filly Winx and defending champion Kermadec, lead the Aus$3 million Star Doncaster Mile (Aus-I) on turf. The winner will receive a berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

Winx, a 4-year-old by Street Cry, is Australia's top racehorse and looms a solid favorite for the Doncaster Mile for her owners Magic Bloodstock Racing and partners. Winx comes into the Doncaster Mile with an eight-race winning streak dating back to May 16 of last year, which includes five group I victories.

Her most recent group I victory was in her previous start, when she defeated Kermadec by 1 1/2 lengths in the 7 1/2-furlong China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill March 19. She also won the group I Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes, a one-mile race, at Randwick Feb. 27 by a 1 1/2 length margin. Both victories came against male rivals.

Hugh Bowman will ride Winx, breaking from post 11 in the 15 horse field.

The 4-year-old Kermadec will enter the gate for the Doncaster Mile breaking from post 3 under Zac Purton.

Since winning last year's Doncaster Mile by 1 3/4 lengths, Kermadec has won the group I Colgate Optic White Stakes last September at Randwick.

In his first start of 2016, he finished third in the six-furlong Canterbury Stakes at Randwick March 5 before his runner-up placing to stablemate Winx in the Ryder.

Saturday's other Breeders' Cup Challenge race at Randwick is the Aus$2.5 million Darley TJ Smith Stakes (Aus-I) at six furlongs for a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT).

Exosphere and defending champion Chautauqua are the top contenders in the TJ Smith Stakes, out of a field of 15 entered in the weight-for-age event.

Exosphere, by Lonhro, won five races last year. These include two consecutive wins at Randwick in the group I Gold Rose Stakes and the group II BMW Roman Consul Stakes.

He finished fourth in his season debut this year—the group I Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington Feb. 29—and will break from post 4 under jockey James McDonald in the TJ Smith Stakes.

Chautauqua, a 5-year-old gelding by Encosta de Lago, has won nine his of 15 starts. His most prominent victory was in last year's TJ Smith Stakes by a nose over Lord of the Sky.

Tommy Berry rode Chautauqua to victory in last year's TJ Smith Stakes, and will be back aboard him again Saturday, leaving from the 11 post.

In addition to the Doncaster Mile and the TJ Smith Stakes, Randwick will also feature another Breeders' Cup Challenge race April 9.

The group I Cellarbrations Queen of the Turf Stakes will be held at one mile for fillies and mares. It is an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT).