This Saturday’s Sydney meeting will be held at Royal Randwick (16th Dec). The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with warm and fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Amazing Eagle could start punters off the right way in the opening event at Randwick (Sydney Race 1, 1100m). This Capitalist colt created a huge impression by winning 7-1/2 lengths in his only trial in very fast 53.61secs over 900m at Rosehill. Gerald Ryan said the 2YO is a very tractable horse so stepping up to 1100m at Randwick should not be a problem. Tim Clark will go to the front and Amazing Eagle could prove hard to catch.
King Of The Castle should suit much better dropping back to the mile in the Cactrus Imaging Handicap and the gelding looks the horse to beat (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). This Joseph Pride-trained 7YO has won two 1600m races this campaign on top of a great 4th in the Big Dance. Though it was a creditable 3rd last week in the ATC Cup (2000m), he looked stretched into an uncomfortable zone. The mile is his pet distance having won four times with two 2nds from eight attempts at the trip. And he has only been allotted with 55.5kg. Joshua Parr will settle three pairs back one off the fence and King Of The Castle will be given every chance to win the race.
The Waller-trained gelding Louisville could take out Precise Air Hcp for prominent owner Gerry Harvey (Sydney Race 8, 1400m). This lightly raced 5YO has been very consistent and he has never missed a place from four starts over 1400m. Fitter again being third-up on Saturday and has drawn nicely in barrier 5. A patient rider like Tommy Berry will suit the horse. Berry will settle mid-field with plenty of cover and Louisville will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
By Owens Wong
