The Civic Stakes meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (24th Jun). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
First-up winner Miss Thatcher can make it two wins in a row by taking out the Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 1400m). This Tim Martin-trained filly won well over 1200m last start leading from start to finish, sprinting her last 600m in 33.91 secs. The 3YO has come back a more mature horse and she is ready to step up to 1400m. The in-form Amy McLucas will claim 3kg and Miss Thatcher will only be carrying the limit weight of 53kg. McLucas will take advantage of gate 1 and go straight to the lead and Miss Thatcher is the one they have to catch.
The Maher-Eustace stable can add another feature race on their resume by winning the Stayer’s Cup with Strawberry Rock (Sydney Race 3, 2600m). The 6YO had reeled them in last start over 2400m at Sandown and the gelding will drop 3.5kg on Saturday. After three conditional runs, Strawberry Rock is ready to step up to 2600m. Jason Collett will take over the rein on Saturday and he will go forward and sit outside likely leader The Mediterranean and Strawberry Rock will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
The veteran Cisco Bay is primed to take out the Civic Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1400m). This Ryan-Alexiou trained gelding stormed home from 3rd last to win last start over this track and trip and with a fair pace up front, Cisco Bay can repeat the dose on Saturday. The 8YO likes Randwick and he also has a good record over 1400m winning four times at the trip. Robbie Dolan knows the horse really well and Cisco Bay will be flying home down the Randwick straight.
By Owens Wong
