From Edward Cummings
Horse: Duais
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 6, Q22) She’s taken a lot of improvement from her Doomben Cup run (finishing 4th). She came back to Sydney after the Doomben Cup and has been working well so I’m confident she’ll run well again. I thought she should have finished a lot closer in the Doomben Cup but she couldn’t get out to where she wanted to be and missed a run. She hasn’t raced since the Doomben Cup and being second-up doesn’t worry me. I’d be more worried if it was two weeks between runs.
From John Thompson
Horse: Surreal Step
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Bob Charley AO Stakes) He’s an older horse and they have their quirks. When you’ve had the horse all along you know their quirks, where with each run, I’ve learned a bit. The longer I’ve had him, the better he’s got. I fitted him with winkers and Surreal Step responded with a closing 3rd to the in-form Conscript last start. I did try to get him to jump better last start, which I will again on Saturday. He’s just giving them a bit too much start but if I can correct that, we’ll be good. He looks terrific and to my eye, he looks to have improved between runs. Saturday is his chance to go better again.
From Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones
Horse: Zouatica
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Highway Hcp) The Zoustar three-year-old has never been led, with the acceleration and form to take no end of catching in a strong Class 3, 1500m Plate with 59kg for Shaun Guymer. That acceleration to put lengths on them when he lets down and is still learning. We didn’t want another jockey change, coming to town for an important race, so we retained Shaun (Guymer). He understands this horse, gets him relaxed and running, from the inside gate (2), we should lead again and 1500m no probs.
From Ron Stubbs
Horse: Boss Lady Rocks
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Furphy Hcp) She will carry 56kg after the claim of apprentice Benjamin Osmond and boasts some handy formlines. She usually performs well fresh and Boss Lady Rocks appears to have returned better than ever. Outside of her first start in a race, she has never finished further back than 5th, so we always get a good run for our money. She won first-up at Moonee Valley (last preparation) and that was impressive, she just seems to race well fresh so hopefully she can take that to the races on Saturday. With her general health and wellbeing and the way she looks, I’m probably happier than I have ever been with her. I gave her a trial a couple of weeks ago and walked away from that very happy with her, so everything seems to be going in the right direction.
From Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Horse: Bitcoin Baby
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, 50 Year & Life Member Hcp) The mare had a two month break following a Warwick Farm win in March and returned at Rosehill with a battling midfield finish. I thought she’d run better the other day and went awful then I looked back through her form and she’s had six starts at Rosehill and has not run a decent race. Her work last Saturday morning was sensational, she worked the joint down. And she worked really well again (Wednesday) morning. If she ran well I might sneak her up for the Gai Waterhouse Classic.
Horse: Union Army
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, 50 Year & Life Member Hcp) Union Army had obvious excuses for his last start defeat. For a horse who went a furlong and a half without getting a crack at them, and to be beaten 1.7 lengths, he went terrific. Hopefully with just 53kg and the inside gate he can have the chance to atone.
Horse: Steely
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Drinkwise Mile) He’s a good honest horse and you need those horses in the joint. This is the race I thought he’d be really hard to beat in. He came up really well and he probably ran a bit better than he would the other day. I thought he still needed the run but he’s come on from it.
Horse: Conscript
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Bob Charlie AO Stakes) Conscript makes the step into stakes company for the first time in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes. First-up a couple of preps back he ran 2nd at Goulburn then soon after he won three straight and he’s been a good, honest, horse. The beauty with him is he’s so adaptable. He can lead and win, the other day he went back and won. Good tracks, heavy tracks, soft tracks don’t worry him. He’s only a little horse but he’s a strong horse.
From Annabel Neasham
Horse: Numerian
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 6, Q22) It was a really big run from him last start (finishing runner-up to Huetor in the Doomben Cup) but hopefully he can go one better in the Q22. He’s thriving and we’re really happy with him. He’s going to have to be at the top of his game against that level of horse but if he is, he can certainly put himself in the mix.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Converge
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 8, Stradbroke Hcp) Despite his wide draw, Converge would be better suited out wide and is well placed to repeat Alligator Blood’s Stradbroke winning feat when he jumped from gate 17. Converge is a very seasoned horse and is proven at this level and is well weighted. We’re happy with Converge’s draw as he got smothered up last time he drew inside. He’s a horse who can find a position in a race to get his momentum going. He’ll come in a few places if the emergencies don’t start and he handles high pressure races like this.
