By Brad Gray
Race 1 – 11.50AM ARROWFIELD BREEDERS’ PLATE (1000 METRES)
7. Physical Graffiti looked one of the standout colts from the Randwick trials. He began on terms in his heat before mustering quickly to find the front. He did everything right from there on in, settling nicely before cruising to the line under significantly less pressure than any of his five rivals. It was the second quickest of the 850m heats and the fastest of the colts and geldings. 8. Snatchreilly clocked fast closing splits when running second in his Randwick trial. He was well held by the winner at the finish, hence we’re getting a price, but there was merit in what he did late. The son of Trapeze Artist was given an easy time approaching the line, too. It’s not easy for a two-year-old to make up the ground 1. Empire Of Japan did when second in his Randwick trial.
How to play it: Physical Graffiti to win.
Cross Talk is among the favourites for the Epsom at Randwick.Credit:Getty
Race 2 – 12.25PM KEENELAND GIMCRACK STAKES (1000 METRES)
7. Perfect Proposal looked the pick of the two-year-old fillies and colts from the Randwick trials. Her effortless two-length win was also backed up on the clock as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained youngster posted the fastest time of the morning for the 850m heats. Incredibly, the Gimcrack is so far a race that has eluded Waterhouse, but that anomaly can be corrected tomorrow if Perfect Proposal runs up to her trial form. Stablemate 12. Sicilian faces a trickier draw, but she too looked good when winning her heat with James McDonald in the saddle and he stays on for her debut. The I Am Invincible filly ran right through the line after mustering enough speed to take up the running.
How to play it: Perfect Proposal to win.
Race 3 – 1PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Want to be forgiving of 14. Arnold’s defeat as a $1.70 favourite two weeks ago. The four-year-old found himself outside the leader at Randwick and it dulled his finish. He was still only narrowly beaten. Staying at 1400m for a third run in a row wouldn’t have helped either. Stretching out to the mile and dropping to 52kg up in grade can see him bounce back. At his three starts this time back he hasn’t jumped any longer than $1.80. 2. Hosier is a smart horse, as his record of six wins from 10 starts suggests. The Lloyd Williams-owned galloper was sent up from Melbourne to chase wet tracks. The six-year-old was always in control in the Coffs Harbour Cup eight weeks ago and looked great in a tick-over trial more recently. This will top him off perfectly for The Big Dance. 6. Casino Kid has his fourth mile run in a row, but that’s negated by the prospect of a heavy track.
How to play it: Arnold to win.
Race 4 – 1.35PM FUJITSU GENERAL HILL STAKES (2000 METRES)
8. Montefilia put two lengths on Verry Elleegant second-up last preparation on a heavy track out to 2000m off a similar first-up effort over the mile. If she produces something similar here, she won’t be beaten. The five-year-old mare tackled the group 1 George Main Stakes two weeks ago, working home nicely into fourth behind Anamoe in a race that turned into a sprint home. She has now won a group1 in three of her past four campaigns so, coming back to a group2 at weight-for-age with the mares’ allowance, she couldn’t be better placed. Even money or better looks to be generous in this company. Don’t think 2. Numerian is completely at home on heavy tracks, but he ploughed through the heavy 10 first-up over the mile to run second to Knights Order.
How to play it: Montefilia to win.
Race 5 – 2.10PM DRINKWISE DULCIFY STAKES (1600 METRES)
The wetter the better for 1. Williamsburg, as it will negate the wide draw. On what he achieved as a two-year-old, he is 15rating points higher than the second highest galloper here, and he meets the field at set weights. Only the winner of the Ming Dynasty last start, Golden Mile, had a quicker last 600m split than him and he was forced to carry 59kg. We’ve seen the form through that race franked with Zou Tiger and Golden Mile finishing third and fourth in the Golden Rose. Third-up out to the mile looks a lovely progression for Williamsburg, and he won the Baillieu and the Fernhill on two heavy 10-rated surfaces in his first preparation. There wasn’t a lot between 2. Flag Of Honour and Williamsburg last start and, although the latter gets a 5kg weight swing, the former was six weeks between runs having been freshened from his Rosehill win in mid-July, so arguably had more improvement.
