Royal Randwick hosts George Main Stakes Day on Saturday, with punters treated to a cracking 10 race card.
The big one is supported by two quality Group 2 events, being the Tea Rose Stakes and The Shorts.
All 10 races are filled with quality gallopers as we gear-up for an exciting Spring.
The track is currently rated a Soft 7 and with scattered showers in the lead-up and on race-day, expect the track to remain in the soft range.
Look for on-pace runners to hold an advantage, especially those who can get off the rails in the straight.
The Map
The pace in this one only looks fair, with stablemates Riodini (1) and Shout The Bar (3) likely to head forward to try and dictate proceedings.
Kolding (4) will be prominent behind that pair, with Think It Over (6) travelling across from the awkward barrier.
Star of the Seas (5) should hold a nice position off the leading bunch, with Lion's Roar (8) looking to slot in from the wide gate. Cascadian (9) will settle to the rear from the draw with Hungry Heart (7) and Verry Elleegant (2) settling in the final pair.
The Favourite
Verry Elleegant ($2.00) is the early favourite and will prove very hard to beat.
She returned with a nice second behind Mo'unga in the Winx Stakes and that form has stood up nicely.
Mo'unga finished a strong second behind Incentivise in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and Think It Over has since come out and won the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes.
She returned in similar fashion last Spring and will be looking to improve on her result from this race last year.
I expect her to drift back from the draw with speed drawn around her. It will not surprise me to see a tactics change for her stablemates Kolding or Star of the Seas, to combat the tempo set by the Waterhouse/Bott pair.
Providing she stays within striking distance, she can follow stablemate Hungry Heart into the race before making a bold run up the outside.
Analysis and Tips
Verry Ellegant ($2.00) is the only horse I want to be with for the reasons stated above.
The Map
Unlike the previous race, there is an abundance of speed in this contest.
Look for Eduardo (9) to push his way to the front from the wide draw. However he will have Lost and Running (7), Adelong (6), Rothfire (5) and Nature Strip (4) pushing up to his inside, so crossing won't be easy.
Of those horses, expect Lost and Running and Rothfire to pull out of the speed battle to sit just off them.
Gytrash (1) has the chance to attempt to kick up and sit closer, though I doubt they will force the issue after his lay-off.
Masked Crusader (2) and Handle the Truth (3) will love the speed up front and will likely settle towards the rear.
The Favourite
Nature Strip ($2.35) returned a fortnight ago and toyed with his opposition in one of the more dominant displays we have seen in recent times.
He not only ran the second quickest sectionals of the day from the start to the 200m mark, but he was also able to run the fastest last 400m and 200m of the day.
It was a terrific return, but he now has to face tougher opposition albeit with a run under his belt.
The interest lies in the first 150m - 200m and what they end up deciding to do with the speed drawn to his outside.
I have no doubt in my mind he can win, but I would want a much better price than what's on offer.
Analysis and Tips
I know it is a slight risk, but I am willing to have a bet on Rothfire ($5.00) with the expectation that he will drift between now and start time.
He has trialled like a bomb since coming back off a long lay-off and I have no doubt he will be cherry ripe for this one.
He made a mess of a few nice types in the Run to the Rose when he came to Sydney last campaign, and then managed to finish fourth in the Golden Rose Stakes despite suffering the injury.
Tim Clark jumps aboard and he is a terrific judge of pace and tempo, and he will no doubt stalk this fast pace before producing him at the right time.
I expect him to get to a nice price and we'll get to see if he has returned with the goods on his trek to the Everest.