By Ray Hickson
Race 1: 12:30PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200M)
13. Audrey’s Lane is bound for a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier in a couple of weeks but there’s no reason she can’t be effective in an open race first-up. Fresh last time in, she bumped into Bella Corazon and at her run before a spell in this grade she gave a sight on a heavy track. She’s trialling well against group horses and drawn to get a nice run. 6. Everyone’s A Star is flying and like last time she’s been handed a gate that’ll make her job a lot harder. She has the right form though, second to Super Norwest then a closing fourth behind Mal Coupe. Any luck and she’ll be hard to hold off. 12. Flightcrew might have been a shade disappointing when leading in the Midway at Randwick a few weeks ago though only beaten a length and a bit by Bryant. She’s racing well and has an each-way chance. 1. African Daisy is a big watch first-up, her last two wins have been in this grade at Rosehill over 1200m and at double figure odds. Must say her trials are fair but she has a nice set up to produce something.
How to play it: Audrey’s Lane each-way.
Race 2: 1:05PM CACTUS IMAGING HANDICAP (1900M)
3. Unleeshing didn’t quite run up to expectations last week but looking back the run wasn’t too bad as a pointer to stepping up in trip. She was a month between runs and was flat early in the straight, however, she did make some ground again late. Small field suits and has the chance to bounce back. 4. Tazima appears the major threat though he’s a month between runs since his second-up third at Warwick Farm. Both wins have come on soft or heavy tracks. 6. Iceman is a model of consistency and he was the best of the chasers behind Zenmaster over the Randwick mile in a Midway last week. Shapes as though further won’t be a problem and he’s in the mix again. 5. The Western Front defied a small betting drift to score comfortably at Cranbourne last month. Craig Williams is on board and he’s found a winnable race.
How to play it: Unleeshing to win.
Race 3: 1:40PM TRESEMMÉ MAGIC NIGHT STAKES (1200M)
3. Pembrey was confidently supported in the Sweet Embrace and we’ll never know after she was bailed up for most of the run and was beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Spicy Miss. You could say the draw suits her style here as she’ll be able to use her speed and may be able to find the front, or outside lead. Entitled to another chance to force her way into the Slipper. 10. Hellenic Belle is an interesting first starter who has looked quite handy in trials, particularly the latest at Warwick Farm. Wouldn’t shock if she showed up. 1. By Choice led them in the Sweet Embrace and held on to run third. She’s not done much wrong so is hard to ignore her as a chance. 4. Hardanger looked to have her chance in the same race when fourth, whether she was on the worst part of the track could be an excuse but she was there at the right time. No doubt she has the ability and is an each-way hope.
How to play it: Pembrey to win.
Race 4: 2:15PM TAB PAGO PAGO STAKES (1200M)
More than happy to give 2. Warwoven another look given he had genuine excuses for his close fourth in the Skyline where he started $1.80. He slipped at the start and was forced into the box seat, had to duck to the inside to make his run and was beaten less than half a length. All without a trial. The draw allows him to control his destiny a lot more, he could bounce back quickly. 5. Central Europe was unlucky not to win that race on debut, he was held up but launched late to just miss. He needs to win to get into the Slipper and he’s drawn interestingly just out from the middle. The raps are on him and he’ll have his chance. 4. Outspan is silly odds for a horse that has shown so much ability and comes off a run where he basically had no chance after drawing wide and sitting there in the Pierro. Winner at Rosehill from a soft draw prior and he’s come up with gate three. Could surprise. 1. Star Of Jamaica was in that blanket finish in the Skyline where he ran third after leading. He’s been around the mark in both Sydney starts and stays in the mix.
How to play it: Warwoven to win.
Rachel King wins on Warwoven at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
Race 5: 2:50PM ASAHI SUPER DRY SKY HIGH STAKES (2000M)
5. Wootton Verni has produced two more than acceptable runs against Autumn Glow at weight-for-age and steps into a race he’s a big chance to win. He was impressive when he got to 2000m last preparation winning the Coongy and Rosehill Gold Cup on varying track conditions. Looks the best suited. 2. Birdman brings winning form in having taken out the Blamey over a mile at Flemington second-up. His wins can be spaced, but he is another that is very well-placed so he should be a threat. 4. Soul Of Spain is coming along nicely for the longer races and he finished just ahead of Wootton Verni in the Verry Elleegant Stakes last time. He might be the one that’s looking for the 2400m before he strikes but expect he’ll run well. 1. Vauban won this last year and he was also very effective when fresh in the spring running third in a Chelmsford. Likely concedes a start but can’t overlook.
How to play it: Wootton Verni to win.
