Racing continues to muscle it's way through the current social challenges, with an eagerly anticipated Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick set to commence.
Punters will witness a number of intriguing staying contests, where robust betting is assured across the feature races.
I expect the Sydney Cup favourite to pull out another tough display of stoutness, whilst a gun filly may get it all her own way from out in front in The Oaks.
The Randwick surface is currently rated a Soft 6, with the rail out 4m the entire circuit. Showers are predicted for the remainder of the week in Sydney, with clearing conditions on Saturday.
The track played evenly on Day 1 of the Championships at Randwick, with winners saluting from a wide variety of track positions. Expect no different on Saturday.
The Map
Shout The Bar (10) loves to lead and should roll straight to the front from the wide draw, with Dorothy Of Oz (1) also handy.
This is the first try out to 2400m for all of this field and with most keen to conserve energy over the testing new journey, I expect the speed to slacken significantly through the mid-stages.
Racing on speed or in the first half of the field could hold a distinct advantage in this year's edition of the Australian Oaks.
The Favourite
Colette ($3.10) has been ultra impressive at her past two starts, which includes a dominant win here at Randwick in the Adrian Knox last time out.
Although she is most likely to be the best horse in the race, the speed map on this occasion does her no favours.
She will get well back in the field in what I expect to be only a moderately run race. She appears a good risk at the current $3.10, considering her racing pattern.
Analysis and Race Tips
If they drop anchor and the pressure does not come through the mid stages, I expect Shout The Bar $4.40 pinches it from out in front.
There's no doubt Colette $3.10 will be charging home late, however may just run out of ground to reel in the leader and she appears a shade under the odds at the current price.
Toffee Tongue $14 was heavily backed ($21 into $9.50) to win the Adrian Knox here last time out and did race well. I have him marked as the value runner.
Probabeel $4.00 is high quality and has finished off strongly at her past few starts. She is sure to run well, although I suspect she is well found by the rank and file punter again and won't represent any value.
In a high quality edition of the Australian Oaks, I expect Shout The Bar to hold on late from a flying Colette and Toffee Tongue.
The Map
Angel of Truth (13) will be looking to roll forward from the outside draw, with Hush Writer (8) likely to push up underneath and assume control.
There doesn't appear to be a great deal of pressure early, however expect fireworks from the 1000m mark where the English raider Young Rascal (10) is likely to ratchet up the tempo.
Mustajeer (4) can race in a more forward position from an inside draw and expect them to use the low draw to sit in the first half of the field.
The Favourite
Young Rascal $2.45 is yet to be tested over the gruelling 3200m trip, however every indication is that he is a genuine stayer with a superior tough racing style.
He drops down 3kg in weight from the last start effort at Rosehill, where he beat the smart Mugatoo after an epic battle down the straight.
The current price is skinny enough, however he strikes what appears to be a weak Sydney Cup field and his class can carry him a long way.
Analysis and Race Tips
It is very hard to go past race favourite Young Rascal $2.45 and if he stays the 3200m journey, expect him to be too classy for these.
Mustajeer $5.00 has impressed all throughout this campaign and is one that will relish the extra ground. He was fancied in last year's Melbourne Cup which is a much stronger field than this.
Raheen House $8.00 indicated he will stay all day, with a grinding last start win here in the Chairman's over 2600m. "The Gun" Brenton Avdulla is one of the strongest riders going around and he'll have him stoking up from a long way out.
Expect Young Rascal to fight hard and hold off the late challenges of Mustajeer and Raheen House.
Read our preview of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes here, which includes analysis on all the key runners and our best bets.
To see our preview of the Group 1 Coolmore Legacy including our top rated runners and tips, click here.