Saturday's Randwick meeting signals the start of Sydney's Spring racing carnival, with high profile gallopers set to launch their campaigns.
There are some mouth-watering clashes on the 9 race card.
All eyes will be on the Group 3 Concorde Stakes, where Everest favourite Nature Strip will be keen to get one up on Gytrash before their October grand final.
There are a further three Group races for punters to cash in on, with the Group 2 Furious Stakes for the three-year-old fillies looking the highlight.
The Randwick track is currently rated a Good 4 and with nothing but good weather in the lead-up, punters can expect fast racing conditions.
Expect the best going to be lanes 1-4 in the home straight, with horses in the front half of the field holding a slight advantage.
The Map
Ball Of Muscle (1) has drawn ideally and looks the one that will roll forward and hold the fence.
Nature Strip (6) and Splintex (5) will apply early pressure from the wide draws, with Gytrash (4) likely to sit fourth off the fence.
Of the other two runners, Dirty Work (3) and Prairie Fire (2) will sit at the tail the field.
The Favourite
Nature Strip has opened $1.40 and is looking to open his campaign with a bang.
He ticks plenty of boxes and is 10:6-1-0 at the distance and 16:9-2-0 on a good surface.
If there is a query, it would be his first-up stats which reveal a slight chink in his armour (5:2-1-0).
Furthermore, the map isn't kind to him despite the small field.
That being said, he is the Everest favourite for a reason and can blow them away with his class.
Analysis and Tips
Ball Of Muscle $23.00 is a massive knockout chance at silly odds.
He has the perfect draw, is very effective first-up, loves the track & distance and does his best work on a good surface.
He's had two encouraging trials in preparation for this, and he is one tough customer who will give this race a shake.
The Map
This looks to be a very tricky edition of the Furious Stakes, with most runners in with a good chance.
Look for Forbidden Love (7) to push up, along with Dame Giselle (10) and possibly Chianti (1).
You can also expect Miss Canada (5) and Vangelic (4) to both hold forward positions from their good draws.
The speed will be very solid but with the way the track is expected to play, I am expecting a winner out of the front six in running.
Hungry Heart (3) has drawn a touch awkwardly with her pattern, and Thermosphere (12) will be a long way back.
The Favourite
Hungry Heart has opened the $2.90 favourite in a wide-open affair.
She's had two soft trials in readiness for this clash, but the draw mixed with a potential bias towards on-pace runners may make it hard for her.
Last preparation she was good up the Flemington straight first-up, before having a let-up and winning the Sweet Embrace.
She then tackled the Golden Slipper in her third and final race of the preparation, where she wasn't disgraced running fifth.
She is back to Group 2 company against her own age and sex for this clash, which brings her right into the race.
However given she's first-up and has a sticky draw, she'll be going around without me.
Analysis and Tips
Chianti $15.00 is silly odds for a filly who has shown plenty of ability.
Last preparation, she produced the goods first-up at Warwick Farm before being thrown into the deep end in the Percy Sykes.
In that clash, she was wide throughout and then copped a big bump from eventual winner Away Game.
The filly kicked off this preparation with a good win at Hawkesbury in solid time.
She's drawn perfectly in barrier 1 and maps to do no work in the run, sitting just off the speed.
With even luck turning for home, she can give this race a shake at decent odds.
I expect her to show her true ability on the dry track!