Revenge of the Bulls on the cards in G1 TJ Smith

A re-match of substantial proportions is on offer in Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith Stakes when Osborne Bulls attempts to settle the score with more than one of his rivals.

The first target in the sights of Godolphin’s brilliant sprinter is the filly Sunlight who relegated him into second place in Australia’s best sprint, the G1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington last month.

The second is Redzel, the winner of the $13 million The Everest at Randwick last spring, a race in which Osborne Bulls announced himself by finishing third as the outsider of the field.

One of the most talented residents of Godolphin’s Australian stables, Osborne Bulls (Hugh Bowman) comes to his latest assignment in perfect order, on a track he loves and with plenty of incentive.

He will need it all against the best sprinters in training, but trainer James Cummings is relishing the contest. 

“Osborne Bulls has been quietly burning along since his storming effort to grab second in the Newmarket,” Cummings said.

“He was OK last week in a quiet trial, but it will be interesting to see him back at Randwick for the first time since The Everest."

“It’s also his first run back on a circle track after racing down the straight at Flemington at his past three starts.”

“He will have the highest calibre of sprinters from all over the land in his sights, but we’re looking forward to seeing him produce that lethal finish.”

Osborne Bulls hasn’t raced since the Newmarket where he suffered interference at the start and got buried in the ruck until the 200m.

On the other hand, the Newmarket winner Sunlight has repeated her success with a scintillating victory in the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.

While Redzel is always a presence, so is Trapeze Artist who bounced back to form last start with victory in the G1 Canterbury Stakes and Santa Ana Lane, the winner of four G1s and the G2 Premiere Stakes over the Randwick 1,200m, is another high-class contender.

Godolphin’s Randwick representation also includes the fillies Multaja and Laburnum who run in the G3 PJ Bell Stakes, a race Cummings sees as a golden opportunity to earn black type, Ranier who is looking to rediscover his good form of last year in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes and Rock Dove who steps up to a suitable trip in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes.