As it was in Melbourne earlier in the autumn the big name sprinters are scaring off the opposition in the TJ Smith Stakes.
Small fields contested the Lightning Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington with Lankan Rupee and Deep Field scaring off rivals in the Lightning while all eyes were on Lankan Rupee, Terravista and Chautauqua in the Newmarket in which Brazen Beau upstaged the trio.
Big 3 TJ Smith Stakes
It’s a similar scenario in the Group One TJ Smith (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday with Lankan Rupee, Terravista and Chautauqua to meet again.
Chautauqua is the $2.80 favourite ahead of Terravista at $3.50 and Lankan Rupee at $6.
Connections of quality mares Miracles Of Life and Chloe In Paris are among those playing a waiting game before final acceptances for the $2.5 million sprint are taken on Wednesday.
Paul Snowden, who trains Miracles Of Life in partnership with his father Peter, says the mare is being prepared as though she is running in the race, although she is more likely to head to Adelaide next month.
“We’ve just kept treading water with her just in case something happens to any of the others,” Snowden said.
“We’ve been working her along just in case something happens but at this stage I think she’ll go across to Adelaide in four or five weeks time for the Sangster Stakes.”
Chloe In Paris’ trainer Ciaron Maher said he was monitoring the field with regards to numbers, but his preference was to keep her for the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week.
“We’re going to have a look at running her in the TJ but we’re probably more likely to go to the Sapphire Stakes,” said Maher.
“If there was five runners in the race we might think about, but it’s probably not going to be the case.”
