By Brad Gray
RACE 1 – 12.30pm: DRINKWISE KIRKHAM PLATE (1000m)
1. Barber has the benefit of barrier one and he looks to possess the gate speed to use it to lead this field. The son of Exceed And Excel won his first trial on the Warwick Farm synthetic before being eased out of the finish in his second hit out.
Randwick was at its best on Everest day.Credit:Getty
That was only on Tuesday, so he wasn’t there to break any records that close to his debut. In what looks to be a lottery, at least we know he is going put himself right there in the run. 7. Stanislaus comes through the same heat at Barber in his latest hit out, and he looks capable. Interesting that Sam Clipperton rides on debut given he has been on both Barber and Stanislaus. 8. Dipsy Doodle is a full sister to Magic Carpet and a half to wet tracker Larkspur Run. She looked precious enough in her trials to show up on debut too.
How to play it: Barber WIN.
RACE 2 – 1.05pm: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1800m)
We’ll go to the well one last time with 3. Jalmari. He’s had genuine excuses throughout his campaign whether that be trips short of his best, track bias or big weights. The pattern was against him last start at Randwick having settled last. As the meeting played out you needed to be on speed and hard against the fence. Leading apprentice Tyler Schiller jumps back on the Danny Williams-trained four-year-old. It might be wishful thinking that Jalmari can take advantage of a low draw to park up closer.
The prospect of a heavy track is key to his chances again. 4. Socrates went straight to the front at Randwick last start and was potentially flattered by the pattern but it was a strong win and he’s even better suited at 1800m. Expect Dylan Gibbons to adopt similar aggressive early tactics. Catch me if you can. 5. King Of Spades comes through that same form reference.
How to play it: Jalmari WIN.
RACE 3 – 1.40pm: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200m)
The trade-off with 18. Tristate coming back to BM72 company is the 64kg. The Anthony Cummings-trained galloper was brave behind Shades Of Rose first up before backing that up with a narrow defeat at the hands of Remarque in a deep race.
Be forgiving of Tristate’s last start sixth as he covered ground throughout and was entitled to knock up. Has a class edge on these, as his rating suggests, and he is a heavy track winner in the past. 2. Astero has a history of racing well first up, including last preparation when he took late ground off Rule Of Law over 1100m. His second to Rustic Steel in a Provincial Championships qualifier also jumps off the page when assessing his chances. 12. Either Oar didn’t get much luck in Midway company two back before she found the Randwick track a touch too wet last start when third to Kote.
How to play it: Tristate WIN.
RACE 4 – 2.15pm: EGROUP PROTECTIVE SERVICES HANDICAP (1600m)
6. Willinga Rufio was carved up in front at Rosehill last start and he faded to finish second last. Forgive him that. Best judge him off his first-up win at Warwick Farm where Tyler Schiller got him into a rhythm before running his rivals into the ground. The son of Dundeel has been back to the trials since last start, and he was given an easy time at Randwick.
He’s untried on a heavy track but his wins on soft tracks to date have been dynamic. 8. Mahagoni is flying this time back. He finished midfield last start behind Hosier but had the excuse of a lacklustre tempo. 9. One Aye was seven weeks between runs and back to 1200m last start at Randwick and thought she stuck to her task really well. Suited back out to the mile now on her past form.
How to play it: Willinga Rufio WIN.
RACE 5 – 2.50pm: VALE BERYL WHITE FILANTE HANDICAP (1600m)
8. War Eternal was the first horse beaten in a fast run group 1 Epsom last start. It was a throw at the stumps in a race with a horse rated just 83. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The four-year-old is much better placed in Saturday’s company, and he still only gets in with 52kg on his back. The wet track will be fine for him, he maps to camp on the back of the leaders, in what promises to be a much more sedately run mile, and the blinkers go on now fourth up. John O’Shea hasn’t hidden the fact that 4. Diamil has a long preparation ahead of him. He is on the seven-day backup after not getting the race run to suit last Saturday at Randwick given Ellsberg got complete control in front. He could have attacked the line a touch better late. A wetter track can’t hurt.
How to play it: War Eternal WIN.
