Sydney Saturday meeting will move back to Royal Randwick this weekend. The course proper was rated a Heavy 9 on Thursday and with overcast weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick is likely to remain in the Heavy range on raceday.
Rachel King is set to ride a Saturday metropolitan winner for the 4th week in a row. The apprentice will be aboard the Gary Portelli-trained Lipizzan in the opening event at Randwick (Sydney Race 1, 1200m). This 2YO filly is very consistent having never missed a place from 5 career starts and she can handle any track conditions. Stepping up to 1200m 4th up should be perfect. Portelli will put the lugging bit back on the filly in the hope of making her more tractable. With King’s 2kg claim, Lipizzan will be carrying the luxury weight of 52kg and from barrier 2, Lipizzan will go straight to the front and she will prove hard to catch.
The Waller-trained stayer Richard Of Yorke will have conditions to suit in the Ron Finemore Transport Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 2400m). The 5YO is rock hard fit and he is very proficient on wet tracks having never missed a place from 3 starts in the conditions. Four starts back, Richard Of Yorke won over this track and trip on a Heavy 8 track and last start he ran a mighty 2nd here at Randwick over 3200m on a Heavy 10 track. Brenton Avdulla is a strong rider and his riding style really suits Richard Of Yorke. From barrier 7, it’s likely that Avdulla will take Richard Of Yorke to the front and he will try to lead from start to finish.
The Godolphin-owned gelding Tessera is a good light weight chance in the Winter Dash (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). The 3YO finished a nose 2nd on a Heavy 8 track when first up this preparation on 22nd April over this track and trip before a close up 3rd in the Gold Coast Guineas. Darren Beadman has given Tessera a freshen up after he failed in the Fred Best Classic on the much criticized Eagle farm circuit last start. Beadman has kept Tessera’s fitness up to the mark by sending him over a 791m trial in which the gelding finished 2nd. Dropping back to 1200m with 4 weeks between runs should be ideal. On the limit weight of only 53kg, Tessera will be hard to hold out.
By Owens Wong, Editor
