Bjorn Baker has elected to send Impavido north and he will be extremely difficult to beat in the third at Doomben today. The High Chaparral gelding was a smart winner at Gosford three starts back before recording a couple of credible performances to finish midfield in a pair of Sydney Saturday races most recently. This is a big drop in class, Impavido is rock-hard fit and with Jeff Lloyd in the saddle, he will be extremely tough to beat.
Redzel has returned to the track in typically devastating form this time and will only improve second-up in the Premiere Stakes. The reigning Everest champion took up the running in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1100m) first-up and never appeared in doubt; gapping his rivals in the straight, many of which he’ll be facing again today. This is obviously a step up in class with six of the eight confirmed starters to run in The Everest, but Redzel is simply too difficult to tip against at his best.
Multiple Group 1 champion Hartnell has returned to racing in typically competitive form this time and is over the odds to win the Epsom Handicap this afternoon. The Authorized gelding was unlucky not to win the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) first-up, before a credible run for fourth in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) last time out. He has been charged with carrying topweight but is generally at peak fitness third-up, and has the added bonus of Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Big Duke has steadily built to the task this time and represents terrific value at each-way odds to win The Metropolitan this afternoon. The Raven’s Pass gelding flew home to finish second in this race last year and blew off the cobwebs with a couple of form-findings runs in the PB Lawrence Stakes and Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) this time. He stormed home to finish fifth in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) last time out and will relish a return to a mile and a half. With clear running, he can finish over the top of his rivals.