From Richard Litt
Horse: Huon
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Vale Ray Selkrig Hcp) He bids to remain unbeaten for his new stable. After two encouraging barrier trials, he kicked off with a strong win in midweek grade at Canterbury. He’s a beautiful horse. He is only young and he’s still maturing too so there is plenty of upside to him. It’s good to have Jason (Collett) on, a good senior rider at this time of year and I couldn’t be happier with him at home. I had really set him up nicely for this race, given him plenty of time from his first run to this run, and then we draw like rubbish (gate 10). We would have loved to have ridden him up into a position, but I’d say from that barrier we’re going to have to ride him a little bit quiet on Saturday and see how he runs home.
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Battleton
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Gipps St Social Hcp) He needs a bit of luck from the gate (9) and he’s starting to look like a horse that needs everything go his way.
Horse: Wategos
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Vale Ray Selkrig Hcp) He’s going to have to step up but he gets weight relief and a good gate (2). He’s a city class horse, up to Saturday is a step up but we are happy with him. We wanted him to have a good hitout in the trial and a relatively easy week.
Horse: Lady Of Luxury
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Winter Stakes) I was rapt with her performance despite being unplaced in the Civic Sakes two weeks ago. I’ve been really happy with her. She didn’t have a lot of luck in that race last time so I think she will be competitive.
Horse: Iowna Merc
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Bowermans Hcp) It was a combination of things, everything went wrong (last start). He got replated after he had the saddle on, he was a bit agitated and reared up in the gates. It was nobody’s fault, that’s just the way it worked out. That’s racing. However, Iowna Merc clocked 33.82 secs for his last 600m last start, the race’s equal fastest, and his last 200m of 11.62 secs at the end of 1100m was clearly the quickest home. You like to stick with the winning combination and he was very good last time for Dylan (Gibbons). I think he’s in good order, we did our trot ups and we’re happy with him. He’s got really good ability and I think the way he’s going he’s a stakes horse in waiting. In hindsight the 1100m last time wasn’t ideal, hopefully going back to 1200m make a difference.
From Anthony Cummings
Horse: Missile Defence
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, The Agency Real Estate Hcp) Missile Defence has finished unplaced in two barrier trials but hasn’t been asked to extend. From the barrier (4) he’s probably going to get back and run on, but he’s a really nice horse in the making. We’re basically trying to get some grounding so that he can make his way to stakes grade in the spring, and that’s the same for both of them (Missile Defence and Cathedral Cove).
From Peter J. Morgan
Horse: Burrandana
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Highway Hcp) Burrandana has the upside of two wins from seven starts and it would have been three only for the disqualification. Luck of the draw was overdue as Burrandana, has barrier 9, and likely to come in with scratchings. It was some run at Albury, (gate) ‘16’ and from last and we beat the winner previously at Wagga; he’s more forward second-up and off a trial. We drew wide again last start and had to go back. But drawn in he can race closer, he’s a sit and sprint horse. Big strong gelding, needed the run, near four months between and good doer. After those wide draws, our turn had to come. We’ll come up again on Friday, stay at Randwick let him settle in after the road trip for raceday.
From Sara Ryan
Horse: Crosscheck
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Midway Hcp) I absolutely love this horse, I always have. She’s been my favourite since we first bought her so I really wanted to have a go with her. Crosscheck, a winner of four from 14, runs up to her work on Wednesday morning and another Midway win isn’t beyond the mare (her last win was in a Midway at Rosehill in January 2022). I’m quite excited to see what she does. Off her gallop I would expect a solid performance, she has good first-up form.
Horse: So Good So Cool
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Vale Ray Selkrig Hcp) A hat-trick awaits So Good So Cool if he can take out the Vale Ray Selkrig Handicap. He beat subsequent winner Principessa at Canterbury in late May then produced another big finish to win a Midway at Randwick a month ago. He’s one of those horses that loves what he does. Every time I give him a new challenge he just steps up to it. He doesn’t like losing and in every one of his starts he gives it his all. I tried to step him over the 1400m but he just doesn’t have the sprint for that far. He loves 1100m or 1200m, that’s his peak distance. You have to leave him alone, let him land where he’s comfortable and let him travel on his own then bring him out and let him have that last sprint to the end.
Horse: Much Much Better
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Bowermans Hcp) Much Much better drew wide at Randwick but if he does line up, he’s shown in his trial wins and work at home that he’s in good order. He’s won from wide gates before, it’s just whether anything kicks up inside him. He did both those trials under not much pressure at all and he’s definitely a stronger horse than he was before.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Epic Proportions
Sydney Race 5 – Resonator
Sydney Race 8 – King Of Hastings
