The George Main Stakes (Colgate Optic White Stakes) meeting will be held at Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather leading up to the weekend, Randwick is likely to be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Top weight Redzel is set to defend The Shorts crown on Saturday (Sydney Race 4, 1100m). Redzel won The Shorts on his way to The Everest victory last season and he is in similar form this preparation. The 6YO won the Concorde Stakes 1st up and he is primed for a strong 2nd up showing over 1100m. And he loves Randwick as he has only missed a placed once from 11 starts at the venue. From barrier 3, McEvoy will sit behind Ball Of Muscle and Invincible Star and Redzel will be ready to pounce up the rise in the Randwick straight.
Last start winner Pierata can continue his winning way in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1400m). After a successful Autumn campaign, the Greg Hickman-trained 4YO has come back in top order by taking out the Missile Stakes (1200m) when 1st up on 4th August. This Pierro stallion has never missed a place over 1400m winning twice and placing twice from 4 attempts at the trip. With 6 weeks between runs, Hickman has kept Pierata’s fitness up to the mark by running him in a 895m trial on 20th August where Pierata duly won by 2.3 lengths. With a fair bit of pace in the race, James McDonald will park somewhere mid-field and Pierata will finish over the top of this field.
El Dorado Dreaming is the highest rated horse in the Tea Rose Stakes and the set weight condition will really favour her chances (Sydney Race 7, 1400m). The ATC Sires Produce Stakes winner has come back in good shape winning and finishing 2nd respectively in 2 lead-up trials in preparation for her 1st up run. This Kris Lees-trained filly has won her only start over this track & trip and that was in the Sires Produce and she has a pretty good record at Randwick with a win and a 3rd placing from 2 starts at the venue. Nicely drawn in barrier 3, Corey Brown will settle mid-field on the fence with a cushy run. Expect El Dorado Dreaming to go very close at the finish.
By Owens Wong, Editor
