The Colgate Optic White Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Heavy 9 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will surely be racing on a Heavy track on raceday.
The Melburnian Junipal will have conditions to suit in the Shoot Out Mile (Sydney Race 3, 1600m). The 4YO has a good record over 1600m with two wins and two placings from seven starts over the mile. The Heavy track would not be a concern as Junipal had won in the condition before. Up in class on Saturday but he has only been allotted 56.5kg which is 3.5kg less than he carried last start over this trip at Mooney Valley. Junipal is rock hard fit and will run the trip right out in the Heavy condition.
The promising Desert Lord looks a top chance in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1400m). Though a 5YO, this Team Hawkes-trained gelding is only lightly raced and is still on the up. He did well 1st up over 1200m on a Heavy 9 track three weeks ago finishing less than 2 lengths from the winner. Stepping up to his pet distance (1400m) 2nd up is ideal as he has won 3 times from 4 attempts at the trip. And Desert Lord is unbeaten when 2nd up winning 2 from 2. With his light weight (54.5kg), Tommy Berry is likely to go forward and sit outside Archedemus and Desert Lord could prove hard to catch.
Tramway Handicap winner Dreamforce can make it back-to-back Group wins in the Colgate Optic White Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). The John Thompson-trained gelding resumed with a brilliant victory in the Tramway a fortnight ago running away from the field to win easing down. Stepping up to 1600m 2nd up will suit as he has a brilliant 2nd up record having only ever missed a place once in 7 attempts. The 7YO also loves Randwick having had 5 wins a 2nd from 9 starts at the venue. Nash Rawiller will once again be aboard and he will no doubt trying to steal a break on the field in the straight. Dreamforce will be the one they all have to catch.
By Owens Wong, Editor
