From John O’Shea
Horse: Mirann
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 4, Precise Air Hcp) The import resumes after failing to beat a rival home at his only local start in the Rosehill Gold Cup in October, after the horse was caught deep and made an aggressive mid-race move to go to the front before tiring. He is still learning the Australian way of racing, but he is a very nice horse and he can run well on Saturday.
Horse: Diamil
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Drinkwise Mile) Diamil showed a dashing turn of foot to win at his second Australian start at Warwick Farm last month, and the form out of that midweek race has stacked up well. Of the four horses who finished immediately behind him, three have subsequently won, including fifth placed Verona who emerged to claim the Frank Packer Plate at her next start. There is no doubting he’s up to this, although the gate (12) would concern me. But he’s (McDonald) got to earn his five per cent, hasn’t he.
From Matthew Dale
Horse: Fourmadec
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Highway Hcp) Fourmadec has put together a pair of comprehensive victories at Canberra over 1400m and 1600m. Both her last two runs at Canberra, we’ve ridden her a bit quieter and with some cover and she has been very dynamic. She is building confidence nicely so the plan is to run her in that Highway if we can. She would need luck getting back from barrier one but that‘s where James McDonald helps.
Horse: Devils Triangle
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 6, Chandon Hcp) Apprentice Ellen Hennessy will pilot the mare after riding her to victory two starts ago at a midweek meeting at Canterbury. Devils Triangle has been in good form. She obviously won at Canterbury two starts back and then carried a big weight to win the Federal at Canberra. She is still working it all out and has been up for a while but has shown no signs that she is coming to the end of it. We know she handles the wet so that‘s why we are backing her up off eight days.
Horse: Toretto
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, Ranvet Hcp) Toretto will be chasing a fourth win in five starts this preparation. I think all his runs this preparation have been full of merit and he’s improved all the way through. The other day was only a Class 3, mini-Highway kind of race as it was country horses only but I liked the way he has been going about it. He is still a work in progress and certainly deserves a crack at this.
From Peter Robl
Horse: Our Belle Fille
Message: (Saturday, Doomben Race 4, Princess Stakes) She is going terrific. Her last couple of runs have been good but the track was just a bit too heavy for her the other day. She is just starting to put it all together so she will run there and then we will look to running her in the Gold Bracelet into The Roses and maybe an Oaks if she is going good enough and her form warrants it. My only query would be if it has come a prep too early. I would imagine she will lob somewhere midfield or a touch worse (from barrier 1). If she can roll to the line in a pleasing manner, that’s what we will want particularly as we step up in journey.
From Mark Newnham
Horse: Dragonstone
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Furphy Hcp) He will carry just 51.5kg after the claim of stable apprentice Tyler Schiller. He has been running well without a lot of luck. There have been some fairly heavy tracks he has had to contend with and Andermatt was too good for him the other day, but the conditions were fairly atrocious. He is going very well he just needs to get into the right race now.
Horse: Lord Olympus
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Furphy Hcp) Lord Olympus will be competitive after two solid barrier trials. He will run well. His trials have been good, he tends to go well fresh and handles wet ground well.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Zougotcha
Sydney Race 6 – Quintello
