From Scott Collings
Horse: Mogo Magic
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 7, Godolphin Lifeline Care Hcp) At least now we know he can handle that pressure and I think coming out of Highway grade into benchmark grade, the pressure is probably not going to be quite as savage early as it was in the Highway. He just keeps on filling us with confidence. Every time we lift that bar for him, he just keeps on lifting and doing it with ease. This is probably his biggest task yet, but we were very lucky to find a benchmark 72 on a Saturday, which suits him down to the ground. I think it’s a nice step for him. His work has been super, it hasn’t changed at all from his first-up run. If anything, he’s a lot brighter going into this weekend because he’s getting a bit deeper into his preparation and he knows what’s going on.
Horse: Ten Bells
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers Hcp) She is capable of running a cheeky race from a low draw in gate two. She’s up to her right distance now. She’s got a lovely soft draw (gate 2) and I think she’ll run very well at a long price.
From John Sargent
Horse: Super Friendship
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 10, Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers Hcp) Super Friendship won at Gosford and Kensington, where he beat subsequent winner Media Starguest in the latter. It’s a step up in grade on Saturday but he’s earned it and is happy to take it on after a positive report from jockey Josh Parr at trackwork during the week. Hopefully he’s going to get a soft run from the draw (gate 4). I was going to go 1400m but 1300m at Randwick is a lot like 1400m on most other tracks. He’s a big strong boy, he’s a lovely horse, and I think he will bowl around just behind the speed and get every chance. If it’s down to a fight he’s the type of horse that keeps giving.
From Scott Singleton
Horse: Melody Again
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Highway Hcp) Melody Again was beaten in the tightest of finishes by Zaru two weeks ago at Randwick after a tremendous final section from near last. Barrier one wasn’t any good to her last time, she was shuffled right back and the traffic beat her, but the jockey (Michael Bell) still thought she’d won and so did I. You won’t get him off her. Huge run, she’s a big strong filly with a tendency to be a bit sluggish and get back but she’s improved this prep. Lightly raced, so still working her out. Whether she genuinely wants 1400m to a ‘mile’ or runs her best races fresh at 1200m. The other day she was first-up off a trial, so unlucky and final sections enormous. So there is something about her.
From Michael Freedman
Horse: Insurrection
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Kanebridge Hcp) It’s always difficult to continue to step up in grade but he seems to me he’s coping with it well and hopefully he can run another great race on Saturday. He seems to be in good order and holding good form and he’s at the track and distance he’s won his last two. If he was able to come out and run well or win again you’d have to start looking at the higher class sprints. I would doubt he’d back up into a Missile but you’d have to look around for some sort of black type. We could look to give him a bit of a freshen up and have another crack at them later in the spring. He has good gate speed and can take up a position and that can help offset a wide draw (gate 11). If you have a horse that needs to be midfield with cover it can be a bit problematic. But he seems to be able to sustain that pressure and kick off it. He’s a horse that’s always shown good promise but I think it’s taken a bit of time to fully mature into himself and he’s putting it all together at the moment.
From Sarah Murray-Leslie
Horse: Free State
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Highway Hcp) He’s a lovely big horse, who was great first-up at Kembla off a great ride from Molly Bourke. Free State ran a huge race in the Highway Handicap on Gong Day last year. He’s come back in good order and is capable of the same again this week given an ounce of luck. Shame about the visitor’s gate (15) but he Is doing well this time in. He will take his place, he’s extremely honest, I expect he can jump and find a stalking position. He’s had a nice long lead up so the next few runs will show where he’s at.
From Tash Burleigh
Horse: Iron Will
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 3, Highway Hcp) I was happy with his efforts first-up, he didn’t have a lot of choice but to roll forward, he would have easily been caught three wide, he was very brave to the line and only beaten in the last little bit. Iron Will finished less than two lengths from the winner (Zaru) in 6th place after leading the field up for most of the race. He had a jump out and a trial before his first up run, it would have been two jump outs had we not wanted to utilise the trip away with a trial. He’s a pretty spirited horse and doesn’t hold back in his work, so he was fairly fit. He just needs race fitness to top him off now. Unfortunately he’s drawn a pretty average gate (11). Not what you like to see up against some flashy horses. Might be caught wide again, but he’s trained on well and will be tougher going into this run.
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Infatuation
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, ATC Thank You Trainers Hcp) Infatuation has been given two trials to prepare for her return in Saturday. It’s going to be interesting in terms of this week, I’ve got her up a touch earlier to try to get a run under her belt before we possibly go to the spring stakes races. I’m mindful her form is probably better second-up so we will try to replicate that into the spring. She’s in good order and she is a good filly with a good pedigree. Rachel (King) rides her and I think she’s only going to keep getting better.
Horse: Desperately
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 1, ATC Thank You Trainers Hcp) Desperately has earned herself a chance in city grade after winning at Taree first-up and finishing a close 2nd at Scone last start. She’s another Darby (Racing) horse and she ran really well at Scone. We’re throwing her in the deep end but she’s professional enough and has natural speed.
Horse: Rupertaar
Message: (Saturday, Randwick Race 8, Kanebridge Hcp) Rupertaar’s dam, Great Dansaar, is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and 2016 Golden Slipper and Cox Plate placegetter Yankee Rose. I’d love to run her on Saturday and then possibly look at a race like the Toy Show Handicap, she is going super. She resumes in the Kanebridge Handicap (1100m) this weekend and hopefully she can further enhance her outstanding first-up record of three wins from four fresh runs. She is a filly who doesn’t carry a lot of condition, a little bit like her mother Great Dansaar. She has trialled brilliantly.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Estriella
Sydney Race 7 – Diamond Dealer
Sydney Race 8 – Insurrection
