The blackbook got it right again last week, with both Tempted and Reserve Bank winning well.
We’ve found five more to follow on Easter Saturday and we’ll start with Royal Randwick
Zeitung will line up in the James H B Carr Stakes and looks ready to peak at her third run back. The Godolphin filly didn’t have the best of luck last time in the PJ Bell Stakes, but she’s sure to appreciate getting out to 1400m.
Held up in the early part of the straight, she didn’t have the clearest passage through but still worked home strongly to finish on the heels of the placegetters. Winner of The Vanity in the Spring following her second placing in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, she’s well suited at this trip and with clear air, she’ll be right in the thick of things late.
Miss Alexis steps out in the Frank Packer Plate and I think she’s worth following. Whist I do think the favourite will prove hard to beat, I like the way this filly hit the line in the Adrian Knox Stakes and I think she’ll run a big race.
Regally bred, by Dundeel out of Caulfield Cup winner, Jameka, she has just had the four race starts and is improving with each outing. She got a long way back last start and found trouble in the early part of the straight but charged home late over the final part to claim fifth. Jamie Melham jumps aboard on Saturday and the low draw can see her settle within striking distance.
Jimmysstar has been the eye catcher at his past two starts and he will relish getting out to 1400m in the All Aged Stakes. Brilliant on his return when taking out the Oakleigh Plate, he then took his place in the William Reid where he was tailed off midrace and under heavy pressure but picked up strongly upon straightening and stormed home late into third.
The Ciaron Maher trained gelding blew the start in the TJ Smith which saw him settle back at the tail and once into the clear 300m from home, he powered down the outside to claim fourth, just missing third place. Ethan Brown knows him well, he stays aboard and with the extra furlong, he’ll be hard to hold out.
It was a tough watch if you were on Prancing Spirit last start. Over 1200m at Caulfield, the Philip Stokes trained gelding looked to be travelling well, midfield with plenty of clear air but it soon went pear-shaped. Approaching the bend the backmarkers quickly loomed and he was stuck behind a wall of horses with nowhere to go.
Switching back across heels he flew late over the final 100m to get within a nose of the winner but there’s no doubt he should have won. He’ll line up in the last at Mornington, he gets a low draw and with even luck, he can atone.
French Endeavour will make her first appearance for new trainer Billy Healey. Formally prepared by Matt Smith, the mare has competed at a high level for much of her career and she looks beautifully placed in a Class 3 Plate at Eagle Farm. It was very credible effort in the Guy Walter Stakes two runs back as she raced wide throughout and stuck on gamely to finish less than three lengths off Amelia’s Jewel.
Last start, she stepped out in a BM85 here and after stepping away slowly, she didn’t have the clearest of runs in the straight but picked up nicely over the final part. She’s fit, she gets in well at the weights and with luck in running, I think she’ll be hard to beat.