The Wizard of Odds goes through the runner-by-runner preview of the Silver Eagle at Randwick.
Who will stamp their authority on the way to The Golden Eagle in a fortnight’s time?
#2 Exoboom
Peter and Paul Snowden
Exoboom settled a mile back when resuming from a spell and was left with to much do.
Barrier two presents him with an opportunity to steal all the runs along the rails, but not sure if he will get the luck he needs.
Happy to risk.
Odds: $13 the win and $4 the place.
Finishing position: Ninth
#3 Prime Star
peter and paul snowden
Comes out of the Bill Ritchie Handicap which has seen Aramayo and Private Eye run the Epsom Handicap quinella.
Glen Boss will need to be a genius to find a spot in the run from the wide barrier.
Prefer to leave him alone and risk him beating us given he is likely to be posted three and four wide without cover.
Odds: $13 the win and $4 the place.
Finishing position: Eighth
#4 Amish Boy
Ciaron maher & dave eustace
He invariably runs huge races at Group 1 level, but is a bit too inconsistent of a horse to trust.
He did run very well in the Sir Rupert Clarke a fortnight ago behind the likes of Sierra Sue and I’m Thunderstruck.
That is some of the best 1400-metre form in the country at the moment, but it is the barrier that irks gambling on him here.
Current price is way too thin.
Odds: $7 the win and $2.5 the place.
Finishing position: Sixth
#5 Aim
Peter and Paul snowden
Races first-up and probably lacks the fitness to make a real impact.
His trial form leading into this resuming run has been okay.
Hugh Bowman booked is a good lead, but there are plenty more ahead of him.
Odds: $21 the win and $6.5 the place.
Finishing position: Tenth
#6 Ellsberg
Gerald Ryan & Stirling Alexiou
Went superbly when winning at his resuming run last start.
Drew barrier 12 and kept surging to the line despite being out wide with no cover.
Any natural improvement he gains off that run will see him super hard to beat here.
Barrier six will ensure he gets a perfect run tucked in behind the lead speed and he is a genuine top three chance.
Odds: $5 the win and $2 the place.
Finishing position: Third
#7 Triple Ace
Kris Lees
Was a dynamic winner over 1100 metres at Randwick last start.
Not sure he is going to be as effective over 1300 metres with his dash likely to be taken out of him by what looks to be a solid early speed.
The speed map does not do him any favours either with Alysha Collett likely to snick back to settle near the rear half of the field.
Odds: $17 the win and $5 the place.
Finishing position: Eleventh
#8 Count De Rupee
Robert & Luke Price
Possesses a very sharp finishing burst that can climb over the top of this field and beat them all.
The middle barrier draw is perfect for him.
Regan Bayliss, who is the man of the moment in Sydney after riding two Group 1 winners last week, can settle this gelding midfield with cover and produce his run at the top of the straight.
If he gets clean air and is not too far away from the leaders, he will run in the top two.
Odds: $5 the win and $2 the place.
Finishing position: Second
#9 Tramonto
Jonny Field
This looks a real ‘throw at the stumps’ type play from Jonny Field with this Queensland galloper.
Like a few of the horses in the field, he is yet to race beyond 1200 metres and it is hard to get a gauge on how how dynamic his sprint will be.
Looks outclassed here.
Odds: $26 the win and $7 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#10 Blondeau
Chris Waller
It is a dangerous game leaving out any Chris Waller runner.
Going to be bold and place him in the second half of the field as his finishing spot.
Had every conceivable chance to win last start in a BM-88 race over 1100 metres and failed to do so.
Not enough star quality to win this.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.8 the place.
Finishing position: Twelfth
#11 Equation
Annabel Neasham
Was well tried by the market when resuming over 1100 metres in the race won by Triple Ace, but he got too far back on a wet Randwick track.
Was slung out wide and asked to do too much.
That being said, the run is going to do him the world of good and he paraded in the yard as a horse that had plenty of improvement to come from a fitness point of view.
He will strip much fitter for that tough first-up run and jumps from an ideal barrier.
Just needs to settle within three lengths of the leaders to be winning this race.
His current price allows us to bet on an each-way basis as well.
Odds: $7 the win and $2.5 the place.
Finishing position: First
#12 High Supremacy
Richard & Michael Freedman
Shot home to score a nice victory when first-up after just over three months away from the races.
Bit of a question mark with the drop in distance against much sharper and faster horses than he faced last start.
Will probably be looking for the mile and beyond.
Barrier one leaves the stomach curdling as well with his likely settling spot to be midfield the rails and waiting for the gaps to appear, while everyone makes their runs around him.
Odds: $11 the win and $3.5 the place
Finishing position: Seventh
#13 Sammy
Kris Lees
Has strung together two wins in much lower grade than he faces in this race.
Kris Lees is a master trainer, however this galloper looks out of his depth.
Odds: $26 the win and $7 the place.
Finishing position: Thirteenth
#14 Vangelic
Gai Waterhouse & adrian bott
The leader of the race who is going to set a frantic tempo up front.
Had all the favours last start when leading all the way and holding for a narrow victory on a track that advantaged horses who raced in the lead.
She will not get the luxury of a an easy lead here either.
Should run well again, but will be vulnerable to the closers late in the race.
Odds: $6 the win and $2.25 the place
Finishing position: Fourth
#14 Kiku
Chris Waller
She races at her best when she is second-up and that is the situation that occurs in this race.
Her resuming run behind Ellsburg was very encouraging and she gets in on the minimum weight and meets Ellsburg half-a-kilo better at the weights than last start.
Glyn Schofield has been booked and these Star Thoroughbred connections have a knack at targeting and placing their horses in the right races.
Definitely a top five chance and might be worth an each-way ticket with the soft barrier playing into her hands.
Odds: $14 the win and $4.2 the place.
Finishing position: Fifth
