2020 George Main Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Avilius goes on top of my George Ryder Stakes tips. Photo: Steve Hart

2020 George Main Stakes Day Tips & Preview

The Group 1 George Main Stakes is the feature race of the day at Royal Randwick on Saturday but there is plenty of other quality Group racing taking place.

We have found the winner in every single race of the day here.

Hopefully…

Race 1: Quincy Seltzer Handicap (1200m) 12:15pm
No. 8 Bound To Win

I have a pretty high opinion of Bound To Win who worked through the grades really well last prep.

The four year old mare by Sebring has only started eight times but she has won four of them and placed a further two times.

She was quietly ridden in her recent trial but worked home to the line really well suggesting she is ready to go first up.

This is another step up in class for her but she has given me every indication she is up for the task at this level.

Race 2: Highway Handicap (1000m) 12:50pm
No. 15 It's Me

I’m finding it impossible to get away from It’s Me after the lightly raced four year old mare dominated her rivals in the highway race here a month ago.

She is a progressive type of mare with plenty of improvement in her and although this is a bit tougher, she still looks incredibly hard to beat.

 

Race 3: Shoot Out Mile (1600m) 1:25pm
No. 4 Think It Over

Think It Over has returned two really nice efforts this time in so far and will be ready to peak at his third run now.

He was savaging the line late behind the smart Just Thinkin’ last start and he will appreciate the step up in distance here.

The son of So You Think is set to get a lovely run in transit from barrier four with Glen Boss steering.

Race 4: Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) 2:00pm
No. 3 Hungry Heart

Hungry Heart is a very talented and progressive filly who was excellent when chasing first up in the Group 2 Furious Stakes at Randwick.

She won the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes second up last prep before finishing fifth in the Golden Slipper and she will appreciate the step up to 1400m now.

I wouldn’t taking anything lees than the current price of $2.00 but with even luck she just wins.

Race 5: Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) 2:40pm
No. 5 Probabeel

Probabeel savaged the line late when resuming at Group 3 level at Randwick behind Roheryn.

She meets that horse 1.5kgs better at the weights for this assignment and she will appreciate the step up to 1400m.

The Group 1 Surround Stakes winner has two wins and a second when having her second run for a prep and has drawn to get a lovely run throughout from barrier four.

best bet
Race 6: Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) 2:40pm
No. 1 Avilius

Avilius has been a beauty over his career having won 11 over his 29 career race with three Group 1 victories including this race last year by over two lengths.

Verry Elleegant was very impressive first up but I get the feeling she may not be as forward second up with Chris Waller eyeing off other targets for the star mare throughout the spring.

Avilius was enormous first up in the Chelmsford Stakes and he did extremely well to finish within 1.2 lengths of Mister Sea Wolfe after trailing the field into the turn.

Any sting out of the track would be a bonus.

each way
Race 7: Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) 3:55pm
No. 10 Dirty Work

The run of Dirty Work in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes was full of merit and at one stage in the straight, he looked like he would go close to winning!

Gytrash and Nature Strip were just that little bit quick for him over the 1000m but he is a horse that gets better the further he gets into his prep.

He will have a little fitness edge on a few of these that are resuming which will only be a bonus.

He drops down in weight for this assignment, has drawn well in barrier five, and he represents good each way value at his current quote of $6.50.

Race 8: Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) 4:35pm
No. 14 Zebrowski

Zebrowski has returned two plain efforts so far this prep albeit in a higher grade of race.

He finished eighth of 12 in the Group 1 Winx Stakes before he was 10th of 15 in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes.

The four year old gelding will only get better the further he goes but the 2000m at this stage in his prep in not beyond him.

This is a very difficult and open race but he is more than capable at this level.

Race 9: Tresemme Handicap (1400m) 5:15pm
No. 10 Icebath

Icebath has been excellent in her two runs back this prep and has been narrowly beaten on both occasions.

The four year old Sacred Falls mare has been placed in six of her 11 career starts and is 1:1:1 from three goes over 1400m.

She will not find this much tougher than the field she ran into last start and she should get a nice run in transit from barrier four.