Villiers Stakes – 2021 tips, preview and runner by runner

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

With the early scratching of Lightning Jack, a full field of 20 runners remain for the $750,000 Villiers Stakes as the emergency will get a run. Five of the runners had their last start in the Group 3 Festival Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill two weeks ago, four runners had their last start in The Gong over 1600m at Kembla Grange three weeks ago, two in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes over 1400m two weeks ago, two in a BM 88 Handicap over 1600m at Kembla Grange three weeks ago while the other seven all came through different races.

There are 17 geldings, one stallion, one mare and one colt with one three-year-old, three four-year-olds, eight five-year-olds, five six-year-olds, one seven-year-olds and two eight-year-olds. Trainer Chris Waller has three runners, while Peter & Paul Snowden, James Cummings, Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou and Joseph Pride all have two runners

The betting is fairly open and the early favourite is Festival Stakes winner Ellsberg who has won two from four races this campaign. Second favourite is stablemate  Steely who won his last race over 1600m at Kembla Grange. Third favourite is Brutality who is on a seven day back-up and likes the cut in the ground.

Bandersnatch was 3rd in the Festival Stakes and is proven on softer tracks, while Stockman finished 2nd in that race but has drawn wide. Criaderas should run fitter for two previous outings. I Am Superman was narrowly beaten as a favourite last start in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield, while Kirwan’s Lane has had a five week let-up since his run in the Goulburn Cup.  All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

1. Bandersnatch

This five-year-old Casino Prince gelding is ideally drawn in barrier 1 and is trained by Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes who won this race with Ninth Legion in 2013. He has great form at Randwick with two wins and three places from six starts here.  He was 3rd in the Festival Stakes last start and is proven on softer tracks. One of the chances.

2. Gem Song

This six-year-old Your Song gelding is trained by Kris Lees who won this race with Sense Of Occasion in 2016. Jockey Jason Collett won aboard Crack Me Up in 2017. Has had two starts since resuming from  33 week spell for 7th in The Hunter and 7th in the Festival Stakes. Will be fitter for those two runs.

3. I Am Superman

One of two runners for Peter & Paul Snowden, this six-year-old Footstepsinthesand gelding was narrowly beaten when favourite in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes last start at Caulfield. He has not won or placed in three outings to Randwick before and I don’t expect that to change here.

4. So Si Bon

This eight-year-old So You think gelding trained by Ben & JD Hayes has had 71 races which is far more than any of the other runners. He finished 0.7 length 3rd in the Cranbourne Cup on heavy going then was 1.1 lengths 6th in the G3 Eclipse Stakes over 1800m. Comes back in distance but has drawn wide in barrier 19. Jockey Hugh Bowman won this race on Monton in 2011. Not the worst.

5. Ranier

One of two runners for James Cummings this six-year-old Lonhro gelding has had two runs back from a spell for 5th in the Group 3 Chatham Stakes then 7th in the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes. Should be fitter for those two runs. Jockey Glyn Schofield won this race on All Legal in 2012.

6. Ellsberg

One of two runners for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou. Gerald Ryan trained Dances On Waves to win this race in 2010. This four-year-old Spill The Beans stallion has won two from four races this campaign including the G3 Festival Stakes on heavy going last start where he beat four other runners that are in this race. One of the main chnaces.

7. Order Again

One of three runners for Chris Waller who won this race with Honor In War in 2007. He has finished in the back half of the field at his last three starts but is a proven mud-runner and is a rough chance here.

8. Stockman

One of two runners for Joseph Pride. This five-year-old Tavistock gelding has six wins and nine places from 24 starts and finished 2nd in the Festival Stakes last start. He has drawn wide in barrier 16 but is still a place chance.

9. Attorney

This seven-year-old Makfi gelding trained by Matthew Smith has five wins and two places from 20 starts. He is unplaced in all four runs this preparation. Looking to others.

10. Reloaded

One of the three runners for Chris Waller, this five-year-old Snitzel gelding has finished worse than midfield at his last two starts and has drawn the outside barrier. Looking to others.

11. Fun Fact

Bjorn Baker trains this six-year-old. He has finished last in the ATC St Leger Stakes then the G3 Hotham Handicap, but has won a recent trial at Warwick Farm. My money won’t be on him.

12. Lightning Jack  – SCRATCHED

13. Yamazaki

The only mare in the race, this six-year-old is trained by Matthew Dunn. She chased hard for 3rd in The Gong last start and could place.

14. Criaderas

One of the two runners for James Cummings, this five-year-old gelding finished 3rd in this race last year. He resumed from a long spell for 5th in the Filante Handicap then came from well back for 4 lengths 8th in The Gong. Should run fitter for two previous outings and will be ridden by Rachel King who has won the last two editions of this race, with Quackerjack in 2019 and Greysful Glamour in 2020.

15. Steely

One of the two runners for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou, this five-year-old All Too Hard gelding has won eight of his 20 starts. He won his last race over 1600m at Kembla Grange and should be in the finish.

16. Exoboom

One of the two runners for Peter & Paul Snowden, this four-year-old Exosphere gelding has not won beyond 1500m. A rough place chance.

17. Brutality

One of the two runners for Joe Pride this five-year-old Shamus Award gelding is on a seven day back-up and likes the cut in the ground. Has been consistent without winning this campaign . Could place.

18. Grove Ferry

This five-year-old Excelebration gelding has improved with each run this preparation and finished 1.6 lengths 3rd in the ATC Cup over 2000m last start. Could surprise.

19. Kirwan’s Lane

has had a five week let-up since his run in the Goulburn Cup.

20. Wheelhouse

One of the three runners for Chris Waller he has drawn barrier 20, next to one of his stablemates. Will find it hard from there.

21. Lease – 1st Emergency

This three-year-old Choisir colt was first emergency and will get a run as Lightning Jack is scratched. He is the baby of the field and is trained by Anthony Cummings who won this race with Sky Boy in 2018. Hasn’t finished further back than 4th at his last seven races and could show up.

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

Jo’s Tips
15 Steely
6 Ellsberg
17 Brutality
8 Stockman

Listed Kensington Stakes 2021 (Flemington 1000m)