This Saturday’s Sydney meeting will be held at Royal Randwick (23rd Dec). The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick could stay in the Soft range on raceday.
Breeders Plate runner-up Straight Charge could kick off the meeting as a winner in the Drinkwise Plate (Sydney Race 1, 1100m). The 2YO was only beaten a short head in the Breeders Plate by Espionage and he is a stronger and more mature colt now. Team Waterhouse-Bott have been having great success with 2YOs this season and they surely will be adding Straight Charge to their autumn arsenal after Saturday. Tim Clark is a great front running rider and he will go to the lead and Straight Charge is the one they all have to catch.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Father’s Day has been in terrific form winning twice with a 2nd in his last three starts over 2400m and he looks a strong chance in the Kia Ora Prague Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 2400m). This 6YO gelding is rock hard fit and he can handle any track conditions. Dylan Gibbons will take over the rein on Saturday. And without much pace in the race, Gibbons will go straight to the lead to control the pace and Father’s Day could prove hard to catch.
The very consistent Clear Choice has not missed a place from five starts this preparation and the gelding could continue his good form by taking out the Doyle’s Breeding And Racing Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1600m). This David Pfieffer-trained 4YO has slowly worked his way up in distance and he put in a good performance last start finishing 3rd over the mile at Nowra. And he also has a good record on Soft tracks. Tim Clark will be able to find a nice position just behind the leaders from the good gate (2) and Clear Choice will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
By Owens Wong
