Missile Stakes Day Preview 2024

Group racing returns to Sydney this weekend with the Missile Stakes set to headline a ten race card at Royal Randwick.

The Group 2 feature for the sprinters holds a purse of $300k and with an honour roll including the likes of Commands, Lonhro, Dance Hero, and more recently, Pierata and Eduardo, it’s certainly one to watch.

The rail will be in the true position and the track is currently rated a soft 6.

We’ve had a close look at all ten events on the card and our thoughts can be found below.

Smashing Eagle has been racing well and will appreciate the step back in grade.

Prepared by the Ryan / Alexiou team, the son of Shalaa has been doing his best work late in recent runs and is nearing a win.

He produced some terrific performances last campaign in good company and whilst he’s yet to step up this time in, the drop in class should see him find his best.

Tyler Schiller knows him well and goes back aboard. 

1 unit – SMASHING EAGLE

Florino returns to the races.

Only lightly raced, the Mikki Isle gelding kicked off his career in style making in three wins from his first four starts before heading to the paddock.

He resumed in a Randwick Highway in October where he failed to finish off but given a let up, he returned in good order, going down narrowly here over 1000m.

He was kept under a tight hold in a recent 950m trial but was strong through the line and looks ready to go.

James McDonald will do the steering for Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich and from the good gate he’s sure to receive every chance. 

1 unit – FLORINO

Invader Zim is putting together a vey tidy record.

The son of Invader, as his name suggests, showed good improvement in each of his three starts last campaign and has come back in top order.

Beaten by the barest of margins when resuming over 1300m here, he was able to get the job done second up beating home the heavy supported Kerguelen. 

The slight rise in trip looks ideal and James McDonald goes onboard for Chris Waller.

1 unit – INVADER ZIM

It was a horror watch if you were on Age Of Sail last start.

Stuck on the fence with nowhere to go for the majority of the straight, the gelding charged home over the final 100m to claim third but undoubtably would have won if the gaps appeared sooner. 

He hit the line strongly late at his prior start over 2000m suggesting he was looking for further.

The former UK galloper has performed well in all five of his Australian starts and looks a very smart stayer on the way up.

Nash Rawiller stays in the saddle for Kris Lees, he’ll be afforded a soft run from the inside draw and with even luck, should prove hard to beat. 

3 units – AGE OF SAIL

Dancing Alone returns to the races.

A winner of six from eight, the I Am Invincible mare has worked through her grades with ease and recorded her first black type placing when finishing third in the Group 3 Bergonia Belle Stakes before heading for a well deserved break. 

On that occasion she stepped away slow but was strong late, working home to finish just behind the leading pair.

Given a good break she comes here off two very encouraging trial performances and is unbeaten in two first up appearances.

Tyler Schiller will take the mount for Bryce Heys and this looks an ideal race for her to kick off.

1 unit – DANCING ALONE

Nothing went right for Junqueira when contesting the Listed Gai Waterhouse Stakes two runs back but she was solid to the line last time under the big weight at Rosehill.

Lumping 60.5kgs she was urged forward after a slow start and looked a live chance 200m out but just peaked on her run late. 

She strips fitter here and the team have elected to claim, securing Zac Wadick to do the steering and take 3kgs off.

A classy mare on her day, she’s certainly capable and barrier four should see her afforded every chance.

1 unit – JUNQUEIRA

Yasuke was doing his best work late last start over 1400m and will relish getting out to the mile.

He just wanted to overdo it when resuming over 1250m at Canterbury and in the heavy conditions it tolled late. 

With that run under his belt he settled much better last time and powered home down the outside to get within a head of the winner.

He does race particularly well over this trip and whilst he does rise slightly in grade, he drops in the weights and gets James McDonald aboard.

1 unit – YASUKE

Schwarz resumes off a short break.

The son of Zoustar has shown plenty of natural talent in his short career to date and looks very progressive.

A winner of the Listed Amanda Elliott in the Spring, he then enjoyed stakes success during the Autumn with a win in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas. 

The entire could not have been more impressive in a recent Warwick Farm trial, taking up the running and cruising through the line under very little pressure.

James McDonald has partnered him in two of his three successes and will again take the reins. 

1 unit – SCHWARZ

Aramco was doing his best work late when resuming over 1500m and with the rise in trip last start, he proved superior.

Formally prepared in Melbourne by the Price / Kent team, the gelding has continued to progress through the grades with relative ease, recording five wins from just ten starts and he just looks to be getting started. 

This will be his toughest test to date but he gets in beautifully with just 53kgs on his back and will certainly make his presence felt under Kerrin McEvoy, who goes back onboard for Chris Waller.  

1 unit – ARAMCO

King Of Naples was very good two runs back, working home strongly to finish third over 1200m at Rosehill.

He had no luck at all there last start, caught three wide facing the breeze throughout, he just felt the pinch late.

He strips fitter for the two recent runs and the blinkers go back on.

Nash Rawiller has been successful aboard the gelding previously, he goes back onboard and with any luck from the draw, he’ll be right there at the finish. 

1 unit E/W – KING OF NAPLES