Saturday’s major metropolitan meet in Sydney will take place at Royal Randwick.
The nine-race program is headlined by a particularly strong Listed sprint that has drawn names like Classique Legend, Viridine, Snitz and Adelong.
Oregon will enjoy good improvement for his debut effort and looks a winning chance in the first at Randwick this weekend.
The Zoustar colt was settled off the pace at Canterbury on debut and returned one of the fastest closing splits of the entire day to fill the minors.
3 Units Oregon
This is a rise in class for Divine Eleven, but he has been a strong and consistent performer this time and can continue his rise through the grades.
The Matt Dunn-trained gelding finished second behind the speedy Kateru three back, getting the chocolates at Kembla Grange two back before running second over 1500m at Newcastle last time out.
I’m eager to see what he can do over the 1800m.
1 Unit E/W Divine Eleven
Another open Highway race is set to take place over 1100m, and I am happy to give the exciting Tejori another chance.
She comfortably accounted for a Class 1 field at Canberra when resuming and proved that was no fluke with an impressive win over some good horses here at Randwick two back.
She just faded late from a forward position to finish third a couple of weeks ago, but I am confident she’ll take further improvement for that hit-out and the conditions of this race will be ideal.
2 Units Tejori
Humbolt Current is yet to show his best form this time in, but he has still returned some competitive efforts and is rock-hard fit for this contest.
The Fastnet Rock gelding raced home well to finish a length from the winner over 2400m at Rosehill last time out and I like that James McDonald has elected to stay with him.
I am happy to have a small each-way play at the price but if he doesn’t finish it off, he’ll likely go into the ‘never again’ pile.
1 Unit E/W Humbolt Current
Burning Crown has returned to the races in typically competitive form this time, and this race looks another lovely metro target for him.
The Helmet gelding mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to score over 1100m at Warwick Farm when resuming and returned another lovely effort to fill the minors behind a couple of smart ones here last time out.
Fitter third-up, drawn well and with Hugh Bowman aboard, he looks primed to win.
2 Units Burning Crown
Segalas has been a model of consistency this time and with even luck from a potentially stick draw, she can return to winning form on Saturday.
The Godolphin-trained mare has missed a place only once in five starts back from a spell, winning once on the Kensington course here.
She was last seen finishing second, albeit by a healthy margin to the talented Masked Crusader, but there is no horse of that quality here, and she’ll get a relief in the weights with Jean Van Overmeire’s claim.
2 Units Segalas
This is an outstanding Listed race and some high-class sprinters have been confirmed for a start.
One of those is the resuming Classique Legend, who will take beating if he brings anything close to his best on Saturday.
The Not A Single Doubt gelding finished second to Pierata in the Group 2 Shorts when last first-up, progressing to a third placing in the Group 2 Premiere and sixth in The Everest most notably.
He’s had the benefit of a lovely trial and I am happy to be with him.
5 Units Classique Legend
Dr Drill was an impressive winner of the Scone Cup at his most recent appearance and this looks another very winnable contest for him.
The Dansili gelding has been a consistent performer throughout his racing career so far and has continued to improve with each of his three starts back from a spell, culminating in his impressive last start win.
He is another horse that will get some relief with a claiming apprentice aboard, and he’s drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 7.
2 Units E/W Dr Drill
Opacity has been enormous during the early stages of his racing career and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish of the last at Randwick on Saturday.
The John O’Shea-trained gelding has so-far recorded four wins and a close-up second placing from only six starts, and he was last seen beating a classy field to the line over 1500m here at Randwick.
He’ll have to carry topweight, but he has a class edge over most of these rivals and can make it two in a row.
3 Units Opacity