The Sydney Surf To Turf meeting will be held at Royal Randwick this Saturday. 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.
Though the Godolphin mare Zardozi is second emergency, she’s likely to get a run in the Kingston Town Stakes (Sydney Race 5, 2000m). The 4YO had a good autumn campaign winning the Phar Lap Stakes before placings in both the Vinery Stud Stakes and the ATC Oaks. She wasn’t disgraced when 6th in both her first two runs this campaign in the Winx Stakes and the Chelmsford Stakes. Fitter again when third-up on Saturday and stepping up to 2000m will suit as she has never missed a place from two starts at the trip. Kerrin McEvoy will bide his time settling behind mid-field and Zardozi will be trying to topple them late.
Class mare Fangirl has good second-up record and she can take out the 7 Stakes at Randwick (Sydney Race 8, 1600m). This Waller-trained 6YO only had a light autumn campaign and she did well first-up over this track in the Winx Stakes finishing a close 3rd behind Via Sistina. She loves Randwick having won five times with six placings at the venue and she’s terrific at 1600m with two victories and three placings at the trip. Second-up on Saturday and she’s fitter for the testing Randwick mile. McDonald will drop back in the field and with her great turn-of-foot, Fangirl will run over the top of this field.
The Michael Freedman-trained Mumbai Muse is on a quick back-up and she is primed to take out The Shorts (Sydney Race 9, 1100m). This 4YO mare is on an upward trajectory and has great form around horses like Kimochi, and she did split Sunshine In Paris and Joliestar last start in the Sheraco Stakes. She has good record at 1100m with a win and two placings from four attempts at the trip. Drawn beautifully in barrier 1, Tommy Berry will settle just behind the leaders and Mumbai Muse will fly down the Randwick straight.
By Owens Wong
