This Saturday’s Sydney meeting will be held at Royal Randwick (10th Jul). The course proper was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday and with shower forecast for Sydney leading up to the weekend, Randwick could end up in the Heavy range on raceday.
Dragonstone can start punters on a winning way in the opening event at Randwick (Sydney Race 1, 1100m). This Mark Newnham-trained 2YO gelding has shown some potential in his two career starts having finished 3rd at Canterbury on debut last month before his last start victory over 1100m on a Heavy 9 track at Warwick Farm nine days ago. He has no problem handling the Heavy track and 1100m is his distance. Joshua Parr will once again be on board the gelding and he will settle behind mid-field. Dragonstone will fly home down the middle of the Randwick straight.
Brazen Gem looks a good chance at long odds to take out the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (Sydney Race 4, 1100m). From the in-form Bjorn Baker stable, the 4YO mare has a terrific record in the wet with three wins and three 2nds from twelve starts on Soft and Heavy tracks. Brazen Gem recorded back-to-back victories at Canterbury before her spell but she didn’t do much with her two runs over 1200m this campaign. Dropping back to 1100m on Saturday will actually suit and she has drawn beautifully in barrier 4. Tim Clark will go forward and sit just behind likely leader De Grawin and Brazen Gem could be the one they all have to catch. Currently at $12.00 fixed odds, Brazen Gem represents a good value bet.
The Bopper is resuming on Saturday and he is going to sprint well fresh in the Geohex Sprint (Sydney Race 6, 1100m). The 3YO has done a good job in his short career winning three races including the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes last spring. The Bopper can handle any track conditions and first-up in a 1100m race should suit. Interestingly Kris Lees is taking the blinkers off the gelding for the first time and that may help the horse to settle better in the lead. From barrier 7, Joshua Parr is going to go straight to the front and The Bopper could prove hard to catch.
By Owens Wong, Editor
