From Mark Newnham
Horse: Spirit Ridge
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 9, Kingston Town Stakes) Spirit Ridge has drawn barrier 17 for Saturday’s feature but will jump from 14 if the emergencies don’t start. The gelding’s only other starts over the 2000m Randwick circuit which yielded wins in the Summer and January Cups, both from awkward gates. It’s not as bad as it looks. For a big staying horse, he’s got very good gate speed. He was able to do it in the Summer Cup when Robbie (Dolan) rode him. He drew wide, got straight across and got himself in a position within a furlong, so I’m not that worried with him.
Horse: Marway
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, Heineken Hcp) Marway was a brilliant winner of the Wagga Town Plate in May. He’s good, but he’s a bit wintery. He’s done enough work but he needs to tidy up a bit in the coat.
From Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Horse: Mallory
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Tea Rose Stakes) She steps up to 1400m for the first time on Saturday. I’ve been itching for a long time to get her to 1400 and 1600 metres. What has turned out in the two races so far is the one who’s got the best run in the race has won the race. She had no luck first-up in a race that was an awful race. But she came out of it well, went back there and raced good. She was three-wide the entire way but kept finding the line.
From John Sargent
Horse: Elizabeel
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, The Agency Hcp) The mare was beaten just over two lengths second-up in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong and drops to a Benchmark 78 where she’ll carry just 56.5kg after Ellen Hennessy’s claim. She’s lost her coat as well and I think she’s at peak. She’ll bowl along from that draw (nine), be on speed or lead. She was just one short at Wyong, she ranged into it to win but just came to the end of it.
Horse: Four Moves Ahead
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Tea Rose Stakes) There have been excuses for her two runs back but in reality she’s hardly failed given she was beaten half a length finishing third in the Silver Shadow and 1.5 lengths when fifth in the Furious. Things just haven’t gone to plan. First run she was caught wide and pulling then that last run, we had to go back from the draw so we’ll forgive her for that but at least we know she can relax for the Flight. She’s back to her best, I think you’ll see that on Saturday. Her coat has come out now and we’ll be a bit more positive from the draw.
From James Cummings
Horse: Cascadian
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, George Main Stakes) Cascadian has shown that he’s on target for the Epsom in his two starts back finishing just behind the placings in both the Group 1 Winx Stakes and Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes. In the short term, the Epsom is very much his focus. I can only imagine him running a good race in the George Main if he is going to be competitive in the Epsom. He is perfectly positioned third-up at a mile and we have seen the horse run brilliantly at weight-for-age. The horse’s run in the All Aged Stakes (third) was a beauty.
From John O’Shea
Horse: Lion’s Roar
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, George Main Stakes) Lion’s Roar beat just one horse home in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes at Randwick earlier this month, but the gelding has a perfect second-up record. He always bounces second-up at a mile at Randwick. He has definitely got fitter from there and we are looking for a much-improved performance on Saturday. He needs dry ground. We have had a bit of rain in Sydney this week, but hopefully from now until Saturday we get good drying weather and the ground firms up for him. He is significantly better on top of the ground.
Horse: Lost And Running
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, The Shorts) Lost And Running was pleased with his 1000m trial at Randwick last Friday where he finished runner-up behind Classique Legend. If you know where he is in terms of his fitness and preparation, you had to be happy. He came through it well and had a good day out. On Saturday they are probably going to be a bit sharp for him. He is not a genuine five and a half (furlong, 1100m) horse. He has won over five and a half (furlongs) against inferior opposition, but on Saturday he will be there bowling along at his leisure and let the race unfold in front of him. We will be happy to blow out a few cobwebs and get close to them in the run. If we do that then we will know we are in the mix for later in the season.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 5 – Private Eye
Sydney Race 7 – Verry Elleegant
Sydney Race 8 – Nature Strip
