Sydney Cup 2021 Tips, Preview & Best Bets

While it's a typically competitive Sydney Cup, I'm a little surprised that this mare isn't the clear favourite after producing what was clearly the run of the race in the Group Three Manion Cup, where she was only a few strides off grabbing Favorite Moon, who had all the favours.

Realm Of Flowers was three-wide throughout that 2400m contest but still had the audacity to chase from off the speed as the only runner making any real inroads, recording the fastest last 600m (35.24) in the process and it was a third-up effort that should top her off perfectly.

Looking an out and out stayer when prevailing in the SA Classic (2500m) last autumn, she was a little unlucky in her only 3200m attempt to date (Sandown Cup) and while her class is still somewhat of a query, with only 50kg, she should be strong at the end of two miles.

Although she was just a little outclassed in the Tancred Stakes behind Sir Dragonet, we certainly need to respect that form behind a genuine weight-for-age galloper and back to Handicap conditions, is much better suited carrying 50kg against less talented rivals.

The lightly raced She's Ideel has put together a tidy record to date and it should be even better as she was unlucky a few times last Spring while third-up this preparation, was a certainty beat when contesting the Epona Stakes at Rosehill.

The big query is whether she can stretch out to 3200m, with her breeding indicating 2400m is about her right range but from a soft draw and with a low weight, is the one with the best turn-of-foot in this field that hasn't given any indication that she definitely won't stay.

It's becoming a trend with the selections, finding the lightly raced/progressive types down in the weights that have the right platform to launch off in the Sydney Cup, with this Mark Newnham-trained import another that fits that bill.

He did come to hand quickly in Australia, winning over 1550m last winter with 59.5kg and was spelled immediately with a slower build up in his second preparation, which culminated with a pair of victories at Stakes level in December and January before another let-up.

While peaking early on his Tancred Stakes effort, he boxed on quite well and now with the blinkers coming off in order to run out this staying journey, Spirit Ridge will land in a gun spot early from barrier two under Robbie Dolan, a jockey that's a very good judge of pace over a trip.