It wasn't that long ago that Sydney saw official barrier trial sessions of a
dozen or more heats at a Canterbury session followed by 20 odd at Randwick and
the traditional kick off races Breeders Plate and Gimcrack followed up by races
like the Canonbury Stakes and Widden Stakes which have now been moved to later
dates.It hasn't stopped genuine quality shining through for the horses that are up for it though with five future Group One winners starting their careers in the Breeders Plate in the last three years.
Last year in the race won by Khan, Invader finished fourth and The Mission finished last.
Only a few months later they took the Gr.1 ATC Sires Produce and Gr.1 Champagne Stakes respectively.
The year before the race was won by Capitalist who went on to take all before him in his juvenile year, capped by his Golden Slipper triumph.
Third in the race that year though was Prized Icon who went on to win the Champagne Stakes in his two-year-old season before a memorable victory in the Victoria Derby.
In 2014 it again showed up the Golden Slipper winner with Vancouver.
And if you add Pierro into the list, the Breeders Plate winner in 2011, the race has produced three of the last six Golden Slipper winners.
You can also throw Australian Guineas winner Wandjina into the mix from 2013 when he finished seventh.
So it doesn't have to be the winner, and they might still be a little hard to spot for the moment, but we'll be seeing a gem or two tomorrow.
