The Villiers Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with light drizzle forecast for Sydney over the next couple of days. Randwick is likely to border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Accountability has been in top form this campaign and the gelding is primed to take out the Christmas Cup (Sydney Race 4, 2400m). The Waller-trained 5YO had won back to back BM78 races when 2nd and 3rd up this campaign. He’d got beaten less than a length last start at Rosehill over 2000m. Being 5th up on Saturday, Accountability is rock hard fit and is ready to step up to 2400m. Drawn beautifully in gate 2, Tommy Berry is going to settle midfield on the fence and put Accountability to sleep. And together with his light weight (53.5kg), Accountability is the one they all have to beat.
Godolphin-owned Athiri is on the up and she gets all the favours in the Razor Sharp Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). Athiri’s past three starts had been over this track and trip with two wins and a last start 3rd in the Group 3 The Nivison on a Heavy 8 track. Though Athiri can handle the Heavy condition, there’s no doubt the 4YO is much better on firmer tracks and she will get this favourable condition on Saturday. Regular rider Rachel King will once again be on board and the mare has only been allotted the limit weight of 53kg. With reasonable pace in the race, King will settle just behind the leading bunch and Athiri will be too strong at the finish.
Phaistos could be the knockout horse in the Villiers Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1600m). This 5YO gelding has been slowly working his way to victory with placings in the Weekend Hussler Stakes and the Sale Cup earlier this preparation. Last start in the Festival Stakes, Phaistos ran home well when beaten only 1.7 lengths on the line. He is also very consistent at 1600m with four placings from five attempts at the mile. Jason Collett will look for a spot somewhere midfield and Phaistos will fly over the top of this field in the run home.
By Owens Wong, Editor
