The scratching of the highly promising Scissor Kick (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) from the G1 Randwick Guineas due to a virus yesterday altered the complexion of the Sydney Classic, but the race is still high on quality, boasting three Group 1 winners. Last year's G1 Golden Rose S. winner Hallowed Crown (Aus) (Street Sense) is deadlocked at 2-1 in the betting with G1 Caulfield Guineas scorer Shooting To Win (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), and the pair finished first and fourth, respectively, to kick off their seasons in the G2 Hobartville S. over a furlong shorter than this at Rosehill Feb. 21. Hallowed Crown has lost just once in six starts, when fourth in the G2 Roman Consul S. over 1200 meters in October, and Shooting To Win is nearly as consistent, having rounded into top form last season to take the G2 Stan Fox S. prior to the Guineas. Last year's G1 Victoria Derby winner, Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), was 11th in the Hobartville and will likely find this mile too short as well.
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