Up And Coming Stakes day has been moved from Royal Randwick to Royal Kembla Grange this Saturday and there are 10 quality races on the card.
Our full 2021 Up & Coming Stakes Day Tips & Preview can be found below.
Race 1 – 11:15AM – Highway Handicap, (1400m) – No. 3 Philipsburg
The Highway race is often won by a progressive type of horse on the rise and Philipsburg fits that profile well.
He was beaten less than half a length first up in a very similar race to this one and will take plenty of benefit out of the run.
Race 2 – 11:50AM – Benchmark 88 Handicap, (1200m) – No. 2 All Time Legend & No. 3 Mamaragan
All Time Legend was just caught late by Chat in the July Sprint first up over 110m and that horse has since come out and won at Group 2 level last week (Missile Stakes).
The lightly raced five year old gelding has won five of 10 career starts and will be fitter for the run.
It’s also worth having an each way saver on Mamaragan who has trialed really well leading into this first up assignment and represents good value at his current price.
Race 3 – 12:25pm – Premier’s Cup Prelude, (2000m) – No. 2 Laure Me In
Laure Me In was last seen at the races finishing second in the Listed Grafton Cup beaten less than half a length.
The seven year old has been given five weeks in between runs and was impressive when winning a trial on the third of August.
Jason Collett can give the horse a nice run in transit from barrier two.
Race 4 – 1:00pm – Benchmark 72 Handicap, (1200m) – No. 2 Conceited
Conceited showed a lot of early promise as a two year old colt placing in the Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast but didn’t go on with the job during the autumn.
He has been given the ultimate gear change since we last saw him at the races and his two trials leading into this first up assignment have been promising.
Race 5 – 1:35pm – Benchmark 72 Handicap, (1200m) – No. 2 Exceltic
Exceltic returned in really nice order when scoring by over a length first up and the punters did not miss him in the mounting yard as he was very well backed.
He was last on the turn over 1100m and he put them away in a few strides to score easing down on the line, suggesting he may be better than this grade of racing.
This is another big field but Tom Sherry will give some weight relief and I can’t find a reason that he can’t win again.
Race 6 – 2:15pm – Benchmark 78 Handicap, (2000m) – No. 14 Onemore Sapphire
Onemore Sapphire has been racing very consistently all throughout this prep so far and he found the line well behind Gemmahra last start who had a nice time of it in front.
He meets that horse better at the weights for this event and the step up in distance will suit.
Race 7 – 2:55pm – Spring Preview, (1400m) – No. 8 True Detective
Four of True Detective’s seven starts so far this prep have been at Listed level and he has not finished worst than fourth in each.
He jumped out of the barriers really well in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill last start to take up the running but just over raced in the middle stages with the blinkers on, which took its toll late in the piece.
Tommy Berry can take the horse to the front again from barrier nine and he will again be right in the finish with 53.5kgs on his back.
Race 8 – 3:35pm – Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes, (1300m) – No. 4 Revivalist
Peter and Paul Snowden will saddle a couple of good chances in the feature race of the day but my pick is their Shalaa colt Revivalist.
He broke through for his maiden race win at Newcastle two back before a very impressive effort in open 2YO class a Randwick last start where he was only nabbed late by the smart War Eternal.
All signs point to him having a fitness edge on a few of his rivals at the top of the weights and has been given four weeks in between runs into the Up And Coming Stakes.
Race 9 – 4:15pm – Benchmark 78 Handicap, (1400m) – No. 8 Pensato
On paper Pensato’s first up run looks a little disappointing but she is a very progressive mare and I wouldn’t be shocked if she takes a big step forward second up.
She won the Oaks Trial at Flemington in the spring before finishing fourth, beaten 2.7 lengths, before finishing well down the track in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes.
While this is short of her ideal distance, it is only a benchmark 78 and she is being asked to carry just 54kg.
$41 is a very enticing each way price.