Royal Randwick hosts an excellent card of stakes racing on Saturday, featuring the highly anticipated clash of two classy girls who currently battle it out for favouritism in the Flight Stakes.
The Premiere Stakes also offers punters a tasty entree to The Everest with a number of key chances engaged.
I'm keen to take on the current Flight Stakes favourite, whose racing pattern is not ideal.
In the feature sprint clash, I expect J Mac to take off the kid gloves and avenge Nature Strip's last start defeat.
The Randwick track is currently rated a Good 4 and the rail is out 3m for the entire circuit.
Fine conditions are predicted for the remainder of the week and on race day.
In recent meetings at Randwick, it has been favourable to race on-speed whilst certain lanes have been advantageous.
A close watch is advised early to give a good guide on the presence of any bias or fast lanes.
Dame Giselle (1) has the draw and tactical speed to lead, however I suspect she may be happy to take a tag in behind if Vangelic (3) and Joviality (5) are keen to cross from wider.
I doubt any rider will be engaging in a speed battle and this race should be run at only a moderate tempo.
With little early pressure, expect the first few in running to hold an advantage and those racing towards the rear will be set a task to reel in the leaders.
This includes favourite Hungry Heart (4), whose natural pattern is to get back and run on.
Hungry Heart ($2.40) no doubt has the talent, however her racing pattern is a huge risk here.
She will race back in the field and need some form of pressure on up front, to allow her to run home over the top.
If they walk, she will be set an almost impossible task.
Expect Dame Giselle to start favourite close to start time, especially if the track has been favouring the leading division in earlier races.
Dame Giselle ticks all the boxes here. She has the ability to kick away from the leading pack, or prove tough enough to hang on if they decide to run along.
She was excellent winning her past three starts and now rock hard fit, the extra distance out to 1600m should pose no issue.
Vangelic is fitter now following a solid last start hit-out here in the Tea Rose, where she led and was only just collared late by the top two in the market. She can lead again and prove very hard to run down.
I'm happy to oppose Hungry Heart. There's no doubt she has a good turn of foot to get home hard when it's all over, and can run into the placings.
Best at odds is Joviality ($14) who faces a steep rise in grade, however she finds a moderately run race that will suit her on-pace profile.
1st Dame Giselle
2nd Vangelic
3rd Hungry Heart
4th Joviality
Nature Strip (5) appears the obvious leader here. However that line of thinking brought a few punters undone last start, when he wasn't out to break any records and they decided not to lead at all costs.
It is a similar set up here, where there are questions surrounding the tactics that will be applied. Will they place the horse under pressure, considering they'll need to be peaking for the main event in two weeks?
He does have the natural speed to lead and expect him to do just that, given the race is devoid of any other mad front-runners.
The main danger Classique Legend (7) can sit midfield in the moving line and from there, he just needs a touch of tempo to be running home hard.
Fasika (3) gets the nice tag just in behind the leaders.
Expect the front half of the field to hold an advantage.
Nature Strip ($1.75) was clearly not fully wound-up last start and they'll want him back to his usual self for this, so he can peak for The Everest.
I would typically oppose him under these conditions, however he is naturally brilliant and may be able to win this on raw ability and at half throttle.
With a lack of early speed engaged elsewhere and a map that suits, he goes on top here.
Even with bigger plans in play, J Mac would be stinging that he was beaten last time out on the flying machine Nature Strip.
I expect him to be keen to bounce back here and solidify his favouritism for The Everest.
Classique Legend should race closer in this and if they find themselves in the moving line and only one pair back, he'll be the one looking most likely late.
Fasika has plenty of talent. Although she lacks the quality of some entered here, she is likely to receive an economical suck run just in behind the leaders and could take full advantage.
Team Snowden persist with Signore Fox in high quality events. She must be showing plenty at home and at bolters odds ($150) and is worth including in broader exotic bet types.
1st Nature Strip
2nd Classique Legend
3rd Fasika
4th Signore Fox