Australia: Schwarz kicks off 4-year-old campaign in Missile Stakes

Unraced at 2, Schwarz compensated by winning three of seven starts, including two stakes, during his 3-year-old season in Australia from last October to June.

Southern Hemisphere runners turned 4 on Aug. 1. Schwarz will be favored to continue the success of his 3-year-old season in Friday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

The $197,200 Missile Stakes is the first group stakes of the new season at Sydney-area tracks. The Missile Stakes, run at six furlongs, drew a field of 10 and is part of a 10-race program that begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Schwarz, effective as a pacesetter and stalker, won the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas at seven furlongs at Hawkesbury Racecourse on May 4 for his first graded stakes win, but was only 13th of 18 in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm Racecourse on June 1 in his last start of the 2023-24 season. Schwarz was beaten slightly less than eight lengths.

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In advance of his return in the Missile Stakes, Schwarz finished first of eight in a schooling race from the gate, or barrier trial, at 4 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on July 26. Schwarz is trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

The Missile Stakes lacks a clear second choice, with Arctic Glamour, Semillion, and Shezanalister all well regarded.

Semillion is likely to be part of the pace, a style that led to a win in the Takeover Target Stakes at six furlongs at Newcastle in May. More recently, Semillion was second by 1 3/4 lengths to the heavily favored Recommendation in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at six furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse on July 27.

Arctic Glamour, the winner of a minor seven-furlong stakes last October, has not raced since she finished 14th of 15 in the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile at Randwick in April. She frequently runs from a stalking position.

Shezanalister has her graded stakes debut in the Missile. She won for the sixth time in her career in her 14th start in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on July 6 and was a troubled fourth by 2 3/4 lengths after a slow start in a tougher handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on July 27.

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