The Sydney Autumn Carnival draws to a thrilling close this Saturday at Royal Randwick, with the final Group 1 event, the $1.5 million All Aged Stakes over 1400m stealing the spotlight.
It’s a cracking field of 14, stacked with class. Twelve of the runners are already Group 1 winners, including last year’s champ Magic Time, who dominated in the wet in 2024. So, what’s the winning form-line this year? Will the drop-back sprinters from the T.J. Smith Stakes step up successfully? Or will a tried-and-true miler swoop in late? Briasa, fresh off a soft win in the 2025 T.J. Smith Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships, is the horse to beat. The Team Hawkes star is flying.
Expect a genuine tempo. Belclare, trained by Bjorn Baker, should push forward under Rachel King. Antino lacks early dash but, from the inside draw, gets the chance to camp behind the speed. Three-year-old Broadsiding will look to hold a handy spot from barrier three with James McDonald aboard. Briasa looks set to land the one-one from gate four. Magic Time and Desert Lightning won’t be far away either, both likely to settle in the top half of the field. Out the back? Expect Joliestar and Jimmysstar to drop anchor early. The wide-drawn trio; Kimochi, My Oberon and Kiwi visitor Grail Seeker, will be searching for cover from tricky gates.
Also on the card: the final Group 1 of the season for the two-year-olds, the Champagne Stakes over 1600m. Within The Law, backing up from last week and a tough Golden Slipper run, deserves serious respect. Tupakara, also on the quick back-up and placed in two of three metro starts this prep, brings solid claims. State Visit may have been unwanted by punters last time, but flew home in the Inglis Sires’ and is yet to miss a top-three finish. And watch out for Spicy Lu — unbeaten in three starts and looming as the big danger.
