The Randwick Guineas meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with forecast of light showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick is likely to be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
Good colt Performer will step out to confirm his Golden Slipper credential in Saturday’s Todman Stakes (Sydney Race 4, 1200m). The Breeders Plate winner resumed with victory in the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) on a Soft track five weeks ago. Chris Waller has sent the 2yo through a 1050m trial ten days ago to get him ready for Saturday’s assignment and Performer is ready to step up to 1200m 2nd up. From barrier 7, Hugh Bowman will be able to settle one off one back and Performer will continue his unbeaten run by taking out the Todman Stakes.
Well-performed gelding Clearly Innocent will have conditions to suit in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (Sydney Race 6, 1300m). The 6YO took out the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Stakes over this trip and a 3rd placing in the Stradbroke Handicap last Winter before a light Spring campaign. He resumed with an unlucky 6th in the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) three weeks ago. Clearly Innocent has a great record over 1300m with 3 wins and a 3rd from 4 attempts at the trip, and he is unbeaten on rain affected going winning all his 4 starts in the wet condition. From a nice gate (3), Bowman will settle in mid-field with a cushy run and Clearly Innocent will be hard to hold out in the run home.
Lonhro colt Kementari is in peak fitness and is primed to take out the Randwick Guineas (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). This Godolphin-owned 3YO had shown outstanding potential by running 2nd in the Caulfield Guineas in the Spring, beating good horses like Catchy in the process. Kementari has come back bigger and stronger and he has been unbeaten this preparation winning his two starts in the Eskimo Prince Stakes and the Hobartville Stakes. Kementari can handle any track conditions and he is ready to peak 3rd up over a mile. Regular rider Glyn Schofield will once again be on board the 3YO and from barrier 4, Schofield will settle just behind the pace and he will be full of running in the straight. Hard to beat.
By Owens Wong, Editor
