The Group 1 Moir Stakes is the highly anticipated feature event this Saturday at Moonee Valley. With the Listed Chautauqua Stakes, McKenzie Stakes, and Atlantic Jewel Stakes also featured on the stunning program, all roads lead to Moonee Ponds! We head to Royal Randwick in Sydney for the City Tattersalls Club Cup race day. The Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, Tramway Stakes, Furious Stakes, and the Group 3 Concorde Stakes are the mouthwatering attractions on a fascinating card of racing.
Moonee Valley Race 7
#2 Epimeles
Epimeles resumes with an air of expectation. The Dundeel colt remains undefeated, and he recently won a jump-out in slick time. The 1200m is ideal fresh, and I suspect his quote will shorten significantly before the barriers open. From barrier one, he can camp behind the leader’s back, and if he gets off the duplex as they run for the doctor, I expect him to prove too strong late.
Public Attention was an impressive winner on debut at Caulfield. The Written Tycoon colt dug deep when it mattered the most, and he looks a very progressive prospect. The form around him has stood up since, and he looks poised to strike from a perfect inside draw. I suspect he will pilot the field with a clean break, and if the favourite encounters traffic issues on straightening, it could be good night nurse inside the final furlong.
Suggested Bet: Epimeles @ $3.50
Moonee Valley RACE 8
#2 Pericles
Pericles looks the good thing on a very exciting and competitive program of racing. The Street Boss gelding was good first-up in the P.B. Lawerence, and the form out of the race was franked last weekend with Pinstriped tasting Group 1 glory in the Memsie Stakes. His second-up record is outstanding, and he strips fitter after his recent outing at Caulfield. The awkward barrier is the primary concern.
The talented Attrition produced an eye-catching performance first-up in Adelaide over an unstable trip. The class runner traditionally performs well at this stage of his campaign, and he should get the perfect cart into the race with the predicated and expected tempo up front. The 60kg and a carpark draw are the biggest deterrents, and I suspect he won’t be ready to peak until he is deeper into his preparation over further. Follow him moving forward.
Suggested Bet: Pericles @ $2.30
#6 Estriella
Estriella couldn’t have been any more impressive during her autumn campaign. The I Am Invincible mare showed exceptional versatility during her races, and she bounced through her grades successfully. Her final race of the preparation was probably a bridge too far in hindsight, and I suspect she in for a fruitful spring campaign. A recent jump out at Cranbourne has had more airtime than Raygun, and I expect her to start the new racing season as a mare in winning style. The real deal!
Lady Of Camelot is trying to break the Golden Slipper hoodoo. The Written Tycoon filly gets in with a feather, and I suspect she will be fully wound up for a first-up tilt. The tight turning circuit will suit her racing pattern and style, and I expect her to pilot the field with a clean break from barrier two. She has trialled up nicely leading into this event and has been heavily supported since acceptance. Acid test.
Randwick Race 7
#5 Remarque
Remarque is a 1000m specialist. The Snitzel gelding won this race last year, and he grows an extra leg fresh. From barrier four, he will roll forward and control the tempo, and if he doesn’t spend all his biscuits early, he will prove hard to run down. He has trialled extremely well leading into this event and looks great each-way value. He had excuses during the autumn, and I expect him to bounce back during the spring.
Giga Kick returns to racing after a lengthy layoff. The Scissor Kick gelding hasn’t been to the races for 12 months, and I suspect the camp is eager to win back his title as the world’s best sprinter. Imperatriz’s dominance has come and gone in his absence, and he meets a familiar field despite being missing in action. He has been impressed recently at the trials and has been well-supported since markets opened. I would prefer to see him with a run or two under his belt before pushing the chips in.
Suggested Bet: Remarque @ $8.00
Randwick Race 8
#10 Zardozi
Zardozi is a marvel. The VRC Oaks winner doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and the form around her has stood up time and again. The Kingman mare was good fresh in the Group 1 Winx Stakes, and her second-up record at the distance must be respected. The enigmatic four-year-old gets in well under the weight-for-age scale, and there has been an avalanche of money for her at the opening quote. Hard to toss.
Hinged can win here despite being out of the winners’ circle longer than Essendon and Parramatta combined. The Worthy Cause mare loves the Randwick mile and is a proven second-up performer. Barrier one should allow her a soft run in-transit, and she strips fitter after her recent performance in a hot form race. She tends to find one or two better on the day.
Suggested Bet: Zardozi @ $2.00
Randwick Race 9
#11 Nugget
Nugget is over the odds. The Siyouni gelding produced an eye-catching performance in the Group 1 Doncaster during the autumn, and his best form reads incredibly well for this event. The tough and gritty eight-year-old will appreciate the sharp drop in class, and I suspect the handicapper has missed him with the allocated feather on his back. From barrier five, he will sit in the one-out-one back position, and if the big boy can still sprint fresh, I expect him to figure in the finish.
Arctic Glamour was good without winning fresh. The Frosted mare sprouted wings from a minute back, and she put the writing on the wall for a fruitful and successful autumn preparation. The step out in trip is advantageous, and she has won previously second-up from a spell. From the awkward barrier, she will drift back and find her hooves, and if she doesn’t get out of her ground during the middle stages of the race, she can greet the judge before her rivals. Her winning record is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Nugget @ $26.00
