The Everest day 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 race day.
The ever consistent Notation could well be the horse to beat in The Kosciuszko (Sydney Race 5,1200m). Since being transferred to the Matthew Dale stable in June, Notation has won twice with two 2nd placings from six starts. The 4YO mare was only beaten a length in the Mona Lisa Plate two starts back before a grand 2nd to Sweet Deal in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes. She has never missed a placed over 1200m with 3 wins and a placing from 4 attempts at the trip and she also has a good record at Randwick. Interestingly Dale is taking the winkers off and putting the blinkers back on to sharpen her up to deal with the dropping back in trip. From barrier 9, James McDonald is going to sit just behind the leading bunch and together with her light weight (54.5kg), Notation looks the horse they have to beat. Currently at $8.50 in the fixed odds market, Notation represents a good value bet.
The Sydney Stakes is the consolation race for horses that miss out a start in The Everest and Brutal is obviously the best horse in the field (Sydney Race 6, 1200m). The reigning Doncaster Handicap winner resumed with an outstanding victory in the Premiere Stakes over this track and trip a fortnight ago. The Team Hawkes-trained stallion is the highest rated horse in the race hence the Weight-For-Age condition will really benefit him. Drawn beautiful in gate 2, Tommy Berry will go forward and settle just behind likely leader Home Of The Brave. With his tremendous turn-of-foot, Brutal is going to be hard to catch.
Greg Hickman has developed Pierata into a magnificent Group 1 winning sprinter and the 5YO is primed to peak in The Everest (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). The All Aged Stakes winner resumed with a slashing 2nd to Redzel in the Concorde Stakes, sprinting well fresh over 1000m. Pierata then took out The Shorts last start over 1100m. The stallion is reaching peak fitness stepping up to 1200m 3rd up on Saturday. Pierata loves Randwick having won 5 times and a further 3 placings from 11 starts at the venue. Regular rider Tommy Berry will once again be aboard and from the inside gate (1), Berry will settle somewhere mid-field on the fence. With runners like Redzel, Nature Strip and Sunlight in the race, the pace will be on and that would allow Pierata to fly home and run over the top of this field.
By Owens Wong, Editor
