Mandela debuted with a decent effort to finish second behind the classy Exceed The Stars and looks primed to break his maiden in the first at Randwick on Saturday. The Sebring colt showed good ability at the trials in the lead-up to his debut and has been kept up to the mark with another heading into this. The $1.80 on offer at publish is too short for me and I am happy to watch.
No Bet
Healing Hands will resume from a spell in this week’s Highway race and will be tough to beat. The I Am Invincible gelding recorded two wins and a close-up second during his three-start debut prep and has returned a pleasing effort at a trial in the lead-up to this. This is clearly his toughest task to date, but he does look up to a city win.
2 Units Healing Hands
Sir Elton has recorded three wins from as many career starts and is the one to beat again in the third at Randwick on Saturday. The Your Song gelding has continued to improve with racing and as trainer Adam Duggan has raised the bar and was last seen recording an each two-length win in a similar race to this two weeks ago. At publish, he’s available at even money but I cannot imagine that will last.
4 Units Sir Elton
These BM78 races are typically one of the tougher affairs to analyse from a betting perspective and there’s a case to be made for virtually every horse in this nine-strong field. Velocita will take plenty improvement into what is her second campaign target and looks up to winning. The daughter of Sebring trialled well in the lead-up to this campaign and hit the line well to finish second behind Notation at this track and distance first-up. With natural improvement and from the good draw, I’m confident she’ll go close.
2 Units Velocita
Attorney is yet to taste anything but success since arriving in Australia and looks the one to beat again in the fifth. The Matt Smith-trained gelding poked home over a mile at Newcastle first-up before a comfortable win in BM74 company last time out. This is another rise in class, but he’ll only improve and the small increase in trip is also ideal.
3 Units Attorney
Dr Drill has been charged with carrying and heavy topweight, but he has been a model of consistency since arriving in Australia and is primed for another big performance. The Dansili gelding has finished worse than second just once in five starts for the Maher & Eustace stable and socred an impressive win over 1800m at Flemington two back, before a fair effort for second at this track and distance last time. He does get some relief in the weights with Teo Nugent aboard and he looks a touch of overs at $6.
1.5 Units E/W Dr Drill
Eight horses remain in contention for the seventh, but it looks a race in two between last-start winners Notation and Ljungberg.
Notation has recorded three wins from as many starts this time, two in BM78 company here at Randwick. This is obviously a step up in class, but he’s rock-hard fit and has the runs on the board.
Ljungberg has continued to improve with racing this time and his last-start effort and win was excellent. This is also a step up in class for him, but he’s drawn a peach and has been charged with carrying only 54.5kgs. I think that he can get it done again.
2 Units Ljungberg
Travancore has returned to racing in excellent condition this time and looks up to winning a pretty open race at Randwick on Saturday. The Savabeel gelding hasn’t finished outside of the places in four starts since resuming a scored a smart win in BM70 company two back, before finishing a half-length third here last time out. There’s no doubt that he’ll appreciate the mile and Jason Collett should be able to find a nice position in transit from barrier 7.
1.5 Units E/W Travancore
Greyworm hasn’t been seen at the races since March, but he flies fresh and is the class horse in the field for the last. The Team Hawkes-trained gelding has recorded three wins and as many minors through his six career starts and resumed in January for a dominant win over 1200m at The Valley. A repeat of that effort would see him winning this first-up.
3 Units Greyworm