3 minute read
A nine race program comprised of almost entirely of stakes races greets punters at Randwick on Saturday.
The Premiere Stakes (1200m) has become the key lead up into The Everest and the 2018 field doesn’t disappoint.
The small but select eight horse field features six Group 1 winners with the remaining two in the field both Group 1 placed.
The most exciting runner of the field is Trapeze Artist.
A winner of the TJ Smith Stakes, All Aged Stakes double last autumn, Trapeze Artist is tomorrow expected to reaffirm why he is favourite for The Everest next month.
The son of Snitzel was brave first up when third in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
It was hardly an ideal first up assignment with the Gerald Ryan-trained runner forced to resume on a heavy track whilst giving quality rivals like Home Of The Brave and D’Argento a substantial weight advantage.
Trapeze Artist would have derived improvement from the run which was an outing he needed to have heading towards his main goal of The Everest.
He will undoubtedly appreciate getting back on firmer ground and his TJ Smith/All Aged stakes performances are superior to anything else brought into the race.
During the TJ Smith Stakes, the four-year-old put a decisive margin on three of his main rivals on Saturday, Redzel and In Her Time.
Even just a step in that direction from his first up showing will see Trapeze Artist as hard to beat in the Premiere Stakes on Saturday.
There are plenty of potential value options scattered through the Randwick program on Saturday.
Beau Geste appeals at double figures in the final event on the program.
The son of Street Cry resumes after an autumn campaign where he held his own against some quality opposition.
The pick of his runs came over 1400m in the Hawkesbury Guineas behind Sambro.
A dual Group placegetter as a younger horse, connections elected to geld the four-year-old during his latest spell.
The result of that should be a more focused racehorse, one ready to fully realise the potential he displayed glimpses of as a three-year-old.
He is yet to finish out of the money in three prior first up outings and can maintain that perfect record here at double figure odds.
Sydney Specials: Randwick – Sep 29
Best Of The Day: R5; #2 Trapeze Artist @ $3.70
Each Way Play: R9; #9 Beau Geste @ $12.00