RACE 6 – 3.25pm: GRAINSHAKER BRIAN CROWLEY STAKES (1200m)
2. Kote has only seen daylight twice this preparation, and he’s won on both occasions. He was allowed to use his natural speed to take up the running in those victories and can’t imagine anything changes here. The other obvious box he ticks is how comfortable he is on wet tracks.
6. Willinga Beast is exceptionally well-placed under the set weights and penalties conditions, coming through the strongest races. She was beaten by the pattern last start in the Roman Consul with Best Of Bordeaux and Sweet Ride both finding the fence. The wet track holds no fears for her either and there’s plenty of depth to the fillies races she had contested prior to last start. 7. Dashing Legend is a talented filly in her own right. She comes through the Tapp-Craig where she failed to handle the testing conditions.
Willinga Beast (outside) fights out the finish of the Percy Sykes Stakes with Paris Dior.Credit:Getty
How to play it: Kote WIN.
RACE 7 – 4.10pm: TAB CALLANDER-PRESNELL (1600m)
Godolphin’s latest group 1 pin-up 1. Golden Mile hasn’t seen a track worse than a Soft 6 which is the only possible knock on the last-start Caulfield Guineas winner. He belted a similar field to this in the Ming Dynasty second up before running fourth in the Golden Rose.
The son of Astern is a whopping 22 rating points ahead of the second-highest runner. And it’s a set weights race. Should win and justify the price. Keen to see 6. Burgunder out to the mile for the first time given his dam Pinot was an Oaks winner. He was run off his legs in a deep race at Canterbury first up over a sprint trip before he couldn’t pick his feet up in the treacherous conditions at Randwick second up out to 1400m. Blinkers go on. 4. Communist is doing a brilliant job given he is still in his first racing preparation.
How to play it: Golden Mile WIN, 1,6 EXACTA.
RACE 8 – 4.45pm: MOET & CHANDON SPRING CHAMPION STAKES (2000m)
There’s a strong case to be made that 11. She’s Extreme’s placing in the Flight Stakes three weeks ago is the strongest form reference here. She was no match for Zougotcha but there were big gaps back through the field and the form through the race has been franked a number of times already with Madam Pommery and
12. Renaissance Woman both winning their subsequent start despite being beaten near eight lengths.
Being a daughter of Extreme Choice doesn’t scream 2000m but her dam Keysbrook was a 2400m horse while her half-sister won out to 2100m. Three of the past six runnings of this race have been won by fillies. Loved the run of 2. Promitto against the older horses in a fast run Craven Plate last Saturday over 1800m behind Cascadian. That’ll toughen him up for 2000m coming back to his own age.
How to play it: She’s Extreme WIN.
RACE 9 – 5.30pm: THE INVITATION (1400m)
3. Icebath is well set up to defend her Invitation crown. The six-year-old was disappointing in the group 1 Epsom last start given she started $3.60 favourite but she’s well-placed to bounce back. Looking back throughout her career, her fifth up form is impeccable. That sounds crazy but she is a mare that thrives on racing. Her four previous fifth-up runs have resulted in a four-length benchmark win, a narrow second to Cascadian in a Doncaster, winning this race 12 months ago and a third in the group 1 Queen Of The Turf coming from last. Prior to the Epsom, Icebath of course ran seconds to Anamoe and Zaaki.
10. Espiona clocked the third-quickest last 600m split of the meeting when running fourth in the Golden Pendant second up behind 2. Nimalee. The winkers go on for the first time. Nimalee also comes through the Epsom and there’s been little between her and Icebath in their previous clashes.
How to play it: Icebath WIN.
RACE 10 – 6.10pm: CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HANDICAP (1200m)
4. Coal Crusher’s first up fifth had hidden merit as he wasn’t allowed to use his speed, which is his biggest asset. Glyn Schofield has a terrific association with Coal Crusher. Last start was the first time he has been beaten on the five-year-old having won their previous five. Coal Crusher took giant strides last campaign charging through the grades, relishing wet tracks.
The other key indicator to his chances second up is the blinkers going back on. There is some intent to be read into that. 5. Bacchanalia comes through that same Remarque race where he was a heavily supported $2.50 favourite. He was simply no match for the winner. Loves wet tracks. 7. Clemenceau’s form ties into Remarque from his first up effort before Zethus got the better of him at Moonee Valley second up despite being an even money favourite.
