2016 Carbine Club Stakes Field Features Odyssey Moon

Group 1 placegetter Odyssey Moon is the highest-rated acceptor for the Carbine Club Stakes 2016 at Royal Randwick this Saturday in Sydney ahead of a possible back-up into the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.

Odyssey Moon chases just his second career win at start number 14 in the 2016 Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

Due to run as Randwick Race 2 at 12:45pm (AEDT) on Doncaster Mile Day, this year’s $200,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) field attracted just nine final acceptors.

Heading the list of hopeful three-year-olds in the set weights plus penalties clash is the Robert Smerdon-trained Snitzel colt Odyssey Moon drawn in barrier four.

Blake Shinn takes over for Damien Oliver in the saddle third-up, the horse coming off a last start third to Silent Sedition in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on March 19.

Best known for his second behind Pride Of Dubai in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) 12 months ago, Odyssey Moon is chasing his first win since a successful debut at Randwick in December of 2014.

It has been a long time between drinks, but the galloper is on the improve again and is also still officially nominated for Saturday week’s $500,000 Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) over 400m shorter than this weekend’s race.

Jumping one outside of Odyssey Moon in barrier five on Saturday is the John O’Shea-trained Moher who James McDonald stays aboard.

McDonald has ridden the son of Lonhro for his last two runs including a mile win at Kembla Grange on March 23.

This is the gelding’s first black-type start since his dead last in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) in September last year, connections at Godolphin hoping for a better result in Sydney.

Another other last start winner in the mix is the Clarry Conners-trained Not A Single Doubt filly Queen Of Wands who shoots for her third straight victory.

She too saluted at Kembla Grange on March 23, but over 1400m, putting nearly two lengths on her closest rival carrying 57.5kg.

Queen Of Wands drops right back to 54kg this weekend and jumps from barrier eight with Zac Purton replacing apprentice Andrew Adkins in the saddle.

Also coming off a good lead-up run is the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained New Zealand import He’s Our Rokki.

He finished fourth in the Melbourne equivalent to Saturday’s race on Victoria Derby Day last October, and also saluted over 1600m at Sandown-Lakeside in early March.

Last start at that same track a fortnight later he was runner-up to Gold Fields beaten by a notable margin as the odds-on favourite with 59kg on his back.

The drop back to 56kg here should suit and Dwayne Dunn comes in for Dylan Dunn.

Other notable hopes include the out-of-form Tatoosh for Newcastle’s Paul Perry and Data Point prepared by Cranbourne’s Michael Kent.

Kent’s Lonhro colt Data Point was last seen finishing a credible sixth behind Le Romain in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 5 at the same track and distance as a $31 roughie and looks better placed against easier company here.

Check out the full Carbine Club Stakes 2016 field, barriers and jockeys below then visit the country’s leading bookie Ladbrokes.com.au to access Odds Boost!

2016 Carbine Club Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Randwick Race 2 (12:45pm) – 02/04/2016