It’s the Bookmakers Recognition Day at Randwick this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Heavy 8 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
Top weight Kobe Rocks looks to have conditions to suit in the opening event at Randwick (Sydney Race 1, 1300m). The Bjorn Baker-trained 3YO has been pretty consistent and he can handle any track conditions. Kobe Rocks won well last start over 1400m at Warwick Farm on a Heavy 8 track and he has gone up 1kg on Saturday but coming back 100m. Interestingly, Baker is putting winkers on the gelding for the first time and that could well keep him relax racing along the fence. Drawn the inside gate (1), Kobe Rocks is going to box seat and he will be too strong at the finish.
Kaapfever is a terrific light weight chance to take out the Stayers Cup (Sydney Race 3, 3200m). The Joe Pride-trained 6YO has worked his way up in trip and after running in two mile-and-a-half races, he is ready to step up to two miles. Two starts back in the Winter Cup, the gelding finished 6th behind the eventual Brisbane Cup winner Knights Order before beaten a nose by Brown Thomas last start on a Heavy 8 track. Kaapfever has a great record on Soft tracks and after Tyler Schiller’s 3kg claim, the 6YO will only carry 50kg. Schiller will settle somewhere mid-field and with his light weight, Kaapfever is going to run over the top of this field in the straight.
Ranier is the class horse in the Civic Stakes and he’s the one to beat in the Listed race (Sydney Race 6, 1400m). This Godolphin-owned 5YO has returned well this campaign finishing 2nd first-up in the Hall Mark Stakes before losing all his chances in the BRC Sprint after settling a long way back. Last start, Ranier turned in a great effort to beat Group 1 winning stablemate Kementari at weight-for-age over 1600m. Dropping back to 1400m on a Soft track should be ideal and the drying track should also suit. With a fair bit of pace in the race, Koby Jennings will settle mid-field and Ranier would be too classy for his oppositions.
By Owens Wong, Editor
