Mercury has only made one appearance at the races and hasn’t been seen since October, but James Cummings clearly has an opinion of the horse and he can break his maiden at Warwick Farm this afternoon. The two-year-old son of Brazen Beau was well in the market at Listed level on debut but weathered a tough run and tired in the straight, but there’s been a lot to like about his recent trials and James McDonald takes the ride this afternoon.
Calculated has steadily improved with racing this year and is ready to return to winning form at Warwick Farm this afternoon. The So You Think gelding went for a freshen-up after a credible run for third over a mile at Gosford early last month and re-appeared for fifth in a far tougher race than this one at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago. He’s ready to peak in condition and with even luck, he can fight out the finish ($8 at publish).
Phaistos will carry winning form into the sixth at Warwick Farm this afternoon and will only improve second-up. The Godolphin-trained gelding has returned several pleasing efforts during his short racing career so far but resumed for a dominant win at Scone a couple of weeks ago and looks to have gone to another level this time in. He’s drawn a peach in barrier 4 and the lion’s share of his major rivals have drawn awkwardly.
El Mo is rock-hard fit and looms as a live each-way chance in the last at Warwick Farm this afternoon ($9.50 at publish). The Uncle Mo gelding strung together a couple of handy wins earlier this prep and proved that he was up to racing in town when he finished a half-length second here at Warwick Farm last time out. He’s drawn superbly in a race where the market leaders have all drawn out and blinkers go on for the first time today.