Silent Achiever: looking to become the second successive filly to win
PICTURE: Getty ImagesAJC Derby headlines top Sydney card on ATR
Preview: Australia, Saturday 6.35am BST (live on ATR)
Randwick: David Jones Australian Derby (Group 1) 1m4f, turf, 3yo
LASER HAWK and Silent Achiever are the central figures as Australia's senior Classic, the AJC Derby, headlines a magnificent card at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.
Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk (Gai Waterhouse/Nash Rawiller), a gelded son of Artie Schiller, must overcome a double-figure draw in the A$1.5m (£977,000) event, where he starts from gate 11 of 13.
New Zealand Derby winner Silent Achiever (Roger James/Hugh Bowman) is looking to emulate fellow filly Shamrocker, who the Classic in 2011. Although she was only third at Rosehill, she lost ground at the start and raced wide.
Other leading fancies include surprise Victoria Derby winner Sangster (Trent Busuttin/Jim Cassidy), Rosehill Guineas runner-up Ocean Park (G Hennessy/Glen Boss) and last weekend's Tulloch Stakes winner Polish Knight (Team Hawkes/Dwayne Dunn).
Also on Saturday
Randwick: TJ Smith Stakes (Group 1) 6f, turf, 3yo+ (4.40am BST, live on ATR)
Trainer Joe Pride has no qualms nominating Rain Affair (Corey Brown) as his prime contender for this A$1m (£650,000) contest in front of stablemate Neeson (Michael Rodd).
"Rain Affair would have to run below his best for Neeson to beat him," Pride said, speaking to AAP Racing. "Nothing went his way last start and he still had the tenacity to fight them off.
"Neeson is a very good horse in his own right and over this distance. But all things being equal Rain Affair is the best for the stable."
They might both have a problem with Royal Ascot possible Foxwedge (John O'Shea/Nash Rawiller), who beat Hay List last time out in the William Reid Stakes.
Randwick: Sires' Produce Stakes (Group 1) 7f, turf, 2yo (5.15am BST, live on ATR)
Black Caviar's younger half-brother All Too Hard (Team Hawkes/Dwayne Dunn) gets a shot at Group 1 success, having bypassed last weekend's Golden Slipper to wait for this.
The unbeaten colt's six rivals are headed by Slipper winner Pierro (Gai Waterhouse/Nash Rawiller), also undefeated.
Randwick: Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) 6f, turf, 3yo+ f/m (5.55am BST, live on ATR)
A Sydney debut for Coolmore's Atlantic Jewel (Mark Kavanagh/Michael Rodd), last seen slamming Group 2 rivals in a seven-length romp at Flemington on Victoria Derby day.
Unbeaten in five starts, the daughter of Fastnet Rock also beat Mosheen by three lengths in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield - and her victim has subsequently returned to dominate the three-year-old middle-distance races, claiming the Australian and Randwick Guineas and the Vinery Stud Stakes this campaign.
Although she is an odds-on shot, this might represent her toughest test yet over a trip short of her best against a 14-strong field featuring several high-class older fillies and mares as she reappears after more than five months on the sidelines with a back problem.
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