No filly has ever won the G1 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion S. at Randwick yet it is the David Vandyke trained distaff Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}) who is favourite to achieve such a feat on Saturday. The 3-year-old is bidding for her second Group 1 win having secured the G1 Inglis Sires' at Randwick in April. She was beaten half a length into second by Global Glamour (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) in the G1 Sydney Airport Flight S. at Randwick just last Saturday so Vandyke has obviously been pleased with her condition in the interim. In fact he is even looking beyond the Spring Champion with Yankee Rose as he commented, “If she wins on Saturday we go to the [G1] Cox Plate.” Chris Waller is going for back to back wins in the race following the success of Vanbrugh (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}) last year and he relies on the trio of Veladero (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), High Mist (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Tumultuous (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Veladero won the G3 Schweppes Gloaming S. at Rosehill Sept. 24 when both stable-mates finished fifth and seventh albeit beaten narrow margins. Second and fourth in the Gloaming were the John O'Shea trained pair Honeywine (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Retaliation (Aus) (Bernardini) and Godolphin's Henry Plumptre was upbeat about their chances. “Both colts are among the stable's more prominent Derby candidates and both are in great form. Honeywine looks like an out-and-out stayer who will be well-suited by the extra ground,” he said. The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes trained Swear (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) has been done no favours being drawn 11 of 11 but co-trainer Michael thinks the lightly raced colt can still make an impact. “Unfortunately he's drawn awkward but he gets his chance to win because he's a good colt,” he said.
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