The Christmas Classic meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with fine and warm weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
The highly rated juvenile Hightail is looking to win back to back races in the 2019 Membership Handicap (Sydney Race 1,1000m). The Team Snowden-trained gelding won on his debut at Kembla Grange over 1000m a fortnight ago. After settling mid-field, Hightail cruised up to the leaders on a Heavy 8 track. He has been allotted with 58kg on Saturday which is only 4kg above the limit. From barrier 7, Christian Reith will settle somewhere mid-field and Hightail will hit the line strongly.
The very consistent mare Miss Shanti will go close in the Hyland Boxing Day Sale Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1800m). The Waller-trained 4YO has not missed a place in her last 6 runs with a victory over Saturday’s trip four starts back. Dropping back 400m should not be a problem with three and a half weeks between runs. Miss Shanti is rock hard fit and will run out a strong 1800m. From barrier 11, Tommy Berry will settle where Miss Shanti is comfortable as the mare is very versatile in which she can settle anywhere in transit. Currently at $12.00 in the fixed odds market, Miss Shanti represents tremendous value.
Fell Swoop has come back really well this preparation and he is going to peak 3rd up in the Christmas Classic (Sydney Race 6, 1200m). This outstanding Matthew Dale-trained sprinter has the class to run placings behind the great Chatauqua in consecutive TJ Smith Stakes. The gelding finished with less than a length in the Century Stakes when 1st up on VRC Oaks day before beating the promising Cradle Mountain to take out the Razor Sharp Stakes last start over this track & trip. The 7YO will likely be going to the lead from barrier 2. Fell Swoop can control the pace from the front and be hard to catch.
By Owens Wong, Editor