Horse: Hawaii Five Oh
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 8, Stradbroke Hcp) Hawaii Five Oh is a full brother to Group 2-winning mare Libertini and will be ridden by Rachel King on a featherweight 49.5kgs. Hawaii Five Oh is stepping up a lot in class so early in his career but he’s making good progress. The 3YO burst into Stradbroke contention winning the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas in April before a dominant victory in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.
Horse: Royal Tribute
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Robrick Lodge Hcp) The Snitzel colt has won both his trials comfortably, the latest back on May 15, and with even luck from a tricky gate (9) expects a forward showing. We wanted to kick him off over 1000m or 1100m so this was the option to start him in. He’s a nice horse and I think he has his fair share of natural ability that we’ve seen at the trials. It’s not an easy race to kick off in, he’s giving away a bit of experience.
Horse: Gundy Bridge
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, Racing And Sports Hcp) A return to Sydney and a relatively dry surface will be key to Gundy Bridge finding his best after a shock first-up failure a month ago. He’s not really comfortable at all on heavy tracks. I know he’s got one win on it down at Kembla but I still feel he doesn’t handle it and he never travelled in that race in Melbourne. I’d be very forgiving of that run, he seems back in good shape and hopefully we can get him to bounce back to form.
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Ozzmosis
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Robrick Lodge Hcp) The youngster was ridden by James McDonald in his debut win where he sat third on the fence and took an inside run before cruising to victory. In his trials he’s sat back and swept home. I am confident Ozzmosis can adapt to whatever unfolds in the Robrick Lodge Handicap. He’s had a couple of really good gallops since and I’m thrilled with how he’s come on. There’s no doubt he has a heap of ability and I’m really looking forward to him. He has a flexible pattern, whether he leads or sits off, so we’ll have a good look and leave it up to Dylan (Gibbons).
Horse: Iowna Merc
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, 50 Year and Life Member Hcp) Iowna Merc reacted well to being gelded with a hard fought first-up win two weeks ago. He’s well set up, I thought he would go very well first-up and that was the case. He’s a natural athlete so we haven’t had to do too much with him. There’s not a whole heap of him but he’s got a pretty good racing pattern. He’s put together a good record in a short period of time. He was inclined to do a lot wrong in the first preparation but he’s switching off a lot better this time.
Horse: Passeggiata
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Furphy Hcp) Passeggiata returns to Randwick on Saturday on the back of two runaway trial wins. I think it was exacerbated in the trial because when others know she’s in the trial they tend to let her do her own thing. Last time she didn’t go nearly as quick as she could. At the end of the day she’s a very fast horse, we’re not going to beat about the bush and say otherwise. She’s a quick horse and speed is her biggest asset. She has a super high cruising speed just like her father used to have and the 1000m is ideal for her first-up. She gets in with no weight and she’s rock hard fit. Her work on Tuesday morning was excellent, she didn’t go too quick at all and I was happy with how she was able to relax.
From Chris Waller
Horse: Chrysaor
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 7, J.J. Atkins) He’s come through the Sires Produce run (3rd) really well, he didn’t have any luck at all. I don’t think the mile will be a problem, just tossing up whether he needs the blinkers as he was a touch aggressive last start. We’ll make that decision Tuesday morning, Nash (Rawiller) is going up to ride him and he’ll be on him on Saturday. He’s ready to run a mile once we tinker with his gear. He’s a genuine top-three chance and could easily win the race.
Horse: Congregation
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 7, J.J. Atkins) The Snitzel colt showed great tenacity to hold off stablemate Tutta La Vita in a stirring finish over 1300m. We might consider it (starting in the J.J. Atkins), we’ll talk with Coolmore early next week. It’s not easy but he’s a very good horse and we’ll give it serious consideration.
Horse: Tannhauser
Message: (Saturday, Eagle Farm Race 7, J.J. Atkins) Tannhauser heads into the race following a fast-finishing Randwick victory last Saturday. His win the other day was something special and he’s settled in well and he’s thriving. There’s a bit of (dual-Group One winner) Militarize about him, he’s got his confidence and gone to a whole new level. He went into his win at Randwick last week with a bit of confidence because we were seeing good things at home. Obviously, luck in running is a big thing but he showed last start he can come from the back and James (McDonald) will ride him.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Ozzmosis
Sydney Race 6 – Passeggiata
Sydney Race 8 – Conscript
