Randwick
Race 2 No.8. Woodbine. Out of Miss Finland which should give this colt a class edge on this field to start with. He won first up like a good thing then was beaten at $1.50 after a torrid run. He has been flying on the track and is ready for a big preparation.
Race 4 No.1. Boomwaa. Has this race at his mercy because the horse that beat him last start has the potential to be a champion. The gelding can lead, sit wide or be anywhere in the run and still run really well. He is the equal best bet of the day and will continue to thrive towards the Golden Slipper. He looks the ideal iron horse to make the grade in the Triple Crown for juveniles in a couple of months’ time.
Race 5 No.4. Laidback Larry. This 2014 Caulfield Cup hopeful (maybe?) is for the first time on Saturday getting towards the distance he was bred to get to. Keeping this in mind, it has been on natural talent that he has won his previous two at unsuitable distances by a combined 7.5 lengths. He is loving his racing and should win this race but don’t expect huge odds.
Race 8 No.10. Charge Account. This grey gelding was going to be the next big thing at the start of the last autumn. However it did not quite pan out but having said that he only lost one race badly and it was behind Catkins. He has trialled twice and in one of these trials he beat Ecuador from the Waterhouse yard who is a super good horse. He is at decent odds at the minute and will be hard to beat on Saturday.
Flemington
Race 1 No.5. Nostradamus. This well named colt might be a smoky for the Blue Diamond if he wins well on Saturday. He is by an American sire and out of a well performed Australian mare. He will be well found in the market but he deserves a small bet just in case his is a superstar.
Race 4 No.10. Prince of Penzance. Equal best of the day with Boomwaa in Sydney. This potential stayer has really come into his own in his two latest starts. He smashed the field at the Valley two weeks ago and has an in form trainer and in form jockey. He will most likely give them a start but he has the potential to be a very progressive staying type and a potential Group horse.
Race 4 No.2. Shenzhou Steeds. In the same races as Prince of Penzance and will be around ten times the odds of that runner despite having won several black type races. He was nice first up and is always thereabouts and at around $31 if he was to place or even win it would not be a shock.
Race 6 No.6. Don’t Get Excited. This horse has had a little bit of a boom around him for a while now and he has only kind of lived up to it. However he has a tremendous record at Flemington and he is now back in the weights. He will be very hard to beat and he might even be a smoky Oakleigh Plate or Lightning Stakes chance.
Race 6 No.7. Fab Fevola. One of the quickest horses in Australia and he has now learnt how to settle in races and we always seem to get huge odds. If he was $4 you would say no way, not worth it; but at $20 he is definitely worth an each way bet. The Flemington straight is playing funny buggers at the minute and horses on the speed seem to be either almost dropping dead, but more often, holding on and winning. Fab Fevola will well and truly be up on the speed.
Race 7 No.3. Index Linked. There are only two real chances in this race; Index Linked and Initiator. They are both in great form and are both able to sit on the pace or fly from the back of the field. Index Linked gets the nod because he is well and truly fit and he tends to bounce back really well after a loss.
Race 8 No.10. Pillar of Creation. Stays down in the weights and has found a little bit of form. He was really good at Caulfield two weeks ago and in a similar race here it is hard to see him missing a place, especially with the run he appears he will be gifted. He is still at good odds and can be backed each way.
By Zeb Armstrong