How to play it: Williamsburg to win.
Race 6 – 2.45PM DARLEY FLIGHT STAKES (1600 METRES)
Nobody missed the run of 1. Fireburn attacking the line last Saturday in the Golden Rose at the end of 1400m. Only the winner, Jacquinot, had faster closing splits. That sets her up beautifully for the mile with the bonus being that we already know how effective she is on heavy tracks, relishing wet tracks as a two-year-old where she fell agonisingly short of collecting the triple crown. The barrier will see her drift back to last in the run but, unlike the Golden Rose, this isn’t a field of 16 on a good track. There’s every chance the winners will be thundering down the middle on a wet Randwick surface. If it’s not Fireburn, expect the Tea Rose form to prove true. That means 3. Zougotcha will be hard to beat. 6. Madame Pommery looked to have her cold halfway down the straight but, to Zougotcha’s credit, she kicked back to clock the fastest last 200m split in the race.
How to play it: Fireburn to win.
Race 7 – 3.25PM BISLEY WORKWEAR PREMIERE STAKES (1200 METRES)
The market has this race well cornered with 1. Lost And Running the horse to beat after what he produced first-up in The Shorts over 1100m. He was posted wide throughout, yet still kept finding the line to run third behind Nature Strip. It was an exceptional run from a galloper that was always going to improve given he’ll be peaking third and fourth-up. The most exciting part about the John O’Shea-trained gelding is that despite being a six-year-old, he gives the impression that his best is still to come. The case for 3. Mazu to turn the tables on Lost And Running from The Shorts – and it was only a length margin – is that he meets him 2kg better off and is a proven heavy-tracker. He didn’t get the cosiest of runs first-up yet was still there boxing away at the finish.
How to play it: Lost And Running to win.
Race 8 – 4.05PM TAB EPSOM (1600 METRES)
9. Cross Talk was carved up in front by O’President last start in the Bill Ritchie Handicap and did a huge job to finish just two lengths off 1. Top Ranked. O’President was beaten 22 lengths. Cross Talk started a firm $2.50 favourite. The market has been very quick to flip to Top Ranked, which was suited by the frantic early pressure. That’s no knock on the class of Top Ranked, simply a further point to highlight the price discrepancy one start later. The Bill Ritchie has produced the past three winners of the Epsom. Cross Talk gets in with just 51kg, can assume control from the outset and loves heavy ground, making him mighty hard to chase down given the set up. 5. Icebath continues to improve the deeper she gets into her preparations, so what she has done second and third-up this time back, with seconds to Anamoe and Zaaki, is a terrific platform for her fourth-up.
How to play it: Cross Talk each-way.
Race 9 – 4.45PM FURPHY METROPOLITAN (2400 METRES)
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have targeted this race for 2. Le Don De Vie all preparation. The only time the seven-year-old has seen a heavy track in the past he absolutely bolted in in the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. There is arguably no better stable in the country at preparing stayers, and James McDonald rides. 1. Stockman has enjoyed a faultless preparation. His run in the Kingston Town Stakes two weeks ago was that of a horse desperate for this trip now. We know that he eats mud, so whatever Randwick throws up come the second last race won’t bother him in the slightest. The last time he tackled 2400m he ran second to Duais in the group1 Tancred. 7. Durston is untried on heavy ground, but he put a gap on his rivals in the Newcastle Cup last start, suggesting he’s still trending upwards.
How to play it: Le Don De Vie to win.
Race 10 – 5.25PM CLEANAWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
The key to 11. Bacchanalia’s chances is getting back onto a rain-affected track. The four-year-old started hard in the market first-up at Rosehill when well beaten by 3. Remarque, and although he slid across from the wide draw without spending too much gas early, he didn’t let down on the firm deck. He has never won first up in the past either. His record reads 7:0-0-1 on good tracks. First up he is 6:0-1-1. On soft and heavy ground it’s a very different story. His record reads 6:4-1-1. Second up his stats read 3:2-0-0. 7. Coal Crusher won four of his five starts last preparation, starting with a BM64 at Wyong and ending with a dominant Randwick win in a BM94.
How to play it: Bacchanalia to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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