Historical Analysis of the All Aged Stakes

ALL AGED STAKES - G1 1400m

When the AJC restructured the carnival in 2004, the All Aged Stks had one of the biggest changes. It was reduced to 1400m and being run as a followed on from the TJ Smith not a mile consolation prize for the Doncaster. The race gets lost a bit in the momentum of the carnival and a name change could be in order but the winners since it’s been 7 furlongs have been quality. A WFA race is always better when the 3yos can test themselves against the older horse so let’s find out if we can find one.

PROFILING THE RACE

o Race changed to 1400m in 2004.

o Small fields have beset this race, especially since the shortening in distance.

o Surprisingly poor record for the 3yos although the filly won it in 2012 and a colt in 2013.

o Gai has four wins, 3 of last 11 winning in ’03, ’05, ’07.

o A great race for those well in the market.

o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner - 5yos (5 times)

o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <5-8> - 7 times

o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $4

o Breakdown of winners - 5 geldings, 3 mares, 1 colt & 1 filly

o Races that the winner ran in prior - TJ Smith Stks (4), George Ryder Stks (2), Doncaster Mile (1), The Galaxy (1), Sapphire Stks (1), Futurity Stks (1)

RECENT WINNERS

2014 - HANA's GOAL 5m (Orewa Matteruze x Shanghai Jell) ($10)

Jockey: Nash Rawiller, Trainer: Kazuhiro Kato

Barrier: 6, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 1:24.64

Margin: 2L, Track: Slow (6), Starters: 8

2nd: Weary (59.0kg), 3rd: Tiger Tees (59.0kg)

Review: The Championships had brought two horses from overseas - Gordon Lord Byron and Hana’s Goal. The first one scored a G1 in the George Ryder and now the Japanese mare did the same in the All Aged. In a race which was very much down on previous years, her chances were enhanced when there were three very important scratchings from the race, potentially three of the four favourites. Rawiller was able to let her find her feet but unlike the Coolmore and Doncaster where she was 15 lengths off the lead, here she was only six. He pulled her right to the outside and ran over them easily. The forerunner to many more of these international invaders?

2013 - ALL TOO HARD 3c (Casino Prince x Helsinge) ($2.75 fav)

Jockey: Dwayne Dunn, Trainer: Hawkes Partnership

Barrier: 7, Weight: 56.5kg, Gross Time: 1:22.89

Margin: 0.5L, Track: Good, Starters: 8

2nd: Rain Affair (59.0kg), 3rd: Fiorente (59.0kg)

Review: Well didn’t this race have a few angles. Let’s look on track first. The colt had had the setback leading into it when missing the Australian Guineas and so had two months off. He returned to face a stellar field including another of his contemporaries Epaulette, top mare More Joyous, WFA regulars Rain Affair and Rangirangdoo and Melbourne Cup placegetter Fiorente. But it hasn’t been a burden during his 3yo year to be Black Caviar’s brother. He charged over the leader in the straight and won coming away. Sadly Rolling Pin broke down over the line. But the bigger story came in the pre and post-race matters when owner John Singleton engaged in a public fracas with the Waterhouse family accusing them of conflicts of interest following an ‘unreported’ issue about More Joyous’ health. His horses left the stables immediately thereafter but things change.

2012 - ATLANTIC JEWEL 3f (Fastnet Rock x Regard) ($1.12 fav)

Jockey: Michael Rodd, Trainer: Mark Kavanagh

Barrier: 1, Weight: 54.5kg, Gross Time: 1:21.82

Margin: 1.3L, Track: Good, Starters: 6

2nd: Rain Affair (59.0kg), 3rd: Ofcourseican (57.0kg)

Review: When fillies win at open WFA at any time of year it is a good sign of ability. This one was however a star. On the comeback trail, she had given the girls a touch up and now took on Rain Affair who was just a darn good sprinter. She sat off him at his attempt at G1 and he was just a sitting shot. She camped on him, waited until he’d shown his best form and then pounced in the last furlong. Injury would befall her again.