The Racing for Good Charity raceday will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday (13th Jul). The course proper was rated a Heavy 8 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
Top weight Wanaruah will start the meeting at Randwick with a bang (Sydney Race 1, 1400m). The Team Waterhouse-trained Snitzel colt won well on debut when he took out a maiden at Canterbury over 1250m on a Heavy 8 track. Obviously the 2YO can handle the wet condition and stepping up to 1400m is a natural progression. Adam Hyeronimus will go to the front from a wide gate to control the pace and Wanaruah will be the one they have to catch.
Don Diego De Vega will be Annabel Neahsam’s best chance to take out the James Squire Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1800m). This French import has a good strike rate with two wins and three placings from six career starts and the gelding can handle any track conditions. In his first Australian start, the 4YO finished a close 2nd to Bear On The Loose over 1800m at Rosehill three weeks ago. He will be fitter when second-up on Saturday. Jason Collett will settle mid-field with a cosy run and Don Diego De Vega will be too strong in the run home.
Nails Murphy will be fourth-up in the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap and the gelding is primed to peak (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). This Ciaron Maher-trained 4YO has slowly worked his way up in distance and he is ready to run out a strong mile. He finished a close 4th last start in a 1500m (BM78) handicap on a Heavy 9 track four weeks ago. The drying track will suit better and the good gate (1) will also help. Jason Collett will box seat behind the leaders and Nails Murphy will be ready to pounce in the straight.
By Owens Wong
