Royal Randwick Preview – Saturday 25th July

We haven’t seen James McDonald ride a Sydney Saturday metro meeting since mid-April, but I think he’ll hit the ground running when returning this week on LETTERS PATENT in the first at Randwick.

Letters Patent has only made two appearances at the races since debuting, but after working home well to fill the minors behind Omolong at Warwick Farm in June, he was a dominant Newcastle maiden winner last time out.

Fitter third-up, he can go on with it.

This week’s Highway race looks a race in two in my opinion, and I am going to box those two up in a quinella.

MOON SWEEPER went under as an odds-on favourite here a fortnight ago, but he still finished second in that race, and his form has been excellent.

He’s hard fit and can make his presence felt again.

MAPLES meanwhile remains undefeated after three career starts, highlighted by consecutive victories at her home track in Scone.

She’s got plenty of upside and can continue her journey through the grades.

A wide-open affair with plenty of key chances engaged, and ALL STAR is one that I thought represented value in the market ($8.50 at publish).

All Star recorded consecutive victories in maiden and Class 1 company, while he loomed like the winner in a BM72 at Warwick Farm last time out before being completely hampered for a run, in what was a total forgive performance.

He was scratched from a midweek metro race at Canterbury to instead take his place here, and down in the weights, I think he’s a live chance of justifying that decision.

MAHERSHALA has returned to the races in sharp form and rates as a key winning chance again at Randwick.

Having filled the minors on debut at Pakenham in February, Mahershala was immediately put away and returned to action with an easy win in maiden company at Seymour.

He franked that performance by betting up again, this time in BM66 company at Sandown, booking a ticket into Saturday metro company.

As long as he handles the opposite way of going, he looks to have enough upside to go on with it in a race of this quality.

SATONO JASMINE broke her maiden in dominant fashion at Gosford last month and that has seemingly opened the floodgates, given she has since recorded another two victories in BM64 and BM72 company respectively.

She faces another rise in class this weekend but in peak order, this is the perfect opportunity for her to transition into Saturday metro company.

This is one of the more open races on the Randwick program and with a case to be made for many of them, I’m going to have an each way play on SLY BOOTS.

Sly Boots is yet to strike this time in, but several recent performances have suggested another victory isn’t fat away, and he was last seen filling the minors behind a very impressive Tazima here at Randwick.

An improving track certainly wouldn’t hinder his chances, with the extra furlong should also prove beneficial.

I don’t see any real reason why we should be jumping off BENEVAC this week.

Benevac has improved noticeably with each of four runs back from a break, culminating in a sharp performance to strike in a similar race here at Randwick a fortnight ago, greeting the judge nearly three lengths ahead of his rivals.

While he does rise slightly in the weights, he’s hard fit and need only hold his form to be in the finish again.

LUGH is another horse I’m happy to stick with at Randwick on Saturday.

His first run back when fifth, beaten a little more than two lengths by the likes of Cool Jakey here last month was full of merit, but he did finish on the placegetters’ heels here a fortnight ago, in a race that I thought he was well suited to.

That said, he was five weeks between runs, and I am confident it will have brought him right back on, while the rise to a mile should also suit, if that latest performance was any indication.

ICE KOOL chases a hat-trick in the penultimate race at Randwick this week.

The Zoustar gelding has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting, winning four of five starts and finding form around some excellent horses, particularly this time in.

He’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since his latest competitive appearance in June and just needs even luck in the run to take a power of beating once more.

SMASHING TIME can win the last at Randwick this week.

The Brave Smash gelding has recorded two wins from four runs back this time, finishing the runner up on the other two occasions.

Having finished second behind stakes winner Dark Glitter at Rosehill at his latest appearance, he steps out this week in peak order, looks well placed over the 1300m and can fight out the finish again.