Ten races are on offer this Saturday at Royal Randwick, headlined by the Group 2 Missile Stakes over 1200m.
Worth $300,000, this year’s sprint test shapes as a pivotal lead up for several runners looking ahead to some of Sydney’s biggest spring races, including the likes of the $20 million The Everest in October.
With the Spring Carnival edging closer, you can find our thoughts and selections for every race below.
Smashing Eagle might be suited by the wide gate given his racing style.
The six-year-old son of Shalaa ran on late for fourth at Rosehill a few weeks earlier over 1200m after settling right back in the run under Zac Lloyd.
He’s going on close to a year since he last won a race, but this is a significant drop in class after competing at BM78 level recently.
Handles a little sting out of the track, so if we’re still racing somewhere in the Soft range, he’ll be one of the hardest to hold out in the late stages.
Florino looks one of the hardest to beat here on return from a lengthy eight-month spell.
This lightly-raced five-year-old spent time racing in tougher races than this as a four-year-old, notably winning at Newcastle last June in a race that has produced some decent form since.
The son of Mikki Isle was runner-up to the smart Bomarea last-start at Randwick, and although he’s had an interrupted start to the year, there’s a lot to like about his recent trial win at Tamworth.
Gets the gun jock in the saddle first-up and looks well-suited with some cut in the track.
Happy to give Getafix another chance second-up under Kerrin McEvoy.
This boy was only fair to the line fresh at Rosehill over shorter last month, drifting late in the betting and appearing in need of the run when working home down the outside.
He’s been given a nice trial between starts to keep him sharp and won’t know himself carrying just 53kg off a break.
Does need a touch of luck from wider out, but after taking on tougher races like the Todman earlier in the year, he’s clearly a horse with real ability that just needs to start putting it all together.
Age Of Sail on top here in a race I’m not overly keen to get involved in.
On recent form, this six-year-old trained by Kris Lees ticks most of the boxes after finishing in the money in all three starts since returning to work earlier in June.
The son of Frankel really should have won three weeks ago at Rosehill over the same journey, a slow start likely costing him a few strides before being held up badly in the run home.
A true wet track would probably test him, but if gets enough room along the fence, this looks a nice race for him to atone.
Our Kobison has big claims against this small field back from a break.
Angela Davies’ five-year-old has missed out on the money just once from nine career starts, last seen finishing runner-up to subsequent Stakes place-getter Tashi here over 1200m earlier in March.
A win to his name first-up is a tick in the right box and he’s another one that has trialled up nicely for his return.
He’s untested on a wet track, but on class and form alone, he’s a deserving short-priced favourite.
Looks as though Hi Dubai might be wanting 1200m now coming off that impressive win over shorter a fortnight ago.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was a little wayward out of the turn, shifting to the outside fence and running on strongly to fend off Cosy Corner with a bit left to give through the line.
She handled the heavy track beautifully that day and is likely to get a cozy ride up on the speed this time from the inside gate.
There doesn’t look to be a great deal of early speed on paper here, so if she can reel off some cheap sectionals, she’ll be one of the hardest to catch.
Another open race with a stack of winning chances.
West Of Africa could not have been more impressive at the midweek’s last start, winning soft on the line over a touch shorter on the Kenso track in fairly similar conditions.
He hasn’t had the best of luck here at Randwick and does lose J-Mac in the saddle, but Tyler Schiller just needs to have him in the right spot coming into the straight for the pair to be a chance.
Two wins from his last three starts makes him a top contender in this field and with good we
Schwarz resumes off a brief two-month spell for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton looking to add some more black-type to his resume.
The Zoustar entire stamped himself as one to watch when winning the Listed Amanda Elliott at Flemington last spring, picking up where he left off later in the autumn this year to run second in a Stakes race at Rosehill, and eventually claim the Hawkesbury Guineas.
His latest effort in the Fred Best at Eagle Farm was lacking, but he’s bounced back nicely with a recent trial win at Warwick Farm.
The booking of James McDonald is significant and if the pair can get across early from wider out, they’ll be finishing this race off strongly.
Group 3 place-getter Galeron is a good value play stepping out over 1800m for the first time.
Annabel Neasham’s Irish import hasn’t won in close to two years, but he was easily one of the runs of the race over the mile here a couple of weeks ago, charging home along the outside fence to give Space Age a real scare approaching the line.
He’s had his runs spaced and held his own at Stakes level this prep, so he still has scope for improvement with Tyler Schiller sticking.
In well at the weights, draws a perfect gate, and will likely be finishing strongly over the top, all things going according to plan.
There’s no reason why Iron Man can’t win again.
This five-year-old gelding by Exosphere was impressive three weeks ago over the same distance at Rosehill, looming up down the outside to race past the leading Willaidow, who he meets slightly better off at the weights again on Saturday.
He looked to have some petrol left in the tank when greeting the judge, and draws to do almost no work again from barrier four under Tyler Schiller.
Loves a wet track, and finds a nice race to bring up his hat-trick.