From Les Bridge
Horse: Invincible Legend
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Midway Hcp) Amy McLucas is back on board Invincible Legend in the Midway Handicap and I am happy to forget the galloper’s last start failure. Invincible Legend produced a late burst to win two starts ago over the same course with McLucas steering but was right out of his comfort zone when up to 1900m at Canterbury and forced to race wide near the speed. He needs a couple of kilos off his back, he’s got to be ridden quiet and the other night it was just awful. He was too close.
Horse: Celestial Legend
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Randwick Guineas) Celestial Legend worked over 1200m on Tuesday morning and was clocked to run his final two furlongs (400m) in 23 seconds. You like to see them work well coming up to a big race. A cardinal sin for a trainer is to send a horse into a Group 1 not fit. I wanted to give him a good hit out and he had it. I’d like to think he’s got a bit of improvement in him yet. I’m pleased with him anyway. I just think he’s a horse that the more he matures the better he’ll get. I think a mile might be his distance, he’s such a thick horse, I wouldn’t be surprised if he can sprint a bit. If he ran well or won I think I’d rather go to a Doncaster with a light weight than the Rosehill Guineas. Might as well have a throw at the stumps.
From Brad Widdup
Horse: Confess Our Dreams
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Fireball Stakes) Confess Our Dreams made it three wins from as many starts with an impressive first-up win at midweek level and staying down in the weights and taking on her own age in the Fireball Stakes was appealing. She definitely hasn’t gone backwards from her win and I just don’t know what level she is. I’ve probably run lesser performed horses in races like this. I put a lot of work into placing them the best I can but I’m never frightened to have a crack either. You work her on her own at home and she doesn’t do anything exceptional but come barrier trial or race day she’s definitely got the competitive spirit.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Red Resistance
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Fireball Stakes) Red Resistance hasn’t raced since finishing runner-up to Cylinder in last year’s Todman Stakes after succumbing to a virus on the eve of the 2023 Golden Slipper. He didn’t come up in the spring and was sent back to the paddock without racing. Much happier, he has trialled up really well. He’s nice and forward for Saturday’s run and I’m looking forward to seeing him back. He could potentially go through to The Galaxy if things go well.
Horse: Shangri La Express
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Todman Stakes) Shangri La Express has come on really well since his first-up run. The three weeks has given him that extra time to take the improvement that he needed. He was vulnerable first-up, but he ran very well.
Horse: Straight Charge
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Todman Stakes) Straight Charge has done well and he’s got the nice draw (gate 1) to utilise his tactical speed.
Horse: Espionage
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Todman Stakes) Espionage, he’s going to need a bit of luck, but that draw (gate 10) might not be bad for him. He has done very well, he didn’t quite have the conditions to suit first-up and he’ll improve nicely.”
Horse: Ganbare
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Randwick Guineas) A Listed winner, Ganbare was outsprinted in the Hobartville (Stakes) and I expect a distance rise will suit him, although the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) would be a better fit again. Over 1400, they’re a bit sharp for him so he will improve at the mile and he will improve again off the back of Saturday. The Rosehill Guineas and the Derby, they’re going to be the two main races for him.
Horse: Les Vampires
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Randwick Guineas) Last start, Les Vampires made the running and fought on strongly to finish 3rd to Celestial Legend in the Hobartville Stakes. He was great the other day and he should keep improving. He got into a nice rhythm over the 1400 and I think he should appreciate the mile. It was a good step that he was able to prove himself in that company. We haven’t seen the best from him yet.
From Joseph Pride
Horse: Private Eye
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Challenge Stakes) I really want to give him his best chance to win the TJ (Smith Stakes) and I think that’s the right lead up. I could have put him in the (Canterbury Stakes) as well but I thought from 1000m to 1300m might be tough for him and it might take something out of him going to a TJ. So another run at the 1000m will have him primed. The gelding resumed at Flemington three weeks ago and he finished 2nd to Imperatriz. He went terrific. He’s a sprinter now, a sprint is a sprint. Whether it’s 1000m, 1100m, 1200m. The best of this horse comes when he’s ridden from behind and he will get that chance.
Horse: Mazu
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Challenge Stakes) Mazu, formerly trained by Peter & Paul Snowden, hasn’t raced since finishing 4th in The Hunter back in November. The Snowdens did a fantastic job with this horse, I don’t need to improve him I just need to get him back to where he was at his peak to be competitive with the best sprinters around. I’m not saying I’ve done that because I don’t know yet, I haven’t put him under pressure, so we’ll see. I think he will run really well first-up, I’ve been pleased with his trials. He’s jumped well, shown good enthusiasm. He’s had a change of location which to older horses can rejuvenate them. Jason Collett has partnered Mazu in both trials and will be on board in his return.
Horse: Think About It
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Canterbury Stakes) It’s easy to forget that at this time a year ago the gelding had just graduated to Group company, winning the Liverpool City Cup, but now he’s a dual Group 1 winner and reigning Everest champion. He’s had a really good break, he’s had seven weeks, I don’t think he’s had that long off since the start of 2023. Being a five-year-old and only having 13 starts, he’s so lightly raced and already achieved so much, there’s no reason why he can’t get better. I’ve given Think About It two barrier trials in preparation for his return. He’s been beaten a couple of times so he’s not defending any kind of streak or unbeaten record, I’m just happy to have him back. I’m happy this is where we are starting, where we finish is the important thing.
From James Cummings
Horse: Aft Cabin
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Challenge Stakes) The four-year-old has been off the scene since finishing midfield in the Stradbroke Handicap in June and missing the spring could prove a blessing in disguise for Aft Cabin. I wouldn’t say he had an issue that I could put my finger on, I just wasn’t happy with the horse (during early season). In hindsight, I think that worked out OK because I think we’re going to get some tracks in the coming weeks with some juice in them and that will suit the horse. He is really charging around and he is a very happy horse. He has come back into work feeling so good and I’d be shocked if that horse didn’t have a good prep. The Challenge will set him up well for The Galaxy, so I’ve got that in mind. But one race at a time and I think he can run a good race fresh up.
From Chris Waller
Horse: Militarize
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Randwick Guineas) Militarize is already proven at the journey as the winner of last season’s Champagne Stakes, and he took that form into the spring with a last-stride victory in the Golden Rose and a luckless midfield performance in the Cox Plate. We purposely chose taking on the weight-for-age horses just to season him up (in the Apollo Stakes where he finished 2nd to Fangirl). And back to his own age group, he should be very hard to beat. It was a good first-up run, so 1400 metres to the mile, he is equally as effective. The beauty of Militarize is he is good on good tracks, or if we get a bit of rain, it’s not too much of a disadvantage either, so a pretty straightforward prep.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 4 – Red Resistance
Sydney Race 6 – Remarque
Sydney Race 8 – Militarize
