The Group l spring in Sydney rolls on to Randwick this Saturday, with the time-honoured $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m).
The best of the best has greeted the judge in this famous Randwick mile event, most notably in recent years Lonhro and More Joyous.
Some star gallopers will take their place in the race this Saturday, headed by Sacred Falls, who appears to be ticking over nicely for the Cox Plate (2040m), and there has been plenty to like about his two runs back from a break.
It will be interesting whether or not he’ll be effective or not on a firmer surface, but he is a two-time Doncaster mile winner, so he can’t be ignored.
I like Panzer Division in this. If he is to win, he would become the first three-year-old since Viscount to win the George Main. He has only competed against his own age in three career outings, but there is plenty to like about him. Only got beaten by the barest possible margin in the Up And Coming to stablemate Scissor Kick, and we know how unlucky he was in the Golden Rose. Panzer Division then ran in the Ming Dynasty, led, dipped and dived throughout the run yet powered to the line in victory.
He tumbles down to 50.5kg, gets a firm track, looks the lone leader, and that massive weight pull can come in handy. Punters agree, with the horse being well backed early on.
Hawkspur was given a Jim Cassidy special to win the Chelsmford a fortnight back. Pumper took the initiative in the small field and led them up, at an ok speed, then eased away from the rail, got him going and just when Royal Descent looked the winner to his inside, Pumper – as he has done on so many occasions – lifted the horse over the line and got him home in a deceptive photo finish.
He’ll prove very hard to beat, especially on top of the ground.
Rising Romance was excellent when resuming in the Tramway and running third to Lucia Valentina. She got a long way back in the run and only got warm very late, but her last 150 metres and through the line was very good from a Caulfield Cup perspective. Not looking for her to win, but to do similar to the Tramway – perhaps sneak a first-four spot, and prove she is on target for her grand final.
Selections
Panzer Division (10) on top, to beat Hawkspur (2), Rising Romance (8) and Sacred Falls (1).
Round two between Earthquake and Winx will occur in the $175,000 Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). The latter won round one a fortnight back in the Furious Stakes (1200m), but added fitness and a firmer track will see Earthquake improve sharply, perhaps enough to win.
A firm track and added fitness means Earthquake will turn the tables on Winx. There was plenty of excuses for the defeat of Earthquake in the Furious. She was first up on a very heavy track, leading and copped a bit of pressure. She did quite well under the circumstances.
Another small field here, so Kerrin McEvoy may have to take up the running on her again, but with certain things in her favour this time, I’m keen on her to win.
She might not have been rated as a serious chance in the Furious, but the manner and dominant of the victory of Winx had to make you stand up and take notice. She’ll have upside like the top tip also, and has proven to be just as impressive on firm footing. It’s just a question of whether she has the class under these conditions to match it with Earthquake.
Lady Sharapova put up a remarkable effort win first up at Canterbury, then went to the Ming Dynasty and was very good when third to Panzer Division, and that horse will go around as a genuine chance in the George Main, so that form does read well.
Again, not sure she has the class and depth to beat Earthquake, but her added fitness and superb breeding suggests she is well above average and capable of running a cheeky race here.
Selections
Earthquake (1) a special over Winx (4) and Lady Sharapova (6). For fourth I’ll put in First Seal (7).
As is the case always, a crack field has been assembled for The Shorts (1100m).
I was very impressed with the first up win of Terravista. He was given a gun ride by Bowman to win first up in the Show County over 1200m here a fortnight back, comfortably holding In Cahoots, who ran third in the Bobbie Lewis at Flemington on Saturday, so that confirms the form, and Terravista looked very sharp in a barrier trial last Friday, indicating he is ready to go here.
Big watch on the first up run of Sessions here. He was okay during the Autumn, but was plagued by wet tracks and we never really saw his best. He looked to trial exceptionally well recently behind Rain Affair, showing a dazzling turn of foot from near last on the turn, then trialled again on slow ground last Friday and won impressively. Goes very well fresh and should get a hot speed to run on from.
Famous Seamus returns to racing after a Group l winning winter prep, with that win coming courtesy of a brilliant Ryan Wiggins steer in the BTC Cup over the Boom brothers, Buffering and co. He trialled last week behind Sessions and looked fairly forward in condition, and under the set weights and penalties scale, he gets in pretty well here, so a good run fresh is expected.
Also look for improved runs from Rain Affair, Villa Verde, while keep an eye on the first up run of Safeguard, a nice colt for Godolphin who has trialled sharply in readiness for his return to racing.
Selections
Terravista (3) clearly on top, over Sessions (2), Famous Seamus (1) and Safeguard (4).
A strong bunch of middle distance/stayers will take their place in the Hill Stakes (2000m).
I like Junoob. He has got pass marks in both runs this spring, both over unsuitable distances and both on wet tracks, which he despises. There was plenty of merit in his Chelmsford Stakes run behind stablemate Hawkspur and with the added 400 metres, and a firm track, he will take some beating.
I can forgive Criterion for his ordinary run in the Chelmsford. He had to make a searching run from the back in a slowly run race and just couldn’t sprint when the leaders went. Firmer surface and up to 2000 metres, like Junoob, will be a massive advantage. He was talked up as a possible Cox Plate horse, so he would want to run very well here to warrant that thought and I am expecting him to.
Bagman was the real surprise packet in the Chelmsford. Many thought he was outclassed and not suited at WFA, but he surged late near the inside and was very strong late when third to Hawkspur and Royal Descent.
Again like the top two, 2000 metres and a dry track will help, and he is in super form.
Selections
Junoob (3) in a tricky race, to beat Criterion (7) and Bagman (2), while Moriarty (1) is the improver.
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