Missile Stakes Day takes centre stage at Randwick this Saturday with a 10-race program.
The track holds a Soft 5 rating, and fine weather should keep conditions steady. The rail moves out 4m, so the speed map and early positioning will play a key role across the afternoon.
Our race analysis looks at the key runners, main winning chances and best betting opportunities. With a competitive card and a strong feature race, there is plenty for punters to work through.
Let’s get into the Randwick card and try to get some bread.
CENTURY SONG (3) will appreciate the slight rise in distance after settling a long way back over 1000m on the Kensington track and finding the line strongly to finish fourth, beaten 1.81 lengths.
The Robert & Luke Price-trained gelding proved too strong in easier company two starts back when charging home to win by a length at Kembla Grange.
He won by three lengths over this distance last preparation, and Tommy Berry retains the ride.
There looks to be good speed in the race, which should aid his cause.
| 3. Century Song (6) J: Tommy Berry 59kg 20814 T: Robert & Luke Price |
LADY OLENNA (3) returns to the races for the first time since finishing fifth, beaten 2.59 lengths, in the Country Championships Qualifier at Muswellbrook in March.
The Messara & Gavranich-trained mare has had two trials leading into this first-up assignment and looks well placed to produce a bold showing.
She has competed well in Highway Handicaps previously, including a win over 1200m in a similar strength race at Canterbury earlier this year.
James McDonald is a key booking and should be able to land her in a prominent position.
| 3. Lady Olenna (9) J: James McDonald 57.5kg 4166x T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich |
AVISTA (5) has started her career in fine style with three wins from her first four starts.
The Messara & Gavranich-trained mare returned in great order two starts ago at Scone with a 1.64-length win over 1300m.
She stamped her class last start when stepping up to 1500m at Muswellbrook, producing an impressive turn of foot to put her rivals away with ease and win by 4.43 lengths eased down.
This is her first trip to town, but she looks more than up to it and draws well for James McDonald.
| 5. Avista (4) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 31×11 T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich |
ELLE HUDSON (3) is a mare in form and looking for her third consecutive win.
The Joe Pride-trained daughter of Tarzino dropped significantly in class two starts ago, and it gave her the confidence she needed as she proved too strong over 2200m at Newcastle.
She stepped up to this distance last start on the Kensington track and produced a career-best performance, winning easily by 3.79 lengths.
Sam Clipperton retains the ride and should settle in a prominent position.
| 3. Elle Hudson (4) J: Sam Clipperton 57kg 27411 T: Joseph Pride |
WARRIOR FOR PEACE (7) produced an eye catcher when resuming over 1300m here last start.
The Brett & Georgie Cavanough-trained gelding stormed home into third after racing wide and back throughout, suggesting the rise in distance will be appreciated.
His past performances suggest that too, with him boasting a Highway Handicap win over 1800m here last preparation.
If the speed is generous then Kerrin McEvoy can get him to the outside and let him unleash.
| 7. Warrior For Peace (8) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 58kg 712×3 T: Brett & Georgie Cavanough |
PRIMA BELLA (7) returns to Sydney following a successful hit-and-run Melbourne mission.
The Matthew Smith-trained mare raced on speed over 1000m down the Flemington straight and fought tooth and nail once headed, getting the verdict right on the winning post.
She has a good record over this course and distance, having won first-up this preparation before finishing third, beaten half a length, two starts ago.
There looks to be plenty of speed in the race, which should allow Mollie Fitzgerald to settle off it before launching late with just 52.5kg.
| 7. Prima Bella (6) J: Mollie Fitzgerald 55.5kg x1931 T: Matthew Smith |
TAZIMA (5) is low flying with four wins from his past five starts.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding is undefeated over this course and distance, with the first of those wins coming two starts ago when he showed incredible toughness.
Last start was a little more one-sided, with him letting down powerfully to salute by two lengths, with 3.43 lengths back to third.
He maps to get a sweet run from the inside barrier for James McDonald.
| 5. Tazima (1) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 13111 T: Chris Waller |
ANGEL CAPITAL (1) returns to the races for the first time since a luckless sixth in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes, where he never saw daylight.
The Chris Waller-trained entire flies fresh, having won four of his five first-up starts.
He gets in well under the set weights conditions of the Missile Stakes, given he is four rating points higher than his nearest rival.
James McDonald can settle just off what looks like a strong speed.
Our full Missile Stakes 2026 tips, predictions and best bets now available!
| 1. Angel Capital (2) J: James McDonald 57.5kg 4326x T: Chris Waller |
SCRIPTED (3) started her career in perfect fashion with back-to-back wins before spending 14 months in the paddock.
While she did not win a race last preparation, the Matt Dunn-trained mare placed in four of her five starts, including the Northern Country Championships Wild Card race at Scone, where she went down by a head.
She has warmed up for her return with two trials and looked good working to the line under a hold in her most recent piece of work.
A good gate gives Kerrin McEvoy options in a race that looks to have some speed.
| 3. Scripted (3) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 58.5kg 2732x T: Matthew Dunn |
WATSON (4) resumed with a strong win over this distance at Canterbury, where he paired off with Clear Proof to score by a head, with the rest of the field nearly five lengths away.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained gelding will strip fitter, and he bolted in by 3.14 lengths when second-up last preparation.
He has shown good ability, having finished fourth in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes and within a length of the winner in the Listed Canberra Guineas.
Tim Clark is a good booking, given he will roll forward and look to dictate in front.
| 4. Watson (10) J: Tim Clark 60kg 145×1 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |