Verry Elleegant looking to go back-to-back in the Chipping Norton as nominations come in for what is set to be a thrilling day at Randwick.
With the Autumn carnival rapidly drawing nearer, Saturday's Chipping Norton Stakes Day at Randwick actions as an exciting prolusion for what is around the corner, as six Group races fill the 10-race card.
Often described as creatures of habit, champion trainer Chris Waller looks to endeavour on an identical pathway for a third consecutive year, after nominating mighty mare Verry Elleegant to defend her crown in Saturday's Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Finishing midfield upon resumption in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), the Melbourne Cup winner has gone up a narrow second favourite in early betting behind tremendously consistent gelding and Apollo Stakes victor Think It Over.
Godolphin duo Cascadian and Colette have also been nominated for Saturday's main event and will be eager to atone their slender first-up defeats.
Having only been seen once on Australian shores when running third in last year's edition of The Hunter, Annabel Neasham's Irish import Top Ranked has also been nominated to return.
Also nominated for resumption is three-time Group 1 winner Montefilia. The talented mare will be hoping to replicate a similar level of success this time in, after completing a Spring campaign that involved taking out the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) and a concluding fourth placed finish in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
In what shapes as an enticing rematch, Waller has nominated extremely promising fillies Espiona and Fangirl to take their place in Saturday's other Group 1 feature the Surround Stakes (1400m).
With another 39 three-year-old fillies occupying the nominations for the race, other intriguing prospects include eye-catching first-up winner Argentia, Light Fingers placegetter Jamaea, and returning Group 1 winner Never Been Kissed.
As for the three Group 2 contests, Brad Widdup's stable superstar Icebath headlines the nominees in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m), 2YO Magic Millions victor Coolangatta dominates early markets in the two-year-old fillies Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), while the undefeated Jemeldi spearheads the nominations for the two-year-old colts and geldings in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
As for the Group 3 Liverpool Cup (1300m), the John O'Shea-trained Quantico could return and will be looking to pick up where he left off, after closing last campaign with a hat-trick raising victory in the Security Sprint at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
With a substantial amount of rain forecast for the remainder of the week in Sydney, the Randwick surface is currently rated a Good 3 with the rail in its true position.
