The progressive James Cummings-trained Golden Slipper hopeful Exceeds heads the Sweet Embrace Stakes 2017 nominations for the Group 1 lead-up this Saturday in Sydney.
Exceeds chases the Golden Slipper ballot exemption on offer in the 2017 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
On a day where Winx will be all the rage in the Chipping Norton Stakes, a host of contenders heading towards the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in March will also be on show at Royal Randwick this weekend.
The colts and geldings do battle in the Skyline Stakes while the two-year-old fillies take to the track chasing the 2017 Golden Slipper Stakes ballot exemption in the $200,000 Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
The set weights sprint attracted 16 fillies including Snitzel filly Exceeds who is currently rated a $34 shot in futures Golden Slipper Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
She has had three runs to date including a Randwick win over 1000m in January and a brave last start second to Veranillo, also at the track, on February 4 in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m).
Veranillo franked that form last weekend finishing second behind the Golden Slipper favourite She Will Reign in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes, which bodes well for Exceeds this Saturday.
Another key Sweet Embrace Stakes nomination this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is the undefeated Michael Freedman-trained Teaspoon.
She is only rated a $51 hope for the Golden Slipper, but the fellow daughter of Snitzel has shown plenty of promise winning her opening two career starts.
The latest was in late January at Rosehill over Mystic Empire in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m), form she will be out to continue up in Group 2 class on Saturday if accepted.
Victorian raider Arctic Angel is another notable entry, the Hard Spun filly yet to race in Sydney.
She ran fourth in the Group 3 on Melbourne Cup Day behind Invincible Star on debut before posting her own black-type success at Sandown in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m).
Arctic Angel returned to racing at Caulfield on February 11 running just one and a quarter-lengths third to the current 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes favourite for this weekend, Catchy, in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
The other non-maidens in the mix are the David Payne-trained Delago Thunder who won at Kembla Grange on debut narrowly in late January and One More Honey for John Thompson who was last seen finishing fifth in the Widden Stakes to Teaspoon beaten under two lengths.
John O’Shea and the Godolphin stable have nominated for Savatiano, while promising All Too Hard Filly coming off a recent Rosehill trial win Za Zi Ba will be on debut as will the Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of Your Song Songlike who won a 900m hit-out at the Gardens by two lengths on February 14.
Check out the full Sweet Embrace Stakes 2017 nominations below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your early tips in the Golden Slipper Stakes at the hottest odds.
2017 Sweet Embrace Stakes Nominations
Randwick Racecourse – 25/02/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41×3 | ARCTIC ANGEL | F | 2 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra |
| 2 | – | CIRCULEIGHT | F | 2 | Peter Robl |
| 3 | 1 | DELAGO THUNDER | F | 2 | David Payne |
| 4 | 412 | EXCEEDS | F | 2 | James Cummings |
| 5 | 5x | GREATER GOOD | F | 2 | John P Thompson |
| 6 | 36 | MELIBOEA | F | 2 | John P Thompson |
| 7 | 2x | MEMENTO | F | 2 | Anthony Cummings |
| 8 | 15 | ONE MORE HONEY | F | 2 | John P Thompson |
| 9 | 82 | SAVATIANO | F | 2 | John O’Shea |
| 10 | – | SHE’S ON QUE | F | 2 | Peter Robl |
| 11 | 6x | SHUDABEEN | F | 2 | Tim Martin |
| 12 | – | SMOOTH LANDING | F | 2 | John P Thompson |
| 13 | – | SONGLIKE | F | 2 | Bjorn Baker |
| 14 | 1×1 | TEASPOON | F | 2 | Michael Freedman |
| 15 | – | TORVILL | F | 2 | Clarry Conners |
| 16 | – | ZA ZI BA | F | 2 | Gerald Ryan |
