2018 Sky High Stakes Results: Winner Auvray Sydney Cup Chance

March 17, 2018

2018 Sky High Stakes Results: Winner Auvray Sydney Cup Chance

The now Richard Freedman-trained French import Auvray put his name in Sydney Cup contention with a barnstorming late win in the Sky High Stakes 2018 at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Auvray

The 2018 Sydney Cup could be calling for in-form Sky High Stakes winner Auvray. Photo: Steve Hart.

With proven winning form back in Europe up to 3000m, the two miles of the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 14 could now prove an attractive Grand Final autumn racing option for the in-form seven-year-old.

Retirement was looming for the veteran Le Harve gelding before he was transferred from the Darren Weir stables in Victoria to Freedman in Sydney.

On Coolmore Classic Day the stayer showed just how much he had improved saluting in the lucrative Group 3 $350,000 Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) for his first win since the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at the same track last September.

Auvray was given a patient and well-timed ride by Glyn Schofield who rode the horse back in the field off the speed, cuddled him up approaching the turn before letting him go over the closing stages.

“Richard’s done a fantastic job with him,” Schofield said post-win.

“He has turned his whole career around.

“He’s in really great shape and great form.”

Too good late, Auvray ($9.50) stole the show racing right over the top of his front-running rivals coming down the outside with a big sprint to defeat the Chris Waller-trained duo of Libran ($3.40) and Mackintosh ($7) in the Sky High Stakes trifecta.

“He peeled around them, hit the front halfway down the straight and was too strong,” Schofield added.

Libran was the well-backed favourite in Sky High Stakes betting second-up off the fourth to star stablemate Winx in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).

The top fancy was settled into a nice position fourth the fence as Stampede led the field around, while eventual third placegetter Mackintosh was trailing last at the 600m.

On the home straight, jockey Brenton Avdulla hunted for the inside run on Libran and he went to the inside making it a battle with Stampede before Auvray came with the winning late move.

The next-up options for Auvray include the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m) Saturday week back at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day or the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick on April 7 into the Sydney Cup field a week later.

Before his Sky High Stakes win, Auvray was at $51 in pre-field Sydney Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au but has since been slashed into $13.

To back Auvray next race and to access the best all-in Sydney Cup odds online visit Ladbrokes.com.au.

2018 Sky High Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 2 – 17/03/2018

Place # Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Br. Weight SP
1 5 AUVRAY (FR) Richard Freedman Glyn Schofield 4 55.5kg $9
2 2 LIBRAN (IRE) Chris Waller Brenton Avdulla 1.3L 2 56.5kg $3.40F
3 3 MACKINTOSH (NZ) Chris Waller Tye Angland 1.4L 9 56.5kg $7
4 9 SALSAMOR (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Kerrin McEvoy 1.9L 6 55kg $7
5 6 STAMPEDE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 2L 7 55.5kg $3.90
6 8 GET ON THE GRANGE Allan Kehoe Blaike McDougall (a) 2.6L 5 55kg $15
7 1 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) Chris Waller Blake Shinn 2.9L 1 56.5kg $10
8 4 LASQUETI SPIRIT Lee Curtis Jay Ford 3.6L 3 56kg $51
9 7 MORE ENERGY Jason Coyle Ms Jess Taylor 10.1L 8 55kg $41

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off