From Gary Portelli
Horse: Kimochi
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Tea Rose Stakes) I think she was looking for 1400 last start to tell the truth. That was the only concern I had going into the 1200 last start, that she was a horse that might not have that quick turn of foot over the journey. But I think this week we get the right race. She has settled midfield or worse in her past two runs and rocketed home, but I am keen to see her put in the race a touch earlier to ensure she isn’t outsprinted. Horses like Tiz Invincible have a quick turn of foot, where my filly is a bit of a builder and if she loses a length at a vital stage she’s got to make it up again, so we want to be right on our game when the pressure comes on. I want to be putting her in the race.
Horse: Fireburn
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, 7 Stakes) Fireburn will tackle the 7 Stakes second-up after finishing just over two lengths from Saturday’s rival Pericles in the Tramway Stakes. From an outside draw (gate 12), I will be happy to see her hitting the line late. We might go to Melbourne, it depends how dour she looks on the weekend. There’s the Stocks Stakes for fillies and mares’ to give her a look at the Valley. But nothing is set in stone for her. We’ll make a decision based on how she looks on the weekend.
From Team Snowden
Horse: Mazu
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, The Shorts) Mazu finished 5th to Nature Strip in the corresponding race last year but where 12 months ago he was bouncing out of his three-year-old season, this time around he is a fully mature five-year-old with two campaigns of top-level racing under his belt. There’s not a lot of change, but he’s a little bit stronger and a bit heavier. He had a really good grounding last prep. He raced in some tough races and came out the other side so I’m expecting him to be a bit tougher this time in. But he’s forward enough to run well and we’d be disappointed if he doesn’t run well. You’ll probably see him midfield, about three pairs back. We’ll ride him to get a bit of cover and hopefully he can finish off.
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Arapaho
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, 7 Stakes) Arapaho is back in business after a virus delayed the start of his spring campaign. But he has run well fresh in the past so fingers crossed the Tancred Stakes winner can show he’s back on track. A mile first-up is a bit of an ask as he hasn’t had the perfect lead up but his work has been really good. He’s a high class stayer on his day and I think he’s an under-rated horse. He’ll go back and if he’s hitting the line we will be very happy.
Horse: Overpass
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, The Shorts) I’m not beating around the bush, we need to run really well and we need to make a statement. He’s a horse that’s continued to improve. I watched the race last year (when he finished 2nd behind Nature Strip) and he looked like a little boy, since then I’ve got no doubt he’s better. He’s been gelded and only had the two runs in the autumn so I think he’s had the perfect set up to run really well. His good track form is a lot better than what it appears on paper, I’ve got no doubt he’s better on top of the ground. His work on Tuesday was excellent, he’s never been a great worker to the point where it’s surprising how good he is as a racehorse. It was as good as I’ve had one work for a long time, so he’s improved in that facet as well. He’s quick out of the gates and I’m sure he’ll jump on Saturday, that’s definitely our big hope. His form from the autumn was very good and he’s going as well if not better than he was then.
Horse: Dynamic Impact
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, The Agency Real Estate Hcp) With eight wins and no placings from 28 starts he’s the definition of hit and miss but he has won three from six when resuming. He’s a strange horse, he’s not an each-way proposition. He either wins or goes no good. I don’t think he’s out of it, he looks good. He just needs conditions to suit, to get a quiet run early and then he can finish off.
From Matthew Dunn
Horse: Derry Grove
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 2, Highway Hcp) Derry Grove has always been a talent and while he’ll need to continue to improve to be a Kosciuszko winner he’s all upside. He needs to go to another level to be competitive with horses like Far Too Easy and Mogo Magic and the like but who knows where the bottom is. He was untested the other day winning by five (lengths). If they overdo it up front (in a Kosciuszko) he’s the one that’s going to flash late. I don’t think I’ve ever had one canter up the rise like he did at Randwick before in my life. It’s nice to watch, it’s the sign of a good horse. Especially when he pressed the button he went. You see them amble up the rise and they might find half a length but he found another five. There looks to be good tempo. Traffic problems can be an issue in Highway races when horses are starting to fold up late but from that gate (10) I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. If he got stuck three deep with some cover that’d be perfect. Hopefully he beats them up again like he did last start.
From John O’Shea
Horse: Benaud
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Kingston Town Stakes) Wyong Cup winner Benaud has come through his win a couple of weeks ago in fine fettle and there’s no reason why he won’t hold his form in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes. He’s needed to draw a gate where he can use his gate speed and give himself a chance early, when he does that he runs well. There was a bit of carnage in the race the other day (at Wyong) but he still had to run past the horse that was the horse to beat in the race so we were happy with what he did.
Horse: Diamil
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, 7 Stakes) Diamil failed to beat a runner home when he resumed in the Tramway but I am expecting a turnaround in the 7 Stakes. He’s proven most effective over a shade further. He’ll improve a lot. He’s getting up to his trip, forget he went around the other day because he got back from the barrier on a dynamite leader’s track where they walked in front. If the circumstances of the race are any different on Saturday he’s going to acquit himself well.
Horse: Lost And Running
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, The Shorts) We’re really happy with him but we need to see him bring his A-game to the races and hopefully that’s the case on Saturday. We took our time and gave him a good foundation. A different strategy to start the campaign. He’s had a bunch of negative days at the races in the last year, none of which were his own doing. The biggest thing for him was the wide barriers and the heavy tracks. We’re about trying to get him healthy and we know when he’s healthy he runs well. His trials have shown he’s in a good space and a repeat of such a performance would be a nice start to his bid for another Everest berth.
From Tash Burleigh
Horse: Iron Will
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 2, Highway Hcp) He’s won three and more to come, just a tough tenacious little fella is “Derrick” (Iron Will). He’s got some tricks this boy, a Derrick by name and by nature. We love his heart and toughness, just 110% trier every time. We’ll get all of that again Saturday. From the good draw (gate 4), he leads or puts himself in the race with a sit. We thought about a claim when he got the 60kg but decided to stay with Billy (Owen), the loyalty factor, and because Billy knows him so well. Knows his quirks and tricks and gets him out and travelling.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Alligator Blood
Message: (Saturday, Flemington Race 7, Makybe Diva Stakes) Alligator Blood is now in his fourth preparation for the stable. Not everything gets better with age, cheeses do and wines. He’s a wonderful cheddar. He loves being in work. He loves racing. He’s big, he’s strong and touch wood, he’s sound. He’s a divine horse. He’s bigger all-round (than last year), he’s taller, he’s more robust. He’s a bit like a warhorse and is going to take a stack of beating in whatever he runs in from now on.
From Chris Waller
Horse: Fangirl
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, 7 Stakes) Fangirl got an early campaign win on the board in the Winx Stakes. She’s run so many good seconds to Anamoe and other horses and to get a Group One herself again, I think it’s important. It looks a perfect race for her Saturday.
Horse: Hinged
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, 7 Stakes) She just needs to get things to go her way, a bit of confidence. Her first-up run was terrific and she will step off that and appreciate a mile.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 5 – Montefilia
Sydney Race 6 – Kimochi
Sydney Race 7 – Think It Over
