From Scott Henley
Horse: Volcanic Love
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3. Highway Hcp) In late August at Rosehill Gardens, Volcanic Love shared favouritism but all plans went amiss when the gelding dwelt at the start, collided and was trapped wide before a closing 5th to Matt Dale’s Super Norwest. It was; he bombed it at the start but we’ve got a lot more in our favour on Saturday, out to the mile, the blinkers get him jumping better, middle draw OK to possie up this time. And we’ve come down early and staying at Randwick with the Lees. We’ve walked the track, he’s settled in lovely. I’ll work him on track in the morning but he’s where we want him. His sire won a Group I at a ‘mile’ and this gelding has been strong at 1500m, and he handles all conditions. ‘Hippo’ (Hyeronimus) knows him well enough now, he’ll work it out barrier rise, but hopefully midfield or better.
From Nathan Doyle
Horse: Harlem Queen
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Spring Champion Stakes) It’s good to have a horse with enough ability, and she always showed stakes class ability, so it’s good to get there. She was very strong through the line last start (in the Flight Stakes), I thought her last 100m was the best. She was strong, she’s a clean winded horse and she should relish the 2000m by the looks of it. I think the gate (7) will suit her, her best runs have been when she’s able to get to the outside and let roll into it. We were dictated to by circumstances in the Flight where we had to be third on the fence. She’s probably showing more staying prowess than we first thought, but those horses with good ability probably show you plenty over those shorts trips as well early on. They’ve just naturally got it. The Oaks is definitely in the back of the mind but we’ve got to get through Saturday to show us that she can run the strong 2000m and that she pulls up well.
From Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Horse: Just Party
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Callander-Presnell) He’s done well since his unlucky run the other day (in the Tapp-Craig), he’ s just got to learn to jump out the gates better. There is a question mark on the 1600 metres with him. I think if the race could set up right for him and he could get a nice draw (gate 1), I think he’ll run it. He finished the race off really well up along the fence, but not many horses ran home on the fence last week. He was hard up against the fence, not two horses away. Randwick’s better… but if he fails again at 1600 metres, he won’t go back there.
Horse: Arctic Glamour
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, The Invitation) Arctic Glamour hasn’t won a race in just over a year, successful over the Randwick 1400m in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality when beating Joliestar 12 months ago, but was only 2.1 lengths off Ceolwulf when 5th in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap last start. She keeps putting in, having a go. If she was ever going to run 1600 metres it was going to be the other day in the Epsom. Good gate, no weight on her back, got a good run. Peeled out as if she was nearly going to win the race and just didn’t run a mile in that class. She’s won at 1400 (metres) here, she runs well here on this track. Provided the weather stays fine, she does need it firm. Provided the weather stays fine, well, she’ll be very competitive. Kerrin Mcevoy has been booked to ride Arctic Glamour and has drawn barrier 14.
From Team Hawkes
Horse: Swiftfalcon
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Spring Champion Stakes) It was a fantastic effort (in the Gloaming Stakes), just with bad barriers unfortunately you have to probably go back that one or two pairs further back than what we would have anticipated. But it was a huge run. Unfortunately he had a bit of traffic in front of him and he had to manoeuvre around that, but it was just the run of the race. Should he have won? Yes, he probably should have. He still ran very creditable and looking like he’s going to get a strong 2000 metres. He just needs to draw a barrier and it’s his for the taking. He gave every indication that he’s wanted the 2000m. He backed up, he ran 1800 metres so we’re looking forward to the 2000 metres with two weeks obviously from that run. And he’s looking like he’s on song.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Anode
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 5, Callander-Presnell) After pushing Traffic Warden in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) first-up, Anode was well held in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) before clinging on to score in the Tapp-Craig (1400m) on October 12. He’s the winner of the Tapp-Craig so it looks a natural progression for him getting out the mile. I thought he was very good there last start, he looks to have trained on nicely and he’s in good form, so most likely you will see him there. He was very honest in those (earlier) races. He’s got form around the right horses. He just needs a few things to go his way, he needs the right track conditions. Second-up, things didn’t quite work out in the Golden Rose but outside of that he has been excellent.
Horse: Converge
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Spring Champion Stakes) He was good in the Alan Brown (Stakes) over the 1400 metres, it just had him a little bit stretched so I think the tempo of an 1800 will suit him at this stage of his career.
Horse: New Endeavour
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Spring Champion Stakes) We’ll most likely have New Endeavour there as well. He’s on his way to a Five Diamonds so I think that will be a nice set-up for him.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 5 – Anode
Sydney Race 7 – El Castello
Sydney Race 9 – Yellow Brick
