The end of the driest autumn on recent record is good news for Wouldnt It Be Nice as he heads to Randwick to defend the June Stakes.
The Paul Perry-trained gelding hasn’t won since he claimed the 1100m-Listed sprint a year ago but with rain soaking Randwick over the weekend he will have his preferred soft conditions.
Even with fine weather in the lead-up to Saturday, the surface will not dry out and is expected to remain in the soft range.
“A wet track will help him,” Perry said.
“He’s in good order and it would be nice if he could defend his title.”
There are 20 entries for the June Stakes headed by Target In Sight who is also among nominations for the Group Three QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.
The Joe Pride-trained Target In Sight is a Group Three winner in the wet, taking out the Maurice McCarten Stakes over the distance at Randwick last year.
Three-year-old King’s Troop is also among the June Stakes entries as well as two benchmark races on the program.
“I don’t think he will get a run in the Listed race,” Ryan said.
“He is also in an 1100 metre race and a 1200 metre race with the latter more likely.”
The Stayer’s Cup, the only race in Sydney over 3200 metres apart from the Sydney Cup, attracted 15 nominations headed by Group One winner Opinion.
The 2014 Metropolitan Handicap winner over 2400 metres has had experience of 3200m-racing, running second to The Offer in the 2014 Sydney Cup and midfield in the Melbourne Cup later that year won by Protectionist.
Opinion’s Chris Waller-trained stablemate Murphy’s Delight will be stepped up to the distance for the first time.
“I think they are both looking for two miles and this is a good option for them,” Waller said.