Race 6: 3:25PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS MAURICE MCCARTEN STAKES (1100M)
4. King’s Secret has done nothing but improve each time he’s gone run and you wouldn’t expect anything less from him fresh since winning the Canterbury Sprint on New Year’s Day. His second trial was eye-catching, he’s drawn to get a nice run and it’d be a surprise if he’s not in the finish. 8. Mal Coupe is another charging through the grades and he’s in line for six wins on end after an easy victory over 1200m second-up. Hard to fault. 2. Kerguelen scored a remarkable win over this track and distance when he resumed a few weeks ago. Might be called upon to do something similar with an awkward draw but if the pace is on he’ll be the one advantaged. 9. Tonkin was the horse Kerguelen ambushed to win and she does meet him 3kg worse. Still a query at a strong 1100m but not prepared to leave her out.
How to play it: King’s Secret to win.
Race 7: 4:00PM CHANDON PHAR LAP STAKES (1500M)
Versatility is a strength 1. Sixties brings and it’ll come into play from a tricky draw. We’ve seen him lead and win, we’ve seen him come from near last and win. He brings the best form into this with his Group 1 placing behind Observer over the mile and while he’s a short price, he’s hard to go around. Chris Waller has won this race eight times but never with a colt, all fillies. 10. Panova is a talented filly from the Waller camp and she wasn’t in the hunt first-up in the Light Fingers behind Tempted. She was excellent once stepped out in trip last time in and she should be hitting the line a lot better. 13. Soverato is the up and comer that was game in defeat at Rosehill last month where she was a bit of a victim of circumstances. Whether this class rise is a bit too soon is possible but no surprise to see her run well. 6. Top Reward brings form around Sheza Alibi and Observer into this and he gained some Sydney experience with a trial last week. Could measure up here.
How to play it: Sixties to win.
Autumn Boy (right) runs second to Sixties in the Ming Dynasty at Rosehill.Credit: Getty Images
Race 8: 4:35PM COOLMORE CLASSIC (1500M)
7. Savvy Hallie has some outstanding three-year-old form and a racing style that will help her offset the barrier. It’s not so bad for her as it’s a very long run to the first turn, she jumps well and there doesn’t look to be a lot of competition for the front. She gave Tempted a big fright in the Surround at 1400m and at very least she will give a huge sight. 4. Verona Rose showed a lot of race sense in winning the Guy Walter second-up at Randwick, settling handy and shoving into the clear to make her run. She let down strongly when balanced up and has the draw to be wherever she needs to be. Strong chance. 9. Firestorm was runner-up in this last year and considering she doesn’t usually fire at Randwick her first-up run in the Guy Walter was sound. Loves her home track and if they can swoop she’ll be doing just that. 1. Lazzura you’d have to say was disappointing on face value not to get the better of Cinsault in the Millie Fox. Felt she had her chance. But she won the Phar Lap at this meeting last year and is more than capable.
How to play it: Savvy Hallie to win.
Savvy Hallie has been in fine form.Credit: Getty Images
Race 9: 5:15PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS AJAX STAKES (1500M)
7. Enxuto is a very honest Victorian that showed he’s up to this sort of race with his close fourth in The Ingham in December. Two runs since have been placings and he held on okay behind Birdman in the Blamey last time. There looks to be some speed here and he should land on the back of it and if that’s the case he’ll be hard to beat. 1. Globe will likely want to press on for the lead from the outside barrier and if he is afforded that spot he’s not to be undersold. Got away with the Group 1 in a small field before a spell when they forgot he was in the race and he’s certainly trialling like a happy horse. Respect. 2. Militarize would love a softer track than it’s going to be so that makes him more vulnerable than if the race was run earlier in the week. He was backed into favourite first-up and ran fourth in the Liverpool City Cup, to be fair he had his chance. One win from 17 on good tracks is the concern. 10. Portland will be big odds but you could say his run in the Liverpool City Cup was as good as Militarize. He found it too short but his last 100m was outstanding. This is probably not his race, he’ll likely want 2000m or more.
How to play it: Enxuto each-way.
Race 10: 5:55PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1400M)
14. Modella was her own worst enemy first-up in the Millie Fox, she drew well but was slowly out and that put her out of play considering where the winner and runner-up were. Pinito came out of that race to win last week and he finished just ahead of Modella. If she can break with them and find that spot better than midfield, as she did in her last win, she’s well up to winning this. 12. Sovereign Hill will look to get across from the wide barrier and he was gallant in defeat over this trip at Randwick a month ago. Ran them off their feet to win at this track prior and any breathers he gets in the run will make him harder to run down. 11. Captain Furai overcame the outside barrier to win second-up at Randwick when not particularly fancied in betting. That’ll change thanks to the jockey booking. He’s a consistent type. 18. Amreekiyah had been very hard to catch prior to landing in a stalking spot and running Sovereign Hill down a month back. From gate one she could land in a similar spot and repeat it.
How to play it: Modella to win.
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