Australia: The Championships beckon world bettors Friday night

Australian racing’s equivalent of the Breeders’ Cup commences Friday night U.S. when day 1 of The Championships at Randwick showcases global Group 1 talent across a multitude of conditions and distances.

The Championships, which conclude next Friday night, feature US$13.4 million in purses. Sky Racing World’s Jason Witham and FanDuel TV’s Andrew “Dubbs” Anderson will be broadcasting live from Sydney’s Royal Randwick on FanDuel TV. The first post is at 9:10 p.m. EDT.

TJ Smith Stakes, race 7

The TJ Smith exemplifies Australia’s status as the world’s premier source of turf sprinters. Nature Strip (7-2), who crushed his rivals at Royal Ascot last summer, appears to be succumbing finally to the reality of aging. Yet after two subpar efforts this campaign, trainer Chris Waller is bullish that the 8-year-old has rebounded and is fully capable of a record fourth victory in this race.

The performance by Godolphin mare In Secret to win last month’s Newmarket Handicap (G1) rated so highly that connections of sixth-place finisher The Astrologist sent their horse to Dubai. The Astrologist, ignored in the wagering at 26-1, went within a head of upsetting the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) last Saturday at Meydan. There is no question that In Secret would have won comfortably, but she’s only the 5-1 third wagering choice for the TJ Smith.

The favorite Giga Kick (5-2) won October’s renewal of The Everest, the world’s richest race on turf, in just his fifth career start while still three days short of his actual third birthday. Giga Kick’s comeback race from a layoff was tremendous. He savaged the finish line from well off the pace in a five-furlong, Group 2 race March 3.

Giga Kick will have the services of Australia’s international riding star Zac Purton, who has spent the past decade dazzling racing fans in Hong Kong. Purton, 40, secured a release from Hong Kong to ride in the Sydney carnival this season, and he made an immediate impact by landing a Group 1 double on March 3.

Purton has enjoyed an epic Hong Kong rivalry with Brazilian João Moreira, holding a 5-4 edge in riding titles after outdueling Moreira on closing day last season. Moreira is in semi-retirement, but he rode on Dubai World Cup night and has joined Purton in Sydney for The Championships. Moreira rides 50-1 long shot Paulele in the TJ Smith.

Doncaster Mile, race 8

Friday night’s richest race is the US$2.67 million Doncaster Mile, a time-honored handicap dating to 1866. The Doncaster Mile features the delayed Australia debut of eight-time U.S. graded-stakes winner Going Global (40-1), the 5-year-old mare who was scratched last week at Rosehill Gardens.

Going Global was withdrawn from the Emancipation Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares after drawing an extremely wide post. While faring much better in the Doncaster draw, her 19 opponents include numerous top-quality males.

Early favorite Mr Brightside (9-2) is the defending Doncaster winner and will be another first-time ride for the in-demand Purton.

Moreira rides Fangirl (6-1) for champion trainer Chris Waller. A high-class mare, Fangirl has three straight minor placings behind Australia’s best horse Anamoe.

Waller also prepares 3-year-old filly Zougotcha (7-1), a Group 1 winner at the Randwick Mile last October.

Alligator Blood (10-1), whose popularity borders on a cult following, is 5-for-10 in Group 1 races.

The Doncaster Mile’s handicap conditions make Protagonist (9-1) the horse to beat. With solid but non-stakes form in England, the William Haggas-trainee has snuck under the radar of the racing secretary. Protagonist will carry only 110 pounds vs. high weight Alligator Blood’s 126.

Protagonist won a Group 3 at 1 1/4 miles in his Australia debut, beating impressive subsequent winner Zeyrek. His biggest obstacle is cutting back to something less than his typical distance range. While Protagonist’s England form lacks group status, his last race there yielded a second-place finish to Algiers, runner-up last Saturday in the Dubai World Cup.

Australian Derby, race 9

The Australian Derby (G1) looks to be at the mercy of ace New Zealand shipper Sharp ’n’ Smart, who boasts Group 1 wins on each sides of the Tasman Sea. Sharp ’n’ Smart already is lurking near the top of futures markets for November’s Melbourne Cup (G1) He won the October running of the Spring Champion Stakes (G1) at Randwick and showed he’s right on song with a last-start victory in the New Zealand Derby (G1) at the same 1 1/2-mile journey as Friday night’s assignment.

Bookmakers eased his odds fractionally to 5-2 after Smart ’n’ Sharp drew a horrendous post position. However, the tough, New Zealand gelding has overcome wide trips previously, including in the Spring Champion when ridden by Hugh Bowman of Winx fame. Bowman again is entrusted with the navigational duties Friday night.

Friday undercard

Golden Slipper (G1) runner-up Cylinder headlines the Sires Produce, race 6 on the Randwick card. Two weeks after finishing second as the favorite in the world’s richest 2-year-old race, the Godolphin colt (6-5) will aim to go one better while rising from six to seven furlongs.

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael’s vast U.S. experience includes Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders’ Cup on the international simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a “Seinfeld” episode called “The Subway.”

Horse Racing Nation’s coverage of Australia racing is made possible via a sponsorship by Sky Racing World.