The upcoming Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is going to present some breathtaking races between some of the best horses in the country and the world.
Group 1 races will be a regular occurrence, and horses from far and wide will be looking to stamp themselves as the best in the business.
We've narrowed it down to five horses you need to keep an eye on at Rosehill and Randwick over the next six weeks.
ADDEYBB
Last year's winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Ranvet Stakes is back for another tilt on Aussie soil, and will be out to cause some havoc for the local hopes once again.
The 7-year old gelding from the UK has had just 18 career starts - winning nine of them - and its only Group 1 victories have come Down Under.
He is a class horse and is likely to have popular jockey Tom Marquand in the saddle once again this autumn, after the Englishman's breakthrough campaign in Australia last year.
Addeybb looks to be targetting the same two races as last year, and is currently favourite for both of them with all the major bookies.
It's major challenger this autumn will be the best horse in Australia - Verry Elleegant - and the pair will likely be having some fantastic battles at both Rosehill and Randwick in the next six weeks.
In fact, the Chris Waller-trained star ran 2nd in both of Addeybb's wins here in 2020.
MO'UNGA
This is a horse that has certainly caught the eye as of late.
Mo'unga may have a 50 per-cent win record from his six career starts to date, but the three-year old has impressed during two losses heading into the carnival.
In the CS Hayes Stakes on February 13th, Mo'unga had a solid first-up performance running third to Tagaloa.
But it was his display three weeks later in the Randwick Guineas was super impressive, stuck in behind horses down the straight before doing a ridiculous amount of work to fly home for 2nd.
LION'S ROAR lands an upset win in the Randwick Guineas (G1) at odds of 30/1. Bring on the Australian Derby at The Championships on Fri night 2 April (US date/time). @Equibase @raypaulick @TwinSpires
— Sky Racing World (@SkyRacingWorld) March 6, 2021
Results: https://t.co/LgCdnuPxKz pic.twitter.com/8VmuOyR8pj
After that performance, Mo'unga is now the favourite for the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas on Golden Slipper day, and is also prominent in the betting for the Group 1 Australian Derby on April 10th.
HAUT BRION HER
After an up-and-down spring carnival, Haut Brion Her looks very well-placed coming into autumn and could do her best work in the next six weeks.
It will start near the top of the market of The Galaxy on Golden Slipper Day, and looks a potential winner there before looking forward to the TJ Smith Stakes.
Haut Brion Her will again be prominent in the market for the Group 1 affair during The Championships at Randwick, and many astute judges with an eye for later in the carnival are tipping it as a winner.
In 12 career starts, the five-year old has claimed six victories and four placings - a very handy record - but will be stepping up in quality here.
It looked quality during a recent trial at Canterbury, and looks like it's in for a big preparation.
Haut Brion Her gets the nose down to beat @Clarken_Racing's Group 1 winner Bella Vella in a trial at Canterbury on Tuesday, Stolen Jade finishes in third. @tabcomau @cwallerracing @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/gmJM5xdOEw
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 22, 2021
She ran fifth in The Everest last year behind the likes of Classique Legend, Bivouac and Gytrash - some of the best sprinters in the world - and is certainly one horse to look out for over the shorter distances.
PROFITEER
The favourite for the Golden Slipper comes into the autumn carnival with a slight blip on its radar.
After dusting the competition with an emphatic win in the $2 million Inglis Millenium in February, it stormed into favouritism for the big race.
But jumping out at even money on March 6th at Randwick, it was run down in the final stages by outsider Anamoe.
That being said, it still looks a very good chance and its run in its only career loss to date was one that should still be keeping plenty of punters interested.
The Slipper is always a tough race to pick and a lottery betting-wise, but this two-year old looks mighty talented and will be fit and firing come March 20th (Now March 27th after the postponement due to weather).
CHERRY TORTONI
This fine young horse has been nominated for the both the Rosehill Guineas over 2000m and the Doncaster Mile over 1600m.
But funnily enough, it is the current equal-favourite for the Group 1 Australian Derby over 2400m and looks to be a horse crying out for that longer distance.
Cherry Tortoni has a solid career record to date, but hasn't had that breakout win at Group 1 level just yet.
In 10 career starts, he has won four times - once in a Group 2 affair - and the connections will want it to earn that G1 win in the coming weeks.
It's certainly one to keep an eye on this autumn.
