Carrington Stakes – 2022 tips, preview and runner by runner

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 14 runners for the $150,000 Carrington Stakes with four of them first-up from a spell and three that had their last start in the Listed Christmas Classic on 7 January. There are two mares and 12 geldings with 1 four-year-old, 6 five-year-olds, 3 six-year-olds and 4 seven-year-olds. Two runners are sired by Pins and two are sired by I Am Invincible. Chris Waller is the only trainer with two runners. The betting is very open but the early favourite is seven-year-old  Through The Cracks who resumed from over a year off the track for 3rd in the Christmas Classic and has won 3 out of 4 second-up. Second favouritsm is shared between Purple Sector who has run 2nd at both starts since resuming from a spell, and Prime Candidate who was the winner of the Christmas Classic last outing.

Holyfield is on a seven day back-up after a close 2nd in the Magic Millions Cup. Topweight Special Reward ran 2nd in the Christmas Classic after winning the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap. Steely has a good record at this distance and hasn’t started since 5.9 lengths 13th in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes.  Looks Like Elvis was 2nd in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes last outing, while Ziegfield resumes from a 17 week spell.  All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

1. Special Reward

This six-year-old Demerit gelding trained by Kris Lees has nine wins and five places from 28 starts. He chased hard to reach the front in the final stages for a 0.6 length win in the Listed Razor  Sharp Handicap over 1200m at Randwick on 11 December, then was held up from the 300-100m and kept chasing when clear for 1.2 lengths 2nd in the Listed Christmas Classic over 1200m at Canterbury on 7 January. Goes well at Randwick and is one of the main chances.

2. Purple Sector

One of two runners sired by Pins (the other is  No Compromise) this six-year-old gelding trained by John Thompson has been runner-up at both starts since resuming from a spell. He returned for 0.5 length 2nd in the December Handicap over 1400m at Randwick on 18 December with the best last 200m race sectional, then kept coming for 2nd to Kirwan’s Lane in the Maroubra Mile over 1550m at Kensington on 1 January. Won”t be far away.

3. Laure Me In

This seven-year-old Ad Valorem gelding trained by Matthew Dunn has had 41 starts which is more than any other runner. He has had eight wins, 11 2nd places and has never finished 3rd! Resumes from an 18 week spell after finishing 5th in the Wyong Cup then 9th in the Newcastle Gold Cup at the end of last preparation. Has placed in both trials. Not the worst.

4. Prime Candidate

Last start winner of the Christmas Classic over 1200m at Canterbury where he led from start to finish and gave nothing else a chance. This seven-year-old son of Denman trained by Bjorn Baker has genuine speed and has won over 1400m before. Jockey Jason Collett rode the winner of this race in 2016 and 2020. A winning chance.

5. Ziegfield

The most lightly raced runner with only 12 starts for three wins and four places. This five-year-old gelding trained by James Cummings has drawn the inside barrier. First up from a 17 week spell and prefer to watch him go round.

6. Looks Like Elvis

This seven-year-old gelding trained by Jarrod Austin has nine wins and 19 places from 53 starts and is in great form at the moment. He won by 2.25 lengths over 1400m at Pakenham on 1 January, then ran on strongly from well back in the field for 1.2 lengths 2nd in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes over 1400m at Flemington on 1 January. The outside barrier doesn’t help, but expect him to run well and is capable of getting into the money.

7. Steely

In 2014 Gerald Ryan trained Dances on Stars to win this race. This year he co-trains this five-year-old All Too Hard gelding in partnership with Sterling Alexiou. He won a BM 88 over 160m at Kembla Grange on 20 November, then was beaten in the latter stages for 5.9 lengths 13th in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on 11 December. Back from a 6 week let-up he has a good record at this distance.

8. Charmmebaby

This five-year-old Charm Spirit mare is having her first race for trainer Bob Milligan from Taree. She has eight wins and seven places from 28 starts. She was a 0.3 length winner of the Listed Brisbane Quality Handicap over 1640m at Doomben on a heavy track on 10 December, then ran on from a long way back in the field for 0.7 length 2nd in the Listed Bernborough Plate over 1600m at Doomben on 26 December. Could surprise.

9. True Detective

One of two runners for Chris Waller, this five-year-old Shamus Award gelding has five wins and ten places from 30 starts. Chris Waller won this race with Tom Melbourne in 2019 and jockey Tommy Berry won last year on Bandersnatch and also won in 2013. True Detective resumed after 17 weeks for a narrow win over 1200m at Rosehill on 8 January. He tends to go better at Rosehill than Randwick and is only a rough hope here.

10. Invinciano

This six-year-old mare is one of two runners sired by I Am Invincible (the other is  Holyfield). She is trained by Joseph Pride who won this race a decade ago with Rain Affair in 2012. Resumes after a 22 week and has not won first-up. Places hopes only.

11. Holyfield

The second runner sired by I Am Invincible and the youngest runner in the field. Trained by Annabel Neasham he is on a seven day back-up after a close 2nd in the Magic Millions Cup over 1400m. At the start before he was a 0.7 length winner over 1400m at Randwick. One of the main chances.

12. No Compromise

The second runner sired by Pins and one of the two runners for Chris Waller. He resumes from a 16 week spell after running 3rd in the Newcastle Gold Cup then 6th in The Metropolitan. Blinkers come off for the first time but he has never won over less than 2000m and that won’t make enough difference.

13. Through The Cracks

Resumed from over a year off the track for 3rd in the Christmas Classic and has won 3 out of 4 second-up. This seven-year-old trained by Angela Davies at Gosford can make his presence felt and should be in the finish.

14. Petronius

Was a narrow winner of a BM 78 at Kensington last start. Not here.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
4 Prime Candidate
1 Special Reward
11 Holyfield
13 Through The Cracks

Listed Elwick Stakes 2022 (Hobart 1100m) – Sunday