Osamu returned a pleasing debut performance to finish second over 1150m here and looks primed to go one better on Wednesday. The Exceed And Excel colt showed ability at the trials prior to his first competitive start and mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to run on in the late stages last month. There is no doubt that he’ll enjoy good improvement for that experience, and he’ll have the benefit of Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle this week.
2 Units Osamu
Two of the eight confirmed starters in Race 2 will be on debut including the Godolphin-trained Seraglio, who has shown above-average ability at the trials. Given that I’d prefer to see what she can do at the races before backing her, I’m happy to stay out of this race from a betting perspective.
No Bet
Sea Of Life hasn’t run a bad race since debuting and is ready to break his maiden second-up on the Kensington course. The John O’Shea-trained three-year-old stamped himself as a horse to follow when finishing a close second behind Erno on debut at Warwick Farm and he was sent for a break after filling the minors behind subsequent Group 1 JJ Atkins winner Prince Fawaz at Randwick. There was a lot to like about his run first-up from a spell at Canterbury less than two weeks ago and he is another horse that will enjoy good improvement into Wednesday.
4 Units Sea Of Life
Pumpkin Pie has returned to the track in competitive form this time and is faced with easily her best chance of winning in the fourth at Randwick-Kensington this week. The Star Witness mare has been stepping out in Saturday metro races since transferring to the care of Richard and Michael Freedman and was last seen finishing half the length from the winner over a mile on the main course here at Randwick. She’s rock-hard fit and with even luck, will take a power of beating.
2 Units Pumpkin Pie
Welsh Legend was fair to the line when fifth first-up from a spell a fortnight ago and looks beautifully placed for a return to winning form on Wednesday. The Chris Waller-trained mare was a strong and consistent performer last time in; running fourth in the Group 3 Adrian Knox and third in the Group 2 Roses before ending her prep less than three lengths from the winner in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. She returned a lovely trial in the lead-up to her return but clearly needed the run when fifth behind Bandersnatch. This is an easier race and she’ll have the benefit of a claiming apprentice in the saddle. She has these rivals covered on class and will be hard to beat, anywhere near her best.
2 Units Welsh Legend
Black Magnum hasn’t been seen at the races since October, but he is a horse that typically races well fresh and looks up to a winning return in the penultimate race at Randwick-Kensington. The Magnus gelding has recorded four wins and five minors through only fourteen career starts so far and resuming last time for consecutive wins in BM70 company. Of three previous first-up assignments, he’s won twice and finished second on the other occasion, and he looks ready to go after a smart trial win a couple of weeks ago.
4 Units Black Magnum
This is a small drop in class for The Man and he looks well placed to return to winning form third-up. The Chris Waller-trained gelding resumed from a decent spell to break his maiden at Canterbury, before producing another decent effort to finish on the placegetters’ heels in BM74 company last time out. He looks a horse with upside and can continue his rise through the grades with another win on Wednesday.
1 Unit E/W The Man