A Major day featuring Minor players

The Chipping Norton stakes is today relocated eastwards for the fifth time in its modern history. The switch is significant giving the lead-up form, a fortnight back on Apollo Stakes day, a same track flavour. Last start form on the same circuit is keenly perceived by horse players.

The rail last meeting was in the 3m position; fence-dwellers found the slow lane and the marathon supplied the only leader to win. The shift to 6m for today’s programme promises to be far less antipathetic to leaders and those on the inside lane, perhaps best suiting one-off the fence in the run. The forecast wind at 3pm is a 28km/h south easterly, a tailwind down the side, in stark contrast to the buffeting rails runners received last time.

Three contestants lining up today, run over in tiring conditions fourteen days ago, merit specific comment. Notably, they represent the expected favourite in each of the Quadrella legs around the feature race, throttle-held by the darling Winx in spite of a muddling map.

The Guy Walter for Mares at quarter to Four, has Solicit reverting to her own sex after two runs back. Third-up, she promises to control the pace, flanked by Vergara and stalked by Peeping. All in order it seems, but I wish to contend that a return to mares is not all positive. Solicit has enjoyed a fitness advantage over many with a future agenda in her preparation to date, and while many of today’s rivals are second up, mares, by virtue of their smaller frame, should come to hand sooner than their male counterparts.

Rich Enuff made his Sydney debut in the Southern Cross over a slightly shorter trip than his Liverpool City Cup appearance in the penultimate race on today’s programme. On the occasion of his resumption he was forced into a chasing role, vulnerable firstly to the stalker, Decision Time, then the blouser, Big Money. In today’s event he looks the leader, and well suited to boot. My vexation lies with a lack of context. One run back, and just one local run leave me with no comparison to make, a situation I find uncomfortable.

The nightcap at quarter to six is a common Saturday affair over the sprint course. Meursault had last raced in Sydney in the 2015 Hobartville, and twelve months later he again attempted to make all, only to be reeled in on the post. He has led in his two wins, on debut at Hawkesbury and in the twilight at Canterbury, indications that Meursault may be a flat-track bully. Today’s 6m rail and sympathetic tailwind seem felicitous for the final favourite.

The favoured quadrella on the card of Autumn’s first group one requires the minors of last time to become majors today.