One of the best staying races on the 2011 AJC Australian Derby Day programme at Randwick this Saturday April 9 will be the $1750,000 Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m), which has drawn a final field of 17 acceptors.
A talented field of gallopers will contest the 2011 Chairman’s Handicap, but in a setback for one of the early favourites, the in-form Older Than Time has drawn wide with barrier 14.
Gai Waterhouse’s four-year-old Don Eduardo mare Older Than Time has won all four of her starts this season including her most recent victory in the Listed Sky High Stakes (1900m) ahead of Luen Yat Forever at Rosehill on March 19.
On Saturday Older Than Time will attempt to extend her succession of wins to five but has to contend from barrier 14 of 17, the first time the mare has drawn a double-digit gate.
Waterhouse will also be represented in the race by her Johannesburg mare Once Were Wild, drawn in barrier three and due to be ridden by Nash Rawiller.
There are two other last-start winners along with Older Than Time in this year’s Chairman’s Handicap with the John Thompson-trained Galizani who won the Listed Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 26 and Guy Walter’s Cyber Crime coming off a recent win over 2500m at Randwick’s Kensington track.
Another top elect in the Chairman’s Handicap markets is sure to be Kiwi galloper Showcause despite their wider barrier 11 draw.
The Frank Ritchie-trained Giant’s Causeway five-year-old is coming off some impressive recent form in New Zealand including their win in the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) on February 19 and their last-start second behind Titch in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 9.
Showcause will be ridden by Corey Brown for their Aussie debut on Saturday, connections hoping the gelding can emulate star three-year-old Jimmy Choux who claimed their first start on Australian turf with ease in the Rosehill Guineas ahead of their run in the $1.5 million Group 1 AJC Australian Derby (2400m) this weekend.
Other notable stayers facing off in the Chairman’s Handicap on Saturday include the Lee Freedman-trained Speed Gifted in the far outside barrier 17, Shaun Dwyer’s in-form Toowoomba galloper Anudjawun (barrier five) and the Luke Price-trained The Patriot (barrier nine).
The 2011 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap will jump at 1:10pm (AEST) as Randwick Race 3 this Saturday.
2011 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap Field, Barriers & Weights
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X030X80X03 | SPEED GIFTED (GB) | Lee Freedman | Hugh Bowman | 17 | 58kg | 106 |
| 2 | X05160X005 | C’EST LA GUERRE (NZ) | Robert Hickmott | Michael Rodd | 6 | 57.5kg | 105 |
| 3 | 280830X409 | ONCE WERE WILD | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 3 | 56kg | 106 |
| 4 | 9723181912 | SHOWCAUSE | Frank Ritchie | Corey Brown | 11 | 56kg | 102 |
| 5 | 25X2413880 | TINSELTOWN (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Glyn Schofield | 8 | 55.5kg | 101 |
| 6 | 16287X4818 | SAINT ENCOSTA | John P Thompson | – | 15 | 52.5kg | 95 |
| 7 | 1X52272567 | STRIKE ONE (GB) | Chris Waller | – | 16 | 52.5kg | 95 |
| 8 | 12224X1111 | OLDER THAN TIME | Gai Waterhouse | Glen Boss | 14 | 52kg | 97 |
| 9 | X808X95260 | MISS KEEPSAKE (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Nathan Berry (a0) | 13 | 52kg | 94 |
| 10 | 74657X8778 | COUNT ENCOSTA | John P Thompson | – | 4 | 52kg | 90 |
| 11 | 21130X641 | GALIZANI | John P Thompson | Jim Cassidy | 7 | 52kg | 89 |
| 12 | 00230X7578 | MISS DARCEY | Anthony Cummings | Rod Quinn | 10 | 52kg | 88 |
| 13 | 1X7441X843 | STAND TO GAIN (IRE) | Chris Waller | – | 12 | 52kg | 88 |
| 14 | X320X03232 | ANUDJAWUN (NZ) | Shaun Dwyer | Craig Williams | 5 | 52kg | 78 |
| 15 | 3113X47816 | SANDBERG | Guy Walter | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 1 | 52kg | 76 |
| 16 | 713X203533 | THE PATRIOT | Luke Price | – | 9 | 52kg | 68 |
| 17 | 7X62241451 | CYBER CRIME | Guy Walter | Christian Reith | 2 | 52kg | 64 |
