From Edward Cummings
Horse: Queenmaker
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Racing & Sports Hcp) She’s met a few decent horses in her time and she’s the sort of horse that can be a bit difficult to ride. And the record suggests that, she’s run 2nd eight times and she’s hardly been beaten more than a length and a half when she has run 2nd. She’s been unlucky and could quite easily have had four wins on the bounce. She’s managed to either find one better or win by four. At this stage of the campaign it would be silly to start trying something new. The 1800m start does afford horses that like to bowl along the opportunity to take their time to get across because it’s not long until you’re in the back straight. It would depend on what other horses are doing in the race whether there’s pressure early and then jockeys back off and get into their spots. If there’s continued pressure maybe we get the opportunity to pop into a spot.
From Nathan Doyle
Horse: Super Bright
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Midway Hcp) Super Bright is chasing an overdue win in the Midway Handicap after a narrow second-up defeat at Warwick Farm on the long weekend. Out of that chute at Randwick (from barrier 9) if you’re three deep with cover it’s not the worst place to be. It’s been a while since she’s won, she won two of her first three, but she deserves a win and she’s got no weight on her back. It’s the right race.
Horse: Overriding
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Vinery Stallions Hcp) Overriding has won three of her five starts including back-to-back victories on her home track and she fits in well in the Vinery Stallions Handicap against three-year-olds. It’s the right race for her and I’m looking forward to seeing if she can take that step. It’s being able to keep her in her own age group. She’s lightly raced and on the up and sometimes in the Midways you can get those old heads, they seem to run the Midways a bit like Highways and go flat out. We’ll know where we are at coming out of Saturday.
From Matthew Smith
Horse: Royal Robbins
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Hitotsu New To Arrowfield Hcp) Royal Robbins had excuses after failing to beat a rival home at his Australian debut last month. The former French galloper has subsequently trialled sharply and should appreciate a distance rise to 1800m. He was back in a race that was fairly slowly run, they sprinted home quickly and he was behind a horse that was going nowhere. He has trialled very well since so I think you’ll see him bounce back on Saturday, although again, he’s drawn awkwardly (barrier 12).
From Terry Robinson
Horse: Marcassin
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 2, Highway Hcp) The five-year-old has now had four starts since an almost two year break with his best effort a closing 3rd, off a wide gate, behind Demitasse in a similar Highway a month ago. He sat deep, closer to the pace, when finishing midfield behind Cliff House at the last Randwick meeting. I thought back to a Class 2 it would be his race but it makes it hard from that barrier (14). It’ll be up to Jason (Collett) and how he jumps to work out what to do. We’re very happy with the horse otherwise, we just need a bit of luck.
Horse: Art Cadeau
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Civic Stakes) The six-year-old has only raced twice since he finished 5th in the Kosciuszko. I’d like to have another crack at The Kosciuszko to be honest. I thought last year he was going better than the year before but he pulled up lame and with a black eye so he had a bit of an excuse. He had a couple of issues and that’s why he had a decent spell. There’s a few up and coming horses around that are going good so you’ve got to be in form and I’d like to see something of his old form on Saturday. I put the visor on, I thought he may need a little bit of help and it seems to have sharpened him up. He’s drawn a good marble (gate 5) and we’ll see how he goes and work out a plan after that.
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Fun Fact
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Stayer’s Cup) The seven-year-old, whose last win was back in October in Brisbane, showed a return to form with a game 2nd at Kensington last week. I’d love him to feature, he’s just under the million dollar mark so it’d be fantastic if he could break through. It seems like he’s been around forever but he’s only seven. I was confident he’d run well last time, the 2600m is good for him and our aim will be if not leading to get to the lead at some stage.
Horse: Ita
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Racing & Sports Hcp) It’s fillies and mares, Adam (Hyeronimus) can ride her again and he’s a bit more of a highweight rider. She was dynamic last time and the extra 200m could make a difference but she looks fantastic. Her win last time was dominant and she has a good gate (5) to help her with that weight (63kg).
Horse: Iowna Merc
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Furphy Hcp) Iowna Merc staved off the challenge of Group winner Kibou two weeks ago to make it two from two as a gelding. He’s leading the BOBS premiership and it would be nice to put the nail in the coffin and try to win one more. When he drew well (gate 5) it’s definitely a race we wanted to be involved with and Amy McLucas takes the 3kg off. I don’t think it will worry him too much back in distance, we haven’t had to do too much with him, and he’s been getting the job done so we can’t fault him from that respect. This is his third run in six weeks, he’s doing everything well and I’d love him to run well then maybe we can look at a race like the Ramornie.
Horse: Wingardium
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Furphy Hcp) It’s not ideal but looking at the race there looks to be a bit of tempo so maybe she can relax and give her the option to finish off. I wouldn’t put a line through her, she’s definitely improved from her first-up run and gets into this race with no weight.
Horse: Battleton
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, The Agency Real Estate Hcp) He’s drawn a good gate so that offsets the weight and I thought he went super last time. He should be able to get a lovely run midfield or just in front of it, he’s a horse that’s always shown a lot of ability so I’d love to see him win a Saturday race.
From John O’Shea
Horse: Waihaha Falls
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Civic Stakes) Waihaha Falls finished 3rd in Cotehele’s trial and I hope the showers forecast for later this week arrive. While he performs in all types of going, Waihaha Fall’s most dominant victory came on a heavy track last winter and he has been Group placed behind Godolphin’s Vilana in similar conditions. Waihaha Falls has been freshened since finishing midfield behind Opal Ridge in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone last month.
Horse: Cotehele
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Civic Stakes) The four-year-old had disappointed slightly in finishing just behind the placegetters at his first two runs from a spell after racing handy to the speed. Tom Sherry rode him more quietly at Rosehill last start and Cotehele responded, producing a devastating finishing burst to score. We will ride him a bit quieter again, a pair back from where we had been riding him. Tom Sherry stays with Cotehele, he’s got a great record on the horse.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 2 – Miss Thatcher
Sydney Race 3 – Strawberry Rock
Sydney Race 8 – Cisco Bay
