It’s The Everest day at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with light showers forecast for Sydney on Friday and Saturday, Randwick could border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
The Waller-trained Joviality looks the good to take out the Reginald Allen Quality (Sydney Race 4, 1400m). This 3YO filly won three races in a row earlier this campaign before jumping sharply in class last start in the Group 1 Flight stakes over the Randwick mile where she finished 5th to Montefilia. And of course Montefilia franked the form last week by taking out the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. Dropping back to 1400m on Saturday will suit the filly better. Jovality is very versatile in that she can handle any track condition and can settle anywhere in a race. There’s not much pace in the Reginald Allen and James McDonald will go forward and sit just behind the leading bunch and Joviality is the horse they all have to beat.
Front Page has conditions to suit in The Kosciuszko and could well knock off the race favourite It’s Me (Sydney Race 5, 1200m). This Geoff Duryea-trained 4YO is lightly raced whom has only 7 career starts and is still on the up. The gelding won three straight races before his spell, cumulating to his victory in the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington. Front Page resumed with a good 2nd behind From Within over 1100m four weeks ago. 1200m is Front Page’s pet distance as he is unbeaten at the trip winning 4 from 4. The in-form James McDonald will replace apprentice Lewis German and that’s another plus. From barrier 8, McDonald will go forward and sit outside likely leader Fender and Front Page could prove hard to run down.
The grey Classique Legend is primed to peak in The Everest (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). The 5YO finished an unlucky 6th in last year’s The Everest and he has come back a better and more mature animal. So much so that his trainer Les Bridge said that Classique Legend is the best horse he has trained and that’s a big statement. The grey loves Randwick having only ever missed a place once with 3 wins and 3 placings from 7 starts at the venue. And he has a great record over 1200m as well. With a lot of pace in the race, Kerrin McEvoy will park mid-field with a cushy run and Classique Legend will showcase his great turn-of-foot and run over the top of the field.
By Owens Wong, Editor
