Entirely Platinum will have to overcome history to claim victory in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The progressive Team Hawks-trained runner opened a very short $2.60 for the race and whilst he has shown plenty of ability in his short career, does he warrant the short price in a quality Group 2 event?
Since 1993 (not run in 2007) every winner of the Chelmsford has come out of a Stakes Race the start prior, with 15 of the past 20 winners (75%) having come through the Warwick Stakes, including the last seven.
Entirely Platinum resumed with a win in the Canterbury Hurlstone Open Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill last start and makes a big step up in class on Saturday.
Entirely Platinum returned a Timeform figure of 112p on that occasion with the average winner of the Chelmsford returning a figure of 120 over the past 20 years (122 in the past five years), leaving a bit of ground for the five-year-old to make up.
Last years winner Hawkspur, who returned a figure of 123 made significant improvement off his first up run in the Warwick Stakes (113) however there are some glaring differences with that of Entirely Platinum.
Hawkspur, in the preparation prior took out the Group 1 Queensland Derby and at the time was a year younger than Entirely Platinum, leaving him open to significant improvement.
There is no denying Entirely Platinum is a very talented horse going in the right direction and with the stable in very good form of late is certainly not without hope.
With limited speed in the race, the son of Pentire looks on paper to be the only leader and he could use this to his advantage as Tiger Tees did in the Warwick Stakes two weeks ago.
Chris Waller who has taken out the last two renewals will once again have a strong hand accepting with six of the nine runners lining up which includes Group 1 winners Sacred Falls, Royal Descent and Hawkspur.
There are four runners in the race coming out of the Warwick Stakes being Criterion, Sacred Falls, Royal Descent and Hawkspur with seven of the nine runners second up from a spell, 12 of the past 20 Chelmsford winner having been second up.
Entirely Platinum interestingly holds current favouritism for the race at $2.70 but it is hard to see him jumping that short or possibly even favourite come Saturday, only time will tell.
