Flying Cambridge-based New Zealand trainer Murray Baker is out in force again on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ including saddling-up Saracino in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint 2017 field at Randwick Racecourse.

Kiwi raider Saracino represents in-form trainer Murray Baker in Saturday’s Arrowfield Sprint 2017 Field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Last Saturday Baker and co-trainer Andrew Forsman won the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in an upset with Jon Snow.
This Saturday they returning and have the favourite in the Group 1 Australian Oaks field Bonneval as well as a livewire hope for Randwick Race 5 at 1:55pm (AEST) – the $600,000 Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m).
This season’s Arrowfield 3YO Sprint field features a dozen young hopefuls including the Kiwi raider Saracino in gate eight with Damien Oliver to ride.
He comes off a last start win in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) on March 18 and drops in distance for his first run down under since his dead last at Flemington running eighth to Flying Artie in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) in the spring.
The only other last start winner in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is the lightly-raced Tribal Wisdom for Michael Moroney coming off the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) success on March 31.
That was just the third career run of the Makfi gelding who jumps from barrier three this weekend racing at Randwick for the first time over a distance he has won both starts to date over.
Godolphin’s John O’Shea saddles-up Lonhro colt Impending from barrier seven with James Doyle to ride.
Impending chases his first win since the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last September and comes off a third to Jungle Edge in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
Returning to racing for the first time since September is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Defcon who has trialled twice ahead of his return including a Rosehill win on March 30.
Other notable hopes for the lucrative Group 2 sprint for three-year-olds include the Les Bridge-trained improver Glenall coming off the brave fourth in the Group 1 the Galaxy (1100m) in the mud and Global Glamour.
Gai Waterhouse’s Star Witness filly Global Glamour took out the Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas double over the mile last season.
She was in good form early in the autumn, but is out to atone for her eleventh from a wide alley (16 of 19) in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 11.
Dropping in distance, Global Glamour could bounce back after blitzing a 1030m trial late last month.
The other filly in the mix taking on the boys in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint this year is the Garry Frazer-trained daughter of Hinchinbrook Spright whose latest win was at Flemington last Melbourne Cup Carnival.
See below for the full Arrowfield 3YO Sprint 2017 field, barriers and jockeys with markets to open shortly at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Final Field & Barrier Draw
Randwick Race 5 (1:55pm) – 08/04/2017
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11568×4381 | SARACINO (NZ) | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damien Oliver | 8 | 56.5kg | 100 |
2 | 3x3314x643 | IMPENDING | John O’Shea | James Doyle | 7 | 56.5kg | 98 |
3 | 2210x18x | DEFCON | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 12 | 56.5kg | 85 |
4 | 12037×4318 | DERRYN | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 11 | 56.5kg | 84 |
5 | 1×224 | GLENALL | Les Bridge | Tim Clark | 6 | 56.5kg | 82 |
6 | 24×11113 | TACTICAL ADVANTAGE | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 56.5kg | 80 |
7 | 13x68x212 | CRAFTY COP | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | TBA | 1 | 56.5kg | 80 |
8 | 171 | TRIBAL WISDOM | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 3 | 56.5kg | 77 |
9 | 1×1248 | INTO ORBIT | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | TBA | 5 | 56.5kg | 72 |
10 | 3x233322x6 | STAR OF MONSOON | Gerald Ryan | Joshua Parr | 2 | 56.5kg | 69 |
11 | 3611×92130 | GLOBAL GLAMOUR | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 54.5kg | 105 |
12 | 323x111x38 | SPRIGHT | Garry Frazer | Corey Brown | 10 | 54.5kg | 87 |