8. Kerguelen is the most interesting horse across the entire Randwick meeting. The Godolphin gelding won by 9 lengths on debut at Kembla Grange. Yes, 9 lengths. And he did it eased down. It was the fastest of the four 1200m races of the meeting. He didn’t beat much but he annihilated them. James Cummings finds a three-year-old Saturday race to find out where Kerguelen fits in and books James McDonald. The 1300m start at Randwick is awkward for horses drawn wide so the map does him no favours. Chautauqua’s half-brother 4. Need Some Luck looks destined to skip through the grades himself. Ran as well as he could first up in a hot race at Scone behind Elson Boy from a wide gate before a perfect ride saw him score at Canterbury second up.
How to play it: Kerguelen to win
RACE 6 – 1:55PM MACQUARIE ST SOCIAL HCP (1800m)
4. Akasawa looks to be flying. He lined up in the Gunnedah Cup last start, out to defend his title from 12 months earlier and was only denied by bad luck. He should have won despite lumping a whopping 65.5kg. Prior to that the six-year-old hit the line to run third in the Tamworth Cup behind in-form galloper Gringotts. He’ll want the track to continue to improve but like the progression out to 1800m now third up. Annabel Neasham-trained import 8. Fortune has been a real eye-catcher in his two trials ahead of his Australian debut. The barrier does him no favour but was G3 placed over 2100m at Longchamp. 13. Amberite was edged out by Foujita San at Caulfield last start. The former Kiwi has been excellent in his two runs for Matt Laurie. The knock is how well found he is in early betting.
How to play it: Akasawa to win
RACE 7 – 2:30PM TAB HCP (1000m)
15. Cosmonova had no excuses first up at Warwick Farm. Suspect her condition gave out late first up at the end of 1100m with 59.5kg on a heavy track. Respect the placement of Joe Pride that he now opts to run the half-sister to Magic Time in a BM78 in Saturday company second up. That sees her drop 7.5kg and Tyler Schiller has been booked to ride. Dropping back to 1000m shouldn’t worry her and drawn barrier 1, she won’t have to do any early work to hold a prominent position in behind the leaders. 10. Dipsy Doodle went way too fast in front first up last campaign when third to Our Kobison at Rosehill. She set up a track record time. Second up she wanted to bolt again and overraced early, which saw her with nothing left late. Spell and start again. She can bounce back but is well found. 2. Dollar Magic finished outside of the top three for the first time in 13 runs last start.
How to play it: Cosmonova each-way
RACE 8 – 3:05PM THE AGENCY CIVIC STAKES (1400m)
1. Tamerlane was disappointing first up in the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone. However, there is a pattern developing with this six-year-old. In his past two campaigns he has needed the run fresh before jumping out of the ground to win impressively second up. His record over 1400m also jumps out when assessing his chances here. It reads 14:5-4-1. He is starting to pay the price for his record, carrying 59.5kg, but he draws to get a soft run from barrier 1, James McDonald is booked and Tamerlane won a recent Rosehill trial to keep him ticking over, bridging the five weeks between runs. 12. Diamond Diesel had his first exposure to listed company two starts ago in the Takeover Target Stakes and came out with his reputation enhanced. He covered plenty of ground in the run. He dropped back to BM78 company last start, over this same track and trip, and won with authority. He’s flying.
How to play it: Tamerlane to win
RACE 9 – 3:45PM CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HCP (1200m)
16. Kazou zipped across to settle outside of the leader at Rosehill first up. The speed was on in the early stages and perhaps that told at the finish. The leader Hard To Say ended up winning but he had more recent racing on his side. Kazou didn’t shirk her task to be beaten a length. The mare has been back to the trials and looked sharp, running second under a hold to subsequent winner Iron Man. The daughter of Zoustar has built a great record of 9:4-1-3, largely due to her racing style.
19. Fleetwood is chasing three straight having been gelded prior to this preparation. His mind is on the job now. Has won with authority in his two runs back and James McDonald was full of praise for the three-year-old after he won on him first up at Warwick Farm. The drop back to 1000m didn’t bother him second up in Saturday company, beating even money favourite The Black Cloud. Has won out to 1200m previously.
How to play it: Kazou to win
RACE 10 – 4:25PM PRECISE AIR HCP (1400m)
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9. Elouyou looks well placed up from Melbourne. The So You Think gelding is yet to finish out of the moment in seven career starts and is still improving. He showed great heart to just miss at Sandown second up. It was a fast race with first and third from that race winning their subsequent start. Elouyou then stepped into Saturday company at Flemington in BM84 company, jumped a well-backed favourite, but was worried out of it on the line to again miss narrowly. Drawn wide but has the early speed to offset that without too much trouble. There isn’t a lot of speed on paper. 5. Starman put in another good showing last start over this track, trip, and grade two weeks ago. That winless streak continues to grow but he continues to cash cheques for his owners. Nash Rawiller jumps back on and is the last jockey to win on the five-year-old.
How to play it: Elouyou to win
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