SYDNEY CUP 2021 PREVIEW
3YO+ OPEN HCP
3200m
$2,000,000
SOFT 5
Rail +3m entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) |
Current Price |
| 1 | 4x260 | THE CHOSEN ONE | M B & A FORSMAN | H BOWMAN (16) | 56 | $16.00 |
| 2 | 79x77 | SOUTHERN FRANCE | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | J B MC DONALD (5) | 55 | $7.50 |
| 3 | x6230 | SOUND | M MORONEY | B AVDULLA (12) | 54 | $29.00 |
| 4 | x7581 | QUICK THINKER | M B & A FORSMAN | J R COLLETT (14) | 53 | Scratched |
| 5 | x7359 | CHAPADA | M MORONEY | G BOSS (6) | 52 | $23.00 |
| 6 | 63x50 | SHRAAOH | C WALLER | J FORD (11) | 52 | Scratched |
| 7 | x8783 | MIAMI BOUND | D O'BRIEN | C WILLIAMS (10) | 51.5 | $10.00 |
| 8 | 11x25 | SPIRIT RIDGE | MARK NEWNHAM | R DOLAN (2) | 51.5 | $10.00 |
| 9 | x6547 | HUSH WRITER | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT | TIM CLARK (15) | 51.5 | $41.00 |
| 10 | 018x1 | FAVORITE MOON | W HAGGAS | K MCEVOY (3) | 51 | $5.50 |
| 11 | x8052 | RONDINELLA | J O'SHEA | A ADKINS (7) | 50 | $13.00 |
| 12 | x3232 | SHE'S IDEEL | B BAKER | MS R KING (4) | 50 | $7.50 |
| 13 | 2x622 | REALM OF FLOWERS | A & S FREEDMAN | D THORNTON (8) | 50 | $5.50 |
| 14 | 11236 | SACRAMENTO | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT | MS K O'HARA (9) | 50 | $26.00 |
| 15 | 85516 | GOOD IDEA | P STOKES | BEN THOMPSON (1) | 50 | $19.00 |
| 16 | x8654 | SELINO | C WALLER | RON STEWART (13) | 50 | $18.00 |
OVERVIEW
It looks set to be an interesting edition of the Sydney Cup, with a genuinely run affair expected to suit the backmarkers, most of whom happen to be in the market. At the other end, we have Favorite Moon, who scored his first Australian win last start in the Group 3 Manion Cup over Realm of Flowers. Also among the chances are Bjorn Baker trained She’s Ideel and Moonee Valley Cup winner Miami Bound.
SPEED MAP
Looks to be a genuinely run Sydney Cup for this year, with Spirit Ridge, Favorite Moon, Sacramento and Hush Writer all vying for the lead in the early stages. Good Idea won’t be far away either. From there, there should be a clear gap in the field to perhaps Sound or The Chosen One. Backmarkers Realm of Flowers, Miami Bound, Southern France and She’s Ideel will get the required tempo, but they will have their work cut out for them.
KEY RUNNERS
- SOUTHERN FRANCE ($7.50)
Has had mixed Australian form since making the trip from Ireland back in 2019, winning the Group 2 Sandown Classic but failing to score a Group 1 victory yet. He might appreciate getting past 2400m, in which he has shown a liking to in the past. He has been solid so far this prep, contesting Group 1’s over distances short of his best. This looks an interesting race for him.
- FAVORITE MOON ($5.50)
This lightly raced 4YO was extremely impressive at Rosehill last start, winning by a small margin to Realm Of Flowers in the G3 Manion Cup. That was his first Australian start and will no doubt take improvement from that. Two starts back, he scored an 8.5L victory in Haydock over 2800m, which bodes extremely well for his chances here. Right in the mix.
- REALM OF FLOWERS ($5.50)
Had a great start to her career, winning four races from just her first seven starts. She worked her way up in meteoric fashion from Maiden grade, which culminated in her landing the Group 3 SA Classic. She then made the trip across to Melbourne and raced a bit flat, but has returned in much better form this prep. She was close last start and she should be close again here.
BLUEY’S PICK
- REALM OF FLOWERS ($5.50)
Was below her best last prep, but still almost managed to land the Sandown Cup over 3200m before being spelled. She follows a similar prep here and after her eye-catching performance last start when 3-wide, I’m following her again today. She gets the tempo to suit and should be charging home over the final stages.
