• All Aged Stakes Scratchings Update: #3 Private Eye (3) has been withdrawn due to the Heavy-rated Randwick track.

Punters are treated to an intriguing edition of the All Aged Stakes 2023 this weekend at Randwick with the spring’s The Everest winning three-year-old Giga Kick favourite to win the final Group 1 of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Giga Kick is favourite to win the 2023 All Aged Stakes third-up at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

Elite level racing for the autumn in New South Wales comes to a close on Saturday with the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m).

The All Aged Stakes field features a dozen weight-for-age hopefuls led in betting by the Clayton Douglas-trained Scissor Kick three-year-old Giga Kick.

The gun youngster sits top of All Aged Stakes betting at $2.80 through Ladbrokes.com.au to win third-up from out wide in barrier 11 with Craig Williams aboard.

He has won five of his eight starts to date, but chases his first victory since scoring an upset at 20/1 in the $15 million The Everest (1200m) here last October.

This prep Giga Kick comes off back-to-back placings the latest seeing him just a half-length off Peter Moody’s impressive winner I Wish I Win in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) a fortnight back.

Saturday has the favourite up over 1400m for the first time, and how he handles the extra furlong will be key to his chances of becoming the three-year-old All Aged Stakes winner since Trapeze Artist (2018).

The danger at All Aged Stakes odds of $5.50 is the resuming veteran eight-year-old Zaaki for trainer Annabel Neasham.

The brilliant import has his 41^st career start on the weekend looking to add to his strong first-up record (9:4-2-1).

Zaaki is two-from-two at the track and trip with his last 1400m run here producing a two-length win on a Heavy (10) in the Group 2 Tramway over Icebath last September.

He went on to run third in both the Underwood and Caulfield Stakes then fourth in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in Melbourne before successfully defending his title in Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) in November.

Saturday has him racing for the first time since with Neasham bringing him on fitness-wise with two lead-up Sydney trials the last over 1080m when fourth on April 3.

Zaaki is drawn a treat in barrier six and has the benefit of James McDonald coming aboard for the ride.

McDonald is chasing back-to-back All Aged Stakes wins having ridden the James Cummings-trained Cascadian to victory last year.

Cascadian returns to defend his All Aged Stakes title as an $11 shot in betting for the Godolphin stable drawn barrier 10 with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

The New Approach eight-year-old has been the picture of consistency this prep before being a controversial scratching from last Saturday’s Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

His gun stablemate Anamoe was chasing a 10^th Group 1 win in the QE but only managed to run third behind William Haggas’ star international raider Dubai Honour.

Cascadian gets his chance in easier company over less distance this weekend presenting fit after three good lead-up runs.

Two back he was a half-length off Mr Brightside in the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) at The Valley before winning the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 25.

He hasn’t raced over less than a mile since a third in the Memsie at Caulfield last October, while he won the All Aged on a Heavy (8) defeating Tofane by a length at double-figures last April.

An upset on Saturday will see Cascadian become the first dual All Aged Stakes champ since Sunline (2000, 2002) and the first on back-to-back years since Rough Habit (1992-93).

In an open top-half of the market three other runners are under double-figures to win with Private Eye*, Mazu and Jacquinot all currently installed at $8.

The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye is drawn well in gate three and presents fit third-up with last year’s The Everest runner-up looking to atone for his 12^th in the TJ Smith on an unsuitably wet track.

*Update: Private Eye has been scratched.

Maurice four-year-old Mazu for Team Snowden is also third-up in the All Aged Stakes having his first run at the 1400m distance.

He too was in the money in The Everest 2022 running third before his second to Private Eye in the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m).

Fresh Mazu was fifth in the Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight before improving to run only 1.39 lengths back third in the TJ Smith Stakes trifecta on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’.

Jacquinot is the other three-year-old along with Giga Kick looking to beat home the older gallopers in the All Aged Stakes this year with the Rubick colt jumping from barrier four.

He has had 11 runs for five wins and is unbeaten with a flawless two-from-two record over the 1400m so far.

Two back he took out the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) after a successful protest against Gentleman Roy before his last start sixth under two lengths away in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 4.

Back to 1400m should suit with Jacquinot having performed well in a recent Randwick trial ahead of his first official Sydney run since his The Everest fifth last October.

The 2023 Schweppes All Aged Stakes is scheduled as Randwick Race 8 at 3:50pm (AEST) with the latest markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au, available by clicking here.

2023 All Aged Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.