The City Tattersalls Club Cup meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (7th Sept). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
The speedster Spring Lee could be the one to beat in the Precise Air Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 1100m). This Bjorn Baker-trained mare has been very consistent having won three times with four placings from nine career starts. The 4YO resumed with a close 2nd in a BM78 over 1100m before a 4th over 1200m at Randwick. Dropping back to 1100 will suit better as she has only missed a place once from five attempts at the trip. Rachel King will sit just behind the leading bunch from the good gate (2) and Spring Lee will finish the race off strongly.
Giga Kick is going to put his hands up for an Everest slot by winning the Concorde Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1000m). The champion sprinter won the All Aged Stakes and the Doomben 10,000 in 2023 before injuring himself when he finished 3rd in the McEwen Stakes. Though he took a whole year to recuperate, the gelding has come back in great order as evidenced by his two trials in which he won the latter where he sprinted the last 600m in 33.53secs. The 1000m will be a good starting point and champion hoop James McDonald will be on board on Saturday. With good speed in the race, McDonald will drop back in the field in transit and watch Giga Kick flies down the Randwick straight.
The Chelmsford Stakes looks really suitable for the Godolphin mare Zardozi (Sydney Race 8, 1600m). The 4YO had a good autumn campaign winning the Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m before placings in both the Vinery Stud Stakes and the ATC Oaks. She wasn’t disgraced when 6th behind Via Sistina first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes two weeks ago. Fitter on Saturday and she did win the Phar Lap Stakes second-up last preparation. James McDonald will bide his time settling behind mid-field and Zardozi will be trying to topple them late.
By Owens Wong
