From John Thompson
Horse: Emmadella
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Midway Hcp) Emmadella was an eye-catcher when she returned two weeks ago (1200m) as she ran into 4th behind the smart Zoubaby. She’s very honest, she gives the best every run but the 1200m is just a little bit short. She was good (first-up), just got a little bit held up around the corner there but once she got clear she hit the line nicely. She’s a big, gross, horse so the run has improved her and brought her on. She looks a lot better in the coat and in herself. I think the 1400m to a mile is her distance so she’s up to the 1400m (on Saturday), blinkers back on, and Nash Rawiller going on is never a bad thing.
From Danny Williams
Horse: Highway Strip
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 2, Highway Hcp) He’s come back a lot more furnished, a lot more mature mentally. Last preparation he was doing everything on sheer ability and had no idea what he was doing. He still has a long way to go before the penny really drops but he’s more switched on about what he’s doing and the inclusion of a tongue tie has helped him a lot. Kerrin McEvoy has the ride on Highway Strip at Randwick and if the gelding does everything right he expects to be a major player in the race. Our expectations are he will be very competitive. It’s a roomy track, he has a good weight (56.5kg) and a nice gate (6) and I’m hoping he’s mentally ready because last preparation he wouldn’t have been.
From John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Horse: Inquiring Minds
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Hcp) Inquiring Minds has had six starts for the stable for two wins, and so far, he’s appreciating slightly sharper trips. I think we are getting to know him a little bit. When he came over to us he’d raced over a mile and a half in England on tough staying tracks. We felt in evaluating him he was probably finding those stiff mile and a half races a little too much for him. We think he will probably get to 2000m but there’s still a bit to be learned about him. Going to a big open mile track should suit him really well. It’s a stiffer mile which he’s probably looking for at this stage, and it looks a winnable race.
From Michael Freedman
Horse: Apocalyptic
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Petaluma Hcp) Apocalyptic has impressed in trials, including a dominant Hawkesbury win. This is a strong two-year-old race, probably stronger than I expected … but I think she can acquit herself well.
From Peter Snowden
Horse: Memo
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, Petaluma Hcp) In her two starts to date Memo has been dictated to by wide barriers, meaning she’s been ridden conservatively, but she will take advantage of a slightly more favourable marble. She’s come on nicely, her work has been really good since Wyong and she’s drawn half a decent gate which is good. I reckon she nearly gets the one-one on Saturday. If she gets that she’ll be very hard to beat. She hasn’t won a race yet but both her efforts have been worthy of winning a race. Hopefully on Saturday we can get a bit closer and she can slot in and still show that turn of foot at the end. I’d hate to think we miss out on a run if she doesn’t win.
Horse: August Bloom
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Captivant@Kia Ora Hcp) A step up in distance should see August Bloom put her best foot forward after a promising first-up performance. Her effort to be beaten just over 2-1/2 lengths by Disneck at Randwick two weeks ago was a solid pass park given she didn’t have the best luck in running. I thought it was very good. She got dragged back in the middle stages, she went from a midfield spot to second last and looked like she was in trouble. The last 100m she launched and finished really hard. What I liked is how good she was through the line, it was good to see her do that. Going to seven furlongs is perfect, she has a better draw, and it’s a nice race for her. It’s a good race but she is going in there still on the way up.
