The Festival Stakes is the traditional lead-up to the Villiers Stakes but a couple of other Rosehill winners have put themselves in contention.
Mighty Lucky entered the frame with his upset win in Saturday’s Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) with many of those behind him also heading to Sydney’s summer showpiece on December 12.
Trainer Fred Cowell sees no reason why Mighty Lucky shouldn’t take his place after beating It’s Somewhat, Peace Force and the fast-finishing Zanbagh.
Telepathic, the winner of Saturday’s Listed ATC Cup, is also on track for the Villiers with trainer Chris Waller happy to bring her back in distance from 2000 to 1600 metres.
Waller hasn’t won the Villiers since 2008 when Honor In War was promoted over Takeover Target and the race was run in January over 1400m in the aftermath of the equine influenza outbreak.
The trainer’s record in races over the Randwick mile is exceptional with five Doncasters to his name and the past two Epsom Handicaps.
“We’ve had a bit of success with bringing horses back from 2000 metres to a mile, albeit at a lesser level,” Waller said.
“She is a mare who will appreciate the big track at Randwick.
Trainer Pat Webster also has Villiers plans for Happy Clapper, the winner of a benchmark 85 over 1400 metres on Saturday.
But Webster is all too aware the five-year-old needs to be at his top to take his place.
Happy Clapper is a high-maintenance horse with a history of injury problems that have restricted his career to 11 races, five of which he has won.
Webster’s son and foreman Wayne devotes much of his time to caring for Happy Clapper.
“I’ve got three daughters and he needs nursing more than them,” he said.
Pat Webster, who is recovering from back surgery, said he would be guided by his son’s evaluation of Happy Clapper’s progress over the next two weeks.
It’s Somewhat and Zanbagh are on track for the Villiers but trainer Gerald Ryan said Festival Stakes third placegetter Peace Force was likely to go to shorter race.
