The Missile Stakes meeting will be held this Saturday at Royal Randwick (10th Aug). The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Florino is primed to win first up in the Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 1000m). The lightly raced 5YO is resuming from a 34 week break since making up late ground when 2nd over this track and trip in December last year. First up over 1000m will suit and the gelding will appreciate the drop in class. Champion hoop James McDonald will settle just behind the leaders and Florino will run home strongly.
Last start winner Kapakiri can continue his winning form by taking out the TAB Handicap (Sydney Race 4, 2400m). The Waller-trained 5YO had performed admirably when stumbling across some Heavy tracks earlier this campaign. The gelding has been stepping up in distance slowly and he finally breakthrough for a well-deserved victory over this trip last start at Rosehill. Kapakiri is rock hard fit being fifth-up on Saturday and the drying track will also suit. Tommy Berry will settle mid-field and Kapakiri will be finishing hard down the Randwick straight.
Team O’Shea & Charlton looks set to win their partnership’s first stakes race when Schwarz resumes in the Missile Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1200m). The Zoustar 4YO is very promising having won the Hawkesbury Guineas and a 2nd in the Darby Munro Stakes in the autumn. Schwarz has good fresh record and as a late maturer, he will be developing further this preparation. James McDonald won a 900m trial on him on Jul 26 and he retains the ride. With pretty good pace in the race, McDonald will go forward and sit just behind the leaders and Schwarz will be too strong in the run home.
By Owens Wong
