Top 5 Early Insights @ Royal Randwick

Published: 04 Jun 2015

Tactical affair - Jo Jo Girl can win the Stayer's Cup, if she gets the tempo

A drying Royal Randwick track can be difficult to read as the racing two weeks ago proved. On paper it was a day for mudlarks, but the turf held together and we had a fair racing surface in the end.

With sunny days leading into Saturday, we could get a great racing surface again.

The Race Guide's Analyst Team has put together their Top 5 Early Insights below.

Full Race Guides will be on-line 12pm Friday.

1 - Waller's Upward Curve

LIBERTY ISLAND is the perfect example of Chris Waller's patient approach. Given a very quiet ride first-up and easy win second-up in midweek grade, he heads to Randwick with the perfect preparation so far.

Expect him to take another step on Saturday in a suitable race.

On the up - Liberty Island has progressed nicely this preparation

2 - One-paced Pack

Tempo will have a significant impact on the Stayer's Cup result. Most of the field are grinding types that lack acceleration at the finish.

OUR VOODOO PRINCE is a question mark at the distance, but has the best 'turn-of-foot' by far, while PLANET PURPLE and JO JO GIRL need at least a FAIR TEMPO to win.

PLANET PURPLE's stable-mate ENDAXI is down at the bottom of the weights and can lead. She might have more of a bearing on the race than you first thought.

Will she set the tempo? - Endaxi's tactics could have an impact on the Stayer's Cup

3 - Group One Form-lines

Not often do you see Group One form-lines on a Midwinter card at Royal Randwick.

In the feature Listed June Stakes, TARGET IN SIGHT was close up alongside GENERALIFE (placed in Group One Doomben 10,000) a few starts ago and AVOID LIGHTNING was brave behind MIRACLES OF LIFE in Adelaide's Group One William Hill Classic.

They will both be very hard to hold out.

Strong form-lines - Target In Sight is racing at his peak

4 - Is it Time?

DECISION TIME also lines up in the June Stakes, a seven-year-old veteran that is on the comeback trail.

His form hasn't been up to scratch, but anyone that saw his barrier trial in BLINKERS could see that a turnaround is on the cards.

Don't dismiss him on Saturday. 

Back on track - Decision Time has been out of the winner's stall for a long time

5 - Waller's Girls

The last race is a lottery for the mares with a big contingent of Waller gallopers. MAMWAAZEL, SENSE AND REASON, ALL CERISE and BERRIMILLA all have a chance in the race.

If you're looking for value. the athletic mares SENSE AND REASON and ALL CERISE could be the ones on a suitable Randwick track.

Stable jockeys Hutchings and Collett have been booked.

The right mare? - Sense and Reason finds a suitable race at Randwick