Bandersnatch has had a steady presence in handicaps at major tracks in Australia in the last two months, finishing in the top three in his last three starts. A win on Nov. 28, a third on Dec. 12, and a second by a nose in Jan. 9 has led to an appearance in Saturday’s $116,250 Carrington Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Bandersnatch is positioned to win his first stakes. :: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing Bandersnatch has won 5 of 15 starts in his career, but was last of five in the Inglis Guineas at Rosehill Gardens in May, his only prior appearance in a stakes. Bandersnatch’s last three starts have been a notable improvement in form, and coincides with his first three races for the training team of John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne. On Jan. 9, Bandersnatch closed from sixth in a field of eight to finish second in a six-furlong handicap at Royal Randwick. Jockey Tommy Berry was aboard for that race and has the mount on Saturday in the Carrington, which drew a field of 10. Chat, a winner of 4 of 18 starts, will have his third stakes appearance in the Carrington. He finished fifth of 10 in the Christmas Classic at six furlongs at Canterbury Park on Jan. 1. Chat set the pace in the $364,100 Silver Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Oct. 10 before fading to finish fourth by about two lengths. Chat was second by a nose in his subsequent start in the Goulborn Cup at seven furlongs at Goulburn Racecourse on Nov. 4, racing from a stalking position. The Goulburn Cup was a handicap, and not rated as a stakes. Bandersnatch and Chat were 8-5 and 5-2 in early betting on Thursday, strong choices over Order Again, the winner of a handicap a 7 3/4 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick on Jan. 2 for his seventh win in his 31st start. Order Again was 6-1 on Thursday. The Carrington Stakes, which drew a field of 10, is the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 8:40 p.m., Eastern, or 5:40 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.