English clear favourite for 2017 All Aged Stakes

Group 1 wining mare English is a clear cut race day favourite for the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick today.

English, above with red sleeves, is the clear favourite for the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Ladbrokes.com.au have English at $3.20, a clear margin ahead of the Kris Lees trained Le Romain at $4.20, after the pair have battled for favouritism since the final field for the weight for age Autumn Carnival feature race was released on Wednesday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English is coming off a last start second to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1 and has the right credentials to win back to back All Aged Stakes after defeating Black Heart Bart last year.

Lees is happy to forgive Le Romain for his last start failure when fifteenth to It’s Somewhat in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ a fortnight ago and expects him to be hard to beat today.

“I know Hughie was adamant, and I have to trust his judgment, that Le Romain was just getting dragged back from about the 600m when the rest of the field was moving forwards,’’ Lees told The Daily Telegraph.

“At the 300m, Le Romain was alongside my other runner (third placegetter) Sense Of Occasion and I would have thought he would have been five or six lengths in front of him.

“Hughie said was going up and down in the one spot and it was a total forgive run. Le Romain is the type of horse that needs to build momentum into his races.’’

Hugh Bowman rides Le Romain again and Lees can see the four year old going forward for the outside barrier in the field of ten.

“I can see him settled outside (leader) Jungle Edge or being very close to the lead,” Lees said.

“He will be in a forward position and should get the right run. I think the race sets up nicely for him.’’

Prior to finishing down the track in the Doncaster Mile, Le Romain won the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4 three starts back before running second to Winx in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18.

On the third line of betting for the All Aged Stakes is the Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad at $6.50 just head of Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirik Warrior at $7, Tivaci at $8.50 and the Chris Waller trained McCreery at $9.50.

Find all the best betting prices for the All Aged Stakes as well as the whole Randwick program at Ladbrokes.com.au.