Saturday's Randwick meeting sees the return of some genuine Group 1 gallopers!
There are some mouth-watering clashes, most notably in the Group 1 Winx Stakes where champion trainer Chris Waller saddles up four runners including the high profile Verry Elleegant.
There are a further three Group races for punters to feast their eyes on, with the Group 3 Show County Quality setting up to be a cracker.
The Randwick track is currently rated a Heavy 8 but with warm and windy weather forecast for Sydney in the lead up to race day, we look set to start on a Soft 7.
Expect the best going to be lanes 1-4 in the home straight, with an advantage to those who have drawn inside barriers over the sprint and middle-distance trips.
The Map
Special Reward (10) will lead them up from the wide barrier and could string them out early.
Le Romain (1) and Wild Planet (4) will push forward from the low draws, with Southern Lad (6) likely to sit fourth with cover.
Favourite Funstar looks set to sit three-pairs back with cover, while Probabeel will get the soft run in transit three back the fence.
The Favourite
Funstar has opened $3.00 and is looking to improve on her impressive record of 9:5-3-0.
She ticks plenty of boxes and is 6:3-3-0 at Randwick and is 2:2-0-0 at the distance.
If there is a query, it would be that she's vulnerable first-up with only the one win from three attempts when fresh.
That said, she is the class runner of the field and deserves the favourite tag.
Analysis and Tips
Funstar $3.00 has a great record on rain-affected tracks. She is a genuine race horse who will put her best foot forward every time she gets on to the track.
Her recent trial was strong and given the good pace engaged in the race, I think she'll get her chance to fly over the top late.
The Map
There looks to be plenty of speed engaged in this year's Winx Stakes.
Look for Dreamforce (16) to push up from the wide barrier, along with Quackerjack (14) and Wolfe (9).
You can also expect Zebrowski (7) and Con Te Partiro (2) to both hold forward positions from their good draws.
The cracking speed should set it up for mid-field runners and based on previous track patterns under these conditions, we should be looking for a galloper who is rails in the run.
The Bostonian (1) has drawn perfectly to sit off a hot speed and with even luck, will get first crack at his rivals along with Godolphin's Flit (5).
The Favourite
Master Of Wine has opened the $6.50 favourite in a wide-open affair.
He's had two soft trials in readiness for this clash, but looks a huge risk over the 1400m first-up.
Two preparations ago, he took a few runs to hit his straps. He then returned from a 15-week spell and proved too good in a BM100 first-up, defeating Aliferous in a 9-horse field. This suggests he can perform when fresh.
This is Group 1 company however, and I doubt he will be wound right up for this race given he has bigger targets in sight. No thanks!
Analysis and Tips
The Bostonian $7.50 has been well supported in early markets and rightfully so.
His first-up record his unbelievable (7:6-0-0). Adding further, his last two fresh runs have resulted in Group 1 victories.
He's drawn perfectly in barrier 1 and maps to do no work in the run, three back on the rail.
With even luck on turning for home, he'll be bursting through a gap and putting the sword to this talented field!