Want to know where your favourite horse is headed in the Autumn Carnival? Whether you want to know for betting on the futures or you’re just curious, this is the article for you. This will be an article that is LIVE and constantly edited and updated whenever news breaks of where the country’s best horses are headed.
Anamoe
The Godolphin camp has confirmed that Anamoe is staying down under instead of travelling overseas. The 2000M Queen Elizabeth is the grand final during the Championships at Randwick They have also chose to go the traditional route into the race that was used for great success by the likes of Winx and Verry Elleegant with a first-up run in the 1400M Apollo Stakes. This is then followed by runs in the 1600M Chipping Norton Stakes and most likely a trip to the 2000M Ranvet Stakes.
NATURE STRIP
After a faltering Spring Prep that promised the world and didn’t deliver questions were raised on the future of the World’s Best Sprinter. But as always, he won’t be going down without a fight and will look to go out on his own terms. The usual 1000M Black Caviar Lightning Stakes into a 1200M TJ Smith Stakes awaits the big boy. If he wins, he’ll break the record jointly held by himself and Chautauqua for 3 TJ Smiths. After that, the question will be where to next. The answer is 1 of 3 options – retirement, back to Ascot again or a final crack at The Everest to try and join Redzel as a 2-time winner.
Gold Trip
The 2022 Melbourne Cup winner has no plans of slowing down with a stacked Autumn prep ahead of him. His confirmed target races are the 2400M Tancred Stakes as well as the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Our suspicion is that he’ll run first up in either the 1600M Chipping Norton Stakes or an equivalent race of listed quality.
Lost and Running
Plans have changed for what many people claim is the uncrowned Everest champion, as he will skip the 1300M Canterbury Stakes and have his first-up run in the 1100M The Galaxy. The grand final will then be the 1200M TJ Smith Stakes, where Hugh Bowman is expected to fly back from Hong Kong to ride.
Jacquinot
The Melbourne raider absolutely blitzed the field in the Golden Rose and showed the Sydney horses how it is done. However, his talents are set to be kept almost exclusively to Melbourne in Autumn. The 1400M CF Orr Stakes and the 1400M Futurity Stakes are two races we will likely see him in, from there the trainers plan to play it by ear.
She’s Extreme
Arguably the best young filly in the country right now She’s Extreme is looking to build on her 2 Group 1 wins already and launch into a prep that will see her race against the best. Completely bypassing the 3YO exclusive race seen that is so common for types such as herself, she is set to target the 1500M Coolmore Classic, the 2000M Vinery Stud Stakes and most surprisingly of all, the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Let’s see if she can hack it.
AFT CABIN
The Godolphin camp have confirmed that Aft Cabin is back in work and running strong after some health issues cost it a chance at running in the big Group 1’s in Spring. As long as he can stay healthy, the 1600M Randwick Guineas and 2000M Rosehill Guineas will be the most likely game plan, much like Anamoe’s 2022 Autumn Prep.
IN SECRET
In Secret announced herself as one of the most promising young sprinters in the game in Spring and will look to continue that form in Autumn. She is set to be kept mostly to the Victorian Sprint circuit, with the 1000M Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and 1200M Newmarket Handicap being her two highlight targets down the Flemington Straight.
INCENTIVISE
The boom Toowoomba maiden loser turned Melbourne Cup runner-up hasn’t been seen since the 2021 Edition of The Cup, so fans will be lining up to see the big return of Incentivise. Plans aren’t set in stone and he needs to reach full fitness before any decisions are made, but the Moody camp has hinted at possible targets such as the 1600M All-Star Mile and the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Nonconformist
Grahame Begg has outlined his plans for his star and the plan is pretty straight to the Point. The 2000M Australia Cup is his grand final and they will stick to the traditional lead-up races for it. This means we will also most likely see him line up in the new 2000M Australia Cup Prelude race.
Ellsberg
Ellsberg has unfortunately sustained a career-ending injury.
Mr Brightside
The main target for the Hayes star horse will be the 1600M All-Star Mile. On the way they will probably target him at any combination of the 1400 CF Orr Stakes, 1600M Blamey Stakes and 1600M Futurity Stakes to warm him up for the big money mile at Caulfield. After the big Grand Final comes, the camp will see how he pulls up and then potentially head to either the 2000M Australia Cup, the 1600M Doncaster Mile or the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Private Eye
After a very impressive Spring Carnival where the G1 winner over the mile turned into one of the most prolific sprinters in the country, the Pride star Private Eye is set to be quite busy in Autumn as well. First up in the 1200M Newmarket Handicap is the plan with targets such as the 1400M All-Aged Stakes and 1200M TJ Smith Stakes to come after.
Durston
The 2022 Caulfield Cup winner is expected to continue targeting the top echelon of staying races in the country in preparation to have yet another crack at the Spring Cups in 2023. The 2400M Tancred Stakes will be the target according to trainer Chris Waller.
El Bodegon
Continuing on with Chris Waller and his star-studded stable, plans have also been revealed for import El Bodegon who was very impressive finishing 3rd in the 2022 Cox Plate. His grand final will be the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes. According to Waller, this was always the big target race and the reason they brought the horse to Australia. If Waller’s QE Stakes campaigns have revealed anything, this probably means warm-up runs in races such as the 1600M Chipping Norton Stakes and the 2000M Ranvet Stakes, but that’s just our theory.
