From Robert Quinn
Horse: Marakopa
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Furphy Stayer’s Cup) A month ago Marakopa pulled off a massive upset when he streeted his rivals at $61 and the horse is in the right form to attempt a repeat of his Randwick heroics in Saturday’s Furphy Stayer’s Cup. He definitely jumped out of the ground and surprised us, that said we always thought he was up to winning one of those races. And he’s gone on with it again and run a huge race (for 5th) in the Brisbane Cup. It’s been exciting. You start off with low numbers and you build it. It’s been good fun. Obviously you have to work so hard in this game because the bar is set so high, especially in a place like Sydney. People are genuinely happy for you when you get results.
From Jarrod Austin
Horse: Nikohli Beagle
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Midway Hcp) The gelding has an outstanding fresh record, will carry 57kg after the claim of apprentice Ellen Hennessy and he enjoys firm ground. His trial was really good and he’s only had the one serious gallop since then and it was quite sharp as well. He’s ready to go on Saturday.
Horse: Looks Like Elvis
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Civic Stakes) The gelding has been handed the outside gate in the 14-horse field and from that alley, he will need a few favours to remain unbeaten this campaign. He had had a really faultless preparation until the barrier draw. I’m hoping there is enough speed in the race to let him run on. It looks like we are going to get a good surface for him, so I’m really pleased with that. The seven-year-old showed he had returned to work as good as ever with a barnstorming first-up win over 1400m at Flemington and the horse has continued to thrive since returning to Sydney. We had a plan to get him up to Brisbane for the carnival but with the wet tracks we just missed the boat. He is in a really good place at the moment. He’s a horse that loves his work and he has settled into a nice routine here. It ticks a lot of boxes here Saturday, so hopefully we get that bit of luck from back in the field and he’s hitting the line hard.
From Graham Payne
Horse: Fighting Magnus
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Highway Hcp) He’s a really smart progressive three-year-old; bought him for $7500 then an agent for Macau offered us $50,000 off his recent wins, but when I told him he was on the small side, 15 hands, just, they pulled out. It’s not their size, it’s their motor, look at his consistency, if he doesn’t wander he’d be three straight. I don’t think a class 3 here is any harder although Highways always have depth and the strong stables. Yep you’d think more to come, kept him fresh, with the weight he’ll be strong at 1400m, he’s got form over further. The favourites are drawn out, from the good draw and the weight pull we’ll be looking to slot in and finish. I like the little girl, (Ellen Hennessy) she’s strong confident and can use the whip, her agent kept in touch wanted us to find a good ride for her – this horse is it.
From John Thompson
Horse: Mamaragan
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Petaluma Hcp) A last start 3rd behind Dragonstone in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes over the same course, after tracking wide. He’s running well this prep and he’s got to continue to do that. The ability is there but he’s a little bit of a head case and a tricky ride. I don’t know if you get the ride right on him the first go. It’s Reece (Jones)’s first go on him but he did come and gallop him for me on Tuesday, I think that’s key to get him on the horse before riding him in a race.
Horse: Jojo Was a Man
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, Elite Sand & Soil Hcp) He’s a miler. He was a little erratic, he’d go a bit hard in his races and worry himself out of it. Now he’s more relaxed and a bit more seasoned. He needed a bit of racing and he’s come good. At the moment it’s about going through our grades but I think he could measure up to a Villiers horse later on. I probably would have preferred a race a little further on Saturday but he’s enjoying being kept a little bit fresh. I would have said he’s looking for further last start but he was still brilliant enough to win over 1400m and be strong late. He’s won twice over 1400m so it’s not a hindrance but he is better over a mile. All three runs he’s been wide from wide gates so this time he might get a decent run (from gate 4).
From Bryce Heys
Horse: Po Kare Kare
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Precise Air Hcp) It’s exciting to train a filly with her potential, she’s still very much a work in progress and the Precise Air Handicap is the first significant test of her ability. Po Kare Kare followed a Kensington placing first-up with a breathtaking win under 61.5kg at Gosford on June 9. You couldn’t not be (impressed). I’m not getting too carried away, visually it was impressive but it’s a fair old step up against the horses on Saturday. It’s encouraging, and she’s a filly we’ve always thought had pretty good ability but it’s been a slow process. So we’re not in a hurry to speed it up. I had this race picked out for her third-up so I can find out a little bit more. It’s okay if she gets beaten, as long as she runs well, but it will tell us a bit more about what we will do with her going forward.
From Gary Portelli
Horse: Rebel Shadow
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Precise Air Hcp) Chasing his first win in Saturday grade, the horse threw away almost certain victory last start when he twice ran off the track after resenting being struck with the whip. He basically did two left turns in the straight to be beaten a head and run 3rd. He is back to three-year-old grade on Saturday with Tyler (Schiller) on again, we will give him a chance to redeem himself and hopefully we can get a good result. He is a lovely horse. I think he has got great potential.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 5 – Niffler
Sydney Race 6 – Shameless Miss
Sydney Race 8 – Mariamia
