The George Main Stakes meeting will be held at Randwick this Saturday. Randwick was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney for the next few days, Randwick should upgrade to the Dead range on raceday.
The Underwood Stakes meeting will be held at Caulfield on Saturday. The track was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday. With further showers forecast, Caulfield could border on Dead/Slow range on raceday.
The Tea Rose Stakes is the second leg of the Princess Series for 3YO fillies (Sydney Race 2, 1400m). Stepping up to 1400m, Guelph looks hard to beat. The Peter Snowden-trained filly finished 4th in the Slipper earlier this year before turning the table on her Slipper conqueror Overreach when stepped up to 1400m in the Sires. 1st up last start in the Furious Stakes, Guelph flew home from a long way back and just got beaten by a nose on the line. At set weight on Saturday, Guelph has got a hugh class edge on this field.
In the Sydney City Toyota BM80 Handicap (Sydney Race 4, 1200m), I like the top weight Field Marshall. This 4YO has been racing very consistently having finished no worse than 2nd in his past 3 starts. Last start, he had given the winner a big start and only just got nosed out in the finish. Chris Waller has reported that Field Marshall is going very well and with the enforcer Nash Rawiller on board on Saturday, Field Marshall will be given every chance in the race.
In the Group 1 George Main Stakes (Sydney Race 5, 1600m), Hawkspur can continue on his winning way. The Queensland Derby winner was very impressive in winning the Chelmsford Stakes last start. His scintillating turn of foot had left the Chelmsford field standing. The Waller stable has accepted for the George Main instead of the Hill Stakes (2000m) believing that Hawkspur is fit enough not needing another hard run over the longer trip. They want to keep the sprint in his legs and that’s a good sign for a horse in a WFA mile race. Hawkspur should win again and confirm his Caulfield Cup favouritism.
We’ll see the clash between Puissance De Lune and Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield (Melbourne Race 9, 1800m). Though beaten by Foreteller last start, Puissance De Lune remains the Melbourne Cup favourite. But Atlantic Jewel represents a different challenge for the grey import. At Weight-For-Age, the unbeaten mare is simply too sharp and too fast and it is extremely hard to see her getting beaten. At $1.50 fixed odds, Atlantic Jewel is short, but sweet.
By Owens Wong, editor