I am Me
The boom Maher and Eustace mare that has dominated the Summer carnival is headed for Group 1 territory in the Autumn. She will potentially have a couple of runs in Sydney or have Victoria exclusive campaign with the 1100M Oakleigh Plate and 1200M Newmarket Handicap outlined as her Grand Final races. If you ask us, she’ll be a real danger throughout the carnival, could go as far as calling her a smoky for an Everest slot perhaps?
Artorius
After his trip to Europe, Artorius will be remaining in Australia for the Autumn and has a specific race in mind. The Freedman camp has confirmed that the Group 1 1400M Futurity Stakes will be the target and then they will take a race-by-race approach afterwards.
I’m Thunderstruck
The Price and Kent Jr star has entered the race for the title of QE Stakes Champion as the camp has announced that the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the grand final. He will run first up in the 1400M CF Orr Stakes before heading the 1400M Futurity Stakes. The final stop before the QE is the 1600M All-Star Mile.
I WISH I WIN
The Golden Eagle winner is expected to have a different prep than his Spring campaign. The 1600M All Star Mile has been completely ruled out by the Moody camp, with a focus on the Flemington Sprints. He joins the long list of sprinters who will be running first up in the 1000M Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and then heading to the 1200M Newmarket Handicap. From there, other options have been floated such as the 1500M George Ryder Stakes, 1600M Doncaster Mile or even the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
JOYFUL FORTUNE
The ex-Hong Kong turned Everest calibre sprinter will be targeted at the 1000M Black Caviar Lightning Stakes first up and from there the prep will be played on a race-by-race basis.
ALENQUER
The boom European import that will be trained by Mike Moroney has 2 big races in mind this Autumn. That being the 1600M All-Star Mile and 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes. After winning some stacked Group races throughout Europe, he will certainly be a big watch to see if he can compete with the best in Australia.
Alligator Blood
With all the controversy that constantly surrounds this star from the Waterhouse and Bott camp, a clear Autumn game plan took a while to be revealed. We already knew his grand final would be the 1600M All-Star Mile, the training duo were always clear on that and jockey Tim Clark indicated it to us in his ‘Off The Track’ interview. But we have finally been told where the Blood will be running first-up and that will be the 1400M Futurity Stakes in a month’s time. It is unconfirmed, but we can only imagine a 1600M Blamely Stakes run would possibly be on the agenda as well.
Dubai Honour
One of 4 William Haggas horses coming to Australia to race in the Autumn Carnival. He has won multiple Group 2 and placed in a Group 1 in Europe. The word on the street is his target will be the 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes and he will run first up in the 2000M Ranvet Stakes.
Eduardo
The Pride camp’s star sprinter has finally had his plans outlined for the Spring. No Flemington straight for him as he completely bypasses the Melbourne Sprints to race first up in the 1000M Challenge Stakes. He will then run in the 1100M The Galaxy before joining the already stacked field of horses targeting the 1200M TJ Smith Stakes as their grand final.
Giga Kick
No Flemington sprints for Giga Kick either, as the Everest champion is looking to make Randwick his base of operations this prep with a very short 2-run prep. The 1000M Challenge Stakes will be where he resumes most likely and if he pulls up well he will be joining the 1200M TJ Smith Stakes field. After this, he will be given a short let-up before heading to Brisbane in the Winter.
Icebath
Brad Widdup’s star mare who finally got herself a G1 victory last Spring is expected to have quite the busy prep. The 1400M Apollo Stakes will be where she resumes, with stops at the 1500M Coolmore Classic and/or 1600M All Star Mile expected before a grand final in the 1600M Doncaster Mile.
Golden Mile
After a second placing in the Expressway Stakes, the Godolphin star is expected to have a similar Autumn prep to stablemate Anamoe when he went down the path of the Guineas in 2022. The 1600M Randwick Guineas or 1600M Australian Guineas will be one of the major stepping stones along the way to a hopeful star in the 1600M Doncaster Mile.
Nugget
This Maher and Eustace horse took the late Spring and early Summer carnivals by storm, winning wherever he went and now he is ready to try and prove himself at Group 1 level. Reportedly, the 1400M CF Orr Stakes and 1400M Futurity Stakes are both on the agenda before a potential 1600M Doncaster Mile start considering both how he pulls up and if he runs well enough to get a start.
Zaaki
For a while now we know that the 1600M All Star Mile and 2000M Queen Elizabeth Stakes were the potential 1-2 punch for the Neasham camp, we just needed to know where he was resuming. Reportedly, that resumption will come in the 1300M Canterbury Stakes.
Purpleplay
Another one of William Haggas’ European stars coming with him, the young filly is set to run first up in the 1500M Coolmore Classic, before attempting to win the 1600M Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Earl Of Tyrone
Another Haggas horse that was actually purchased by Australian Bloodstock, so It very may well be staying in Australia come to the end of the carnival. He is a 5YO Gelding that prefers staying races. As such, his first run will most likely come in the 2400M Tancred Strakes, before heading to the 3200M Sydney Cup as his grand final.
Protagonist
The final Haggas horse coming this Autumn, the 6YO stayer will run in the 2000M Sky High Stakes and after that, trainer Haggas claims the prep will be taken on a run-by-run basis, depending on how he pulls up after each start.