Royal Randwick will host Sydney’s major metropolitan meeting this week and the Listed Winter Stakes headlines the program.
The rail will be set out four metres 2000m-1600m and six metres around the remainder of the course, while at publish the track is rated in the Soft (7) range.
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Race 1 – 11:00AM – ACY Securities Handicap, (1100m)
I’m keen to give Baby Wong another chance in the first at Randwick on Saturday.
Baby Wong returned to the races with a lovely effort to break his maiden in the featured two-year-old race at Tamworth, but he finished down the order in the Ken Russell Memorial and the BRC Sires’ Produce.
He has been freshened since that last effort and this is a decent drop in class.
Race 2 – 11:35AM – Ranvet Handicap, (1500m)
Kobe Rocks can bounce back in the second on Winter Stakes Day.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding need a few starts to find good and consistent form when resuming this time, but charged in at Warwick Farm two back.
He was far from disgraced when fourth in Saturday company at Rosehill a fortnight ago, and this looks to be weaker opposition.
Race 3 – 12:10pm – Highway Class 3 Handicap, (1400m)
Tags doesn’t know how to run a bad race and looms as a key winning chance in this week’s Highway Handicap.
The Sidestep gelding has had five career starts for three wins and a placing, and returned this time for an easy victory at Bathurst before filling the minors at Hawkesbury last time.
Something like this doesn’t look to be out of his means.
Race 4 – 12:45pm – Hyland Race Colours Handicap, (1100m)
This race is packed with horses that typically step out at the midweeks and I think that Maddi Rocks has claims on winning fresh.
Maddi Rocks hasn’t been seen at the races since March, but she was a model of consistency last time and has a decent fresh record of 5:1-2-0.
She has been transferred to the care of John O’Shea this prep, she has had the benefit of a couple of trials and I think that she has a class edge over these.
Race 5 – 1:20pm – Schweppes Handicap, (2000m)
This is another wide open BM78 race and I am going to give Welsh Legend another chance under the conditions.
She’s been a good horse for the Waller stable throughout her career, but it is fair to say that Welsh Legend has mixed her form a little this time.
Regardless, her best efforts have still been eye-catching, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that she’s at her best over 2000m and on a soft track.
She is drawn to receive a lovely run and we can have an each-way play at the price.
Race 6 – 1:55pm – Geohex Sprint, (1100m)
I’m pretty keen on Lancaster Bomber in the sixth on Winter Stakes Day.
Lancaster Bomber is as tough as they come, and while he has almost always been ignored in betting, he hardly ever returns a poor effort.
I thought that there was a lot to like about his resuming effort for third, beaten a length and a half by Malkovich here last month, and I like that he has had a trial since that effort.
I concede he’ll need to be at his best to beat the likes of The Bopper, but I think that he will be.
Race 7 – 2:35pm – Midway Handicap, (1300m)
Bazooka is on the short back-up from his impressive performance last week and I am keen to stick with him.
The David Payne-trained gelding needed the run when he finished midfield first-up, but ran home well to only just miss a fit Tycoonist last week.
Fitter third-up and from this good draw, this looks his opportunity to strike.
Race 8 – 3:15pm – Listed Winter Stakes, (1400m)
This is the strongest edition of the Winter Stakes in recent memory and there is a case to be made for several chances, including Rubisaki.
Rubisaki hasn’t returned to winning form in five starts back this time, but she has found form around plenty of above-average gallopers, finished third in a Group 1 race and has only just missed at her last two.
She’s rock-hard fit, has won some good races at the Sydney way of going and takes 3kgs from topweight Bandersnatch, whom I believe to be her biggest threat.
Race 9 – 3:55pm – Heineken Handicap, (1200m)
This is one of the better races on the 2021 Winter Stakes Day program and I’m going to back a couple of horses.
Frosty Rocks hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but he invariably pulls out a big effort when fresh and he has trialled extremely well in the lead-up to his return.
I’m also going to have something on Zakat, who has been a Saturday metro stalwart for Godolphin these last couple of seasons, and who will be doing all of his best work late.
Race 10 – 4:30pm – The Agency Real Estate Handicap, (1400m)
I’m going to give Katalin the chance to bounce back in the last on Winter Stakes Day.
Katalin was an easy winner on the Kensington course when resuming here in May, but could only manage a fifth placing, beaten three lengths by Expat when returning to Saturday company last time.
Given the space between her first and second-up runs, I’m confident that last hit-out will have brought her right back on, and the booking of James McDonald is obviously another bonus.