Ten races will be run and won at Royal Randwick on Saturday, December 21st.
There has been some inclement weather circling Sydney this week but at publish, the track remains rated in the Good (4) range, while the rail will be set out three metres around the entire course.
You can find all of my Royal Randwick tips below.
Only three of the thirteen starts in Race 1 have previous raceday experience and plenty of debutants are firm in betting.
I’m happy to stay out of this one, with a view towards something later in the season.
No Bet
In Summer is ready to win a Highway race.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun has finished worse than second once in five career starts, winning in BM58 company two back before finishing second in a similar race over 1500m at Rosehill last time out.
Barrier 14 is the knock, but the horse is in peak order and a mile looks to suit.
3 Units In Summer
Rapt drops in class and looks well placed to win.
The More Than Ready mare ended her last prep with consecutive wins at Scone and in the Grafton Guineas, while she returned to action this time to finish fourth, beaten just over two lengths in Listed company up in Brisbane.
With natural improvement, this looks well within her abilities.
3 Units Rapt
There is a case to be made for a few of them in this race including Bright Red, who I have put on top.
Bright Red filled the minors in BM72 company at Rosehill fresh from a break and took improvement into a near miss at the same grade last time out.
Getting out onto a firmer track this week should suit, and she looks ready to peak third up from a spell.
1 Unit E/W Bright Red
Another open race with plenty of winning chances engaged but I am going to stick with debut winner, Inside Man.
He has made just the one appearance at the races so far, but Inside Man stamped himself as one to follow in the Canterbury maiden, hitting the line to win well.
I like that he has been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race, while the booking of Tim Clark adds further confidence.
1 Unit Inside Man
Gilded Water faces a rise in class into this race, but he’s got plenty of upside and I think it looks a great one for him.
A veteran of only five career starts, Gilded Water turned in some fine efforts in the UK during his debut prep, winning at Chepstow most notably, while he hit the ground running in Australia by beating home the likes of Alalcance at Kembla Grange last month.
With natural improvement and out to a mile and a half, he can fight out the finish again.
3 Units Gilder Water
I’m going to have something on Heed The Omens in this contest.
Heed The Omens is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but he has only just been denied in two of three of those occasion, including a near miss over 1800m at Rosehill last time.
He’s in peak order and has options this week from the rails draw.
1 Unit Heed The Omens
Ang Pow is third-up and primed to strike.
The Flying Artie gelding clearly needed his first run back this time to tune up when seventh, beaten more than five lengths up at Newcastle, but he took big improvement into a credible second behind the impressive I’mintowin at Rosehill last time out.
Fitter third-up, this looks within his abilities.
2 Units Ang Pow
This is a great race for Our Kobison.
Our Kobison has been a star for the Angela Davies yard since debuting, winning six of thirteen career starts, placing a further five times and finding form around some quality metropolitan talent.
He was only denied by Eagle Nest in the Listed Starlight Stakes when resuming last month and with natural improvement, he’s my best bet on the program.
4 Units Our Kobison
Yorkshire resumes in a very winnable race.
The Snitzel gelding hasn’t been seen at the races since August, but he hardly put a hoof wrong during his debut prep, winning three of four starts and placing on the other occasion.
He has turned in two fine trial performances in the lead-up to this return and looks ready to fire fresh.
4 Units Yorkshire