The Christmas Classic 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 over the next couple of days, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on race day.
The youngster Bartley from the Team Snowden yard is going to make it two wins from two career starts in the opening event at Randwick (Sydney Race 1, 1000m). Bartley won on debut over this trip at Kembla a fortnight ago blitzing the field by 3.25 lengths, sprinting his last 600m in 33.42 seconds. Drawn the rail (gate 1) and Hugh Bowman on board is a plus. Bowman is likely to go forward and sit just behind the leader and Bartley looks the horse they all have to beat.
Bandersnatch can make it a hattrick of wins in the Sky Racing Active Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1400m). The Gerald Ryan-trained gelding won his first two starts this preparation at Hawkesbury and Kensington under the guidance of Brenton Avdulla and Avdulla will once again be on board on Saturday. The 3YO also has a good record over 1400m having won twice from 3 attempts at the trip. Avdulla is likely to go forward and share the lead with Knowitall Jack and Bandersnatch is going to be hard to catch.
Team Snowden joins forces with Tommy Berry on Signore Fox in the hope to take out the Christmas Classic (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). This 4YO has a terrific record over six furlong with 4 wins and a 2nd from 7 starts at the trip. He came from a long way back last start to nosed out Oriental Runner in the Listed Razor Sharp Stakes over this track & trip. As a multiple Stakes winner, he isn’t harshly treated being allotted with 57kg. Tommy Berry will settle back in the field from barrier 11 and with reasonable pace in the race, Signore Fox will be flying home and run over the top of this field.
By Owens Wong, Editor
