There will be plenty of interest in the Gr1 Sydney Cup at Randwick on Saturday with South African owners Braam van Huyssteen and Bernard Kantor holding interests in fancied runners, Raheen House and Mustajeer (Van Huyssteen) and Young Rascal (Kantor).
The Sydney Cup stands alongside the Melbourne Cup as the only two Australian races decided at Gr1 level over 3200m.
First run in 1865, the Sydney Cup has enjoyed a renaissance since the introduction of The Championships.
Polarisation (Echo Of Light) gave the race an international profile with his 2017 victory for Godolphin’s Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby.
Young Rascal – will go close
First-up Australian winner Young Rascal (Intello) is a warm favourite for more English success.
Young Rascal is trained by William Haggas and created an immediate impression with Australian racegoers in winning during last month’s Golden Slipper carnival at Rosehill.
Stepping out for the first time since contesting the Hong Kong Vase in December, Young Rascal packed too much staying power for his rivals in the N E Manion Cup.
On the strength of that Gr3 victory over 2400m, Young Rascal was promoted to the top of Sydney Cup betting charts.
The five-year-old is unlikely to be challenged for that position on Saturday, given he appeals as a horse for all conditions and will be ridden by popular English jockey Tom Marquand.
Marquand has a growing fan base in Australia after heading here for a working holiday during the English off-season.
Two imports raced by Australian Bloodstock are among the hardest for Young Rascal to beat.
Ebor Handicap winner Mustajeer (Medicean) and Raheen House (Sea The Stars) have done nothing wrong in their lead-ups for trainer Kris Lees.
Mustajeer has weight-for-age credentials after a last-start placing in the Group One Tancred Stakes while Raheen House, once a member of the Haggas yard, won for the first time in Australia last week.
