Tuesday, 4 March 2025: We look at the key ratings from the feature races at Flemington and Randwick on Saturday.

VIA SISTINA winning the TAB VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES

Australian Guineas – Feroce 

Feroce won the Australian Guineas with a Racing & Sports rating of 117, which is approximately two pounds below a 'typical' Guineas winner, going back to 2010.

The mean winning rating is just over 119 in that time, topped by star filly Mosheen going 122 in 2012, while Shamus Award (121), Alligator Blood, Grunt, Wandjina, Palentino and Mystic Journey all went 120.

Feroce sits in the middle of those and the lower rating winners, with Ferlax (112) the lowest rated winner from Legarto and Lunar Fox (113).

His previous peak was 114 when second to Private Life in the Caulfield Guineas, who ran 115. The Caulfield and Australian Guineas typically measure up very similarly on average, although the best Caulfield Guineas winner, All Too Hard, went far better across both races with his 128 rating victory.

All in all, a pretty standard looking Guineas. Goldrush Guru  was held up and hit the line nicely for third, running to 112 on the RAS ratings. His Victoria Derby win went 110 so he's up to that and can continue to improve.

 

FEROCE winning the Howden Australian Guineas

 

Randwick- 2yos

This two-year-old crop, so far, is one of the weakest I can recall. Consistently, the feature race winners have been rating well below historical standards, and the pair of races on Saturday are no different.

Rivellino  ran to 107 on the RAS scale in his Skyline Stakes win, which is six pounds below Storm Boy at 113 last year in a list topped by Exosphere at 118 since 2010.

107 sits in line with the likes of Valentia, Santos and O'Liner, but does edge Uate, Diamond Tathagata and Promitto (all 105).

Within The Law  went 105 in her Sweet Embrace Stakes win although given the 2kg weight allowance I'd say there's almost nothing between these two races, despite the fillies running a faster time.

A RAS rating of 105 is again, down the pecking order for a Sweet Embrace winner. Last year's winner Manaal went 108 in a list topped clearly by Crystal Lily at 118 while Hungry Heart also went 105 in 2020.

Golden Slipper winners range from 116-124 since 2010 and at this rate, they'll almost struggle to crack that bottom end.

 

Surround Stakes – Lady Shenandoah 

Very strong overall time here run by Lady Shenandoah to win the Surround, heading off a game Lady Of Camelot .

Lady Shenandoah has improved slightly again and run a new career peak, coming in at 117 on the RAS scale, up from 115, which she ran both in the Flight Stakes, and first up this campaign.

That sits very highly among Surround Stakes winner, and in fact only Gold Edition at 120 in 2007 beats Lady Shenandoah on the RAS scale for all Surround winners.

117 edges First Seal (who gave Winx a towelling) at 116, also ahead of the likes of More Joyous (114), Probabeel, Forbidden Love, Sunshine In Paris (all 113) and Shoals (110).

The time figure is comfortably the best on the card at 117, which is a whopping 49 pounds faster than the farcical tempo in which Amelia's Jewel  won the Guy Walter, which converts to approximately 18 lengths.

I said off the first-up win that Lady Shenandoah could win the Coolmore and Doncaster, and this win has done nothing to dampen that confidence. The Coolmore especially at set weights, I think she could have the older mares (that are likely to run there) covered.

LADY SHENANDOAH winning the THE CHASE SURROUND STAKES

Verry Elleegant Stakes – Via Sistina 

It wasn't hard to miss that J-Mac was back in town, riding Amelia's Jewel, Lady Shenandoah and Via Sistina to victory, and I think this one was the one that really showed his difference in ability.

As soon as he settled in front of Fangirl  it was pretty much all over, and while she still had to pull out the stops late, it always seemed like she had them covered.

First-up in the Apollo Stakes, Via Sistina ran to 120 on the RAS scale, which is the same rating she ran to win the Winx Stakes fresh last time in.

This preparation she's improved to run 122 on Saturday, whereas she flopped in the Makybe Diva Stakes on a heavy track in the Spring.

Third and fourth up were where she really elevated going 124 in the Turnbull and then of course 132 in the Cox Plate. I think she's right on track to at least match the 124 mark in the Ranvet third-up.

Fangirl was excellent again, and looking at the sectionals, there's a case to be made she should've beaten Via again, hence why J-Mac's ride was the difference. She ripped home the last 600m and now goes to the George Ryder, where I think she'll start favourite and win.

Fawkner Park  was also very good late here. I'd imagine his main aim is the Tancred Stakes (2400m) third-up, with the Sky High Stakes (2000m) in two weeks' time the stepping stone. He's right on track for both of those.