The Apollo Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Not A Single Doubt filly Rotator will improve further when 2nd up in the Pierro Plate (Sydney Race 1, 1100m). Two weeks ago, the Waller-trained 2YO was nosed out on debut by that good Godolphin-owned filly Amercement in the Widden Stakes. Rotator will be fitter on Saturday and Glyn Schofield will once again be on board. With good pace in the race, Schofield can slot in somewhere mid-field and bide his time. Rotator will be flashing home in the straight.
Sylvia’s Mother has won 3 from 3 this preparation and she can continue her winning streak in the Light Fingers Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). The 3YO has been very consistent with 4 wins and a placing from 5 career starts. Stepping up to 1200m 4th up looks perfect. Brenton Avdulla will likely be sliding forward with race favourite Miss Fabulass drawn inside Sylvia’s Mother. The filly will settle just behind the leading bunch and Avdulla will give Sylvia’s Mother her chance to run over the top of this field.
Classy mare Invincible Gem is resuming in the Triscay Stakes and she has a top chance in taking out this Group 3 race (Sydney Race 8, 1200m). The Kris Lees-trained mare usually performs well fresh with 2 wins and 2 placings from 5 first up runs and she also has a good record at Randwick as well as at 1200m. Lees has given the mare an interesting gear change fitting her with Synthetic Hoof filler for the first time. Champion hoop Hugh Bowman has taken the rein on the mare and that’s another plus. With pretty good pace in the race, Bowman will settle mid-field from barrier 6 and that would give Invincible Gem a chance to finish strongly.
By Owens Wong, Editor
