The Championships Day 2 Preview

The absence of the brilliant Winx has deprived The Championships of a great drawcard on the second day, but it has made the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes an extremely open race, and still a high class field worthy of the A$4m prizemoney has been attracted.

Randwick at Easter - both before and after - is notoriously rain-affected, and it seems trainer Chris Waller and regular jockey Hugh Bowman both felt that backing up Winx on Heavy ground only one week after her fine victory in the G1 Doncaster Mile was tempting fate.

They want her to attempt a second G1 Cox Plate triumph in Melbourne in the Spring, as do all serious racing fans. Waller's decision was taken mindful of the fact the Street Cry mare had never previously run in two races so close together - nor had the level of competition been so consistently fierce.

There will be another day for Winx.

Godolphin's policy of searching for horses capable of stepping up to G1s has never wavered. No sooner had Contributer (retired) and Hartnell (injured) dropped out of the picture than Hauraki was putting his case to become a flagship horse.

James McDonald will have to call on all his tactical skills to get Hauraki a handy early position from barrier 14, but the four-year-old might well be equal to the task. He was runner-up in an Australian Derby and, crucially, he has been effective on rain-softened ground.

His last start second to The United States in the G1 Ranvet Stakes was promising, and as the latter heads the market, he should not be far away at the finish. Criterion, third in that Ranvet, will be having his final start.

Hauraki's stablemate It's Somewhat, to be ridden by Sam Clipperton, also starts relatively wide (11), but one noteworthy piece of form to flag up was his third in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park (UK). He should not be underestimated.

One other worthy of mention is Preferment, a Victoria Derby winner capable of mixing it with the best, though the ground is not going to be to his liking.

Godolphin are represented by Ambience in the G1 Australian Oaks on an outstanding card that boasts a total of four Group Ones. This high class filly won the G2 Wakeful Stakes before finishing 3rd in the G1 VRC Oaks, both at Flemington. She has Jameka and the New Zealand filly Valley Girl as the ones to beat.

Libran has strong claims in the G1 Sydney Club, while Azkadellia looks the pick in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

Crowd figures are important to racing officials, and the attendance details will be scrutinised from all angles. The turnout last week for The Championships Day 1, were below projections.