Ten races will be contested at Royal Randwick on Saturday, headlined by the December Handicap.
The rail will be set out five metres around the entire course and at publish, the track is rated in the Soft (7) range.
Wednesday’s Wyong Magic Millions race has taken a lot of the exposed talent out of this race and I am going to have something small on a horse that was balloted out of that race as an emergency – Zarastro.
Zarastro will be making his debut on Saturday but has returned two eye-catching trials in the lead-up to this, and he can hit the ground running with a win.
2 Units Zarastro
He’ll require luck from out wide, but Moyassar has been excellent this preparation and he can win the first of two Highway races on Saturday.
The Lonhro gelding stripped fitter with a decent effort for second at Scone when resuming, before breaking his maiden with complete ease at Armidale second-up.
He continued his rise through the grades with another eye-catching effort in Class 1 company last time out, and while this is another sizeable rise in class, he looks up to it.
2 Units Moyassar
The second Highway contest has also drawn a quality field, but I’m happy to side with the second-up Kattegat.
Kattegat returned several pleasing efforts during a busy preparation last time in and returned to the races for a credible third in a Highway race at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago.
There’s no doubt that he’ll take good improvement from that effort, and he’ll be ridden by in-form hoop Rachel King again this week from the rails draw.
3 Units Kattegat
Gone By has been excellent back from a spell and can return to winning form in the fourth at Randwick on Saturday.
The four-year-old son of Al Maher has continued to improve with each start since resuming in September, peaking with a dominant win at Canterbury two back and an agonizingly close second in a similar race to this at Rosehill last time out.
He is at peak fitness for this race and gets in well under the conditions.
4 Units Gone By
Fulmina finished a credible third behind Two Big Fari whgen resuming at Rosehill and will take plenty of beating in this race.
The Snitzel mare simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race – she has recorded four wins and three placings from eleven starts so far, and she has raced well at this point of her preparation previously.
She gets some relief in the weights here with Tom Sherry’s claim and is drawn to receive the run of the race from barrier 4.
4 Units Fulmina
This shapes as one of the day’s more open races and there is a case to be made for several runners.
That being said, Invinciano is yet another horse that will step out second-up on Saturday that looks well placed to win.
The I Am Invincible mare was a strong and consistent performer last prep, and returned from a freshen up to finish a length and a half from the winner at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
The small rise in trip suits and Brenton Avdulla should be able to find a nice spot in transit from barrier 3.
3 Units Invinciano
Three-year-old Mission River will resume in this short, sharp sprint, and he has claims on a winning.
Mission River has only won one races in eight previous appearances, but he has placed a further four times, and hasn’t finished outside of the minors at this point of his preparation previously.
He gets in extremely well under the conditions and at current odds, we can have an each-way play.
1 Unit E/W Mission River
This is an excellent edition of this race, but I am happy to stick with the in-form Edison.
Edison ran home well to finish second behind Hilo when resuming here in late October, progressing to another impressive performance for second behind Through The Cracks before recording a well-deserved win in a similar race at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
These are his pet conditions; Tim Clark rides and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
4 Units Edison
Kordia hasn’t been seen at the races since August, but he doesn’t know how to run a bad one, and he will take a power of beating in this contest.
The Epaulette gelding has finished worse than second just once in six career starts to date, and returned several excellent efforts last time in, highlighted by a win in Listed company at Eagle Farm.
He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to his return and looks ready to go.
The $9 available at publish is big overs.
4 Units Kordia
More Prophets is primed to record another win in the last on December Handicap Day.
The Smart Missile mare ended her debut prep with a smart win on the Kensington course here at Randwick and picked up where she left off with another quality performance and win in BM72 company at Warwick Farm.
This is harder, but she harbours plenty of upside, and it looks the perfect opportunity for her to win on a Saturday.
4 Units More Prophets