The Listed Bob Charley Stakes headlines a quality nine-race program at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The rail will be set out three metres around the entire course and at publish, the track is rated in the Soft (7) range.
Race 1 – 11:20AM – Fujitsu General Handicap, (1200m)
In The Congo was an impressive debut winner and he can keep alive his unbeaten record at Randwick on Saturday.
The Snitzel colt showed ability at the trials prior to his first competitive start and put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching win on the Kensington course.
With improvement for that effort, he can fight out the finish again.
Race 2 – 11:55AM – Highway Class 3 Plate, (1500m)
Power Me Up looks up to winning this week’s Highway race.
The Mitch Beer-trained gelding stripped fitter with a few fair efforts earlier in his campaign, and returned to winning form in BM58 company at Albury two starts back.
He franked that effort with another impressive performance and win in a similar contest at Albury last time, beating him stable mate Swagger, who has franked the form by winning one of these races in town.
Race 3 – 12:30pm – City Tattersalls Club Handicap, (1000m)
He clearly needed the run when he finished down the order at Flemington when resuming, but I’m confident that Dickin Medal can return a bold second-up effort at Randwick on Saturday.
The Snitzel gelding stamped himself as a runner to follow during his debut preparation, winning two from three and ended his prep fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Portland Stakes in the Manfred Stakes.
He is drawn and weighted well, and I am happy to give him another chance.
Race 4 – 1:05pm – 50 Year And Life Members Handicap, (1200m)
Gravina will take winning form into the fourth on Bob Charley Stakes Day and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The three-year-old son of Sebring flashed last to finish third, beaten less than a head by Bravado at Scone two starts back, before returned arguably the best effort of his career to salute in BM72 company here last time out.
He is at peak fitness, looks ideally suited to the conditions of this race, and I really can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Race 5 – 1:40pm – Drinkwise Mile, (1600m)
Zing has filled the minors at each of her first two starts back from a spell, and she can salute on the short back-up this weekend.
The Zoustar mare was a consistent performer for the Waller stable last time in, and she cut her teeth in races no dissimilar to this one.
She finished a length and a half third behind the talented Count De Rupee when fresh, and at one stage looked the winner before finishing third behind Great House last weekend.
With further improvement, this looks the perfect opportunity for her to strike.
Race 6 – 2:20pm – Heineken Racing To Win Handicap, (1600m)
Kirwan’s Lane has also accepted for a race in Brisbane on Saturday, but he’ll take a power of beating here, should trainer John O’Shea elect to keep him at home.
The Charm Spirit gelding has been a strong and consistent performer since making his debut, and he returned to winning form with an impressive effort to beat Ellsberg at Rosehill a fortnight ago; the pair gapping their rivals.
He’ll only improve for that effort and the small step up to a mile should suit.
Race 7 – 3:00pm – Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes, (1100m)
This is an outstanding edition of the Bob Charley Stakes and there is a case to be made for several horses, including Adelong.
She looked like she could be anything this time last year, and while she went off the boil during her spring preparation, Adelong has continued to improve with each of her four starts back this time.
She was unsighted in the Group 2 Sapphire first-up, but placed in both the Hawkesbury Gold Rush and the Ortensia Stakes before returning to winning form in the At Sea Handicap last time out.
This is a step back up in class, but she is rock-hard fit and drawn to receive a lovely run, and we can have an each-way play at around the $10 mark.
Race 8 – 3:40pm – ACY Securities Handicap, (1300m)
I’m going to give Superium one last chance to win when he contests the penultimate race on Bob Charley Stakes Day.
Superium has been a consistent performer since resuming this time and hasn’t missed placing in four starts, but he has continued to do a bit wrong, and seems to have forgotten how to win.
He is drawn and weighted ideally, has a fitness edge and simply won’t be offered a better opportunity to win than this.
Race 9 – 4:20pm – Precise Air Handicap, (1400m)
Canasta looks to have genuine claims on winning the last at Randwick on Saturday.
The Makfi gelding returned several eye-catching efforts last time in, and he was unlucky not to enjoy an ideal return to the races when second, beaten half a length here last month.
With improvement and from the good draw, he can fight out the finish again.