SATURDAY 21ST DECEMBER – RANDWICK
Rail Position: RAIL - +3m Entire
ALBANY ROAD (Race 1, 12.30pm, 1000m, T Clark, 57kg)
Albany Road is in great shape ahead of his first career start. He showed excellent improvement from his first to second trial and we were delighted with the way he found the line in that most recent outing. He was caught wide punching the breeze throughout, so to see him knuckle down and close off as strongly as he did was excellent to see. Importantly, it will have taught him what he has to do under pressure which is invaluable, as horses only learn this by gaining experience and often learn a lot less by staying on the bridle. He’s drawn well enough in barrier 6, and we're hopeful he can execute the start quickly and roll forward into a prominent position where he can get into a good rhythm. He’s a professional colt with a good constitution, and with even luck in running we expect him to be right there at the finish.
KEENAN (Race 10, 5.55pm, 1300m, B Loughnane, 58kg)
Whilst we expected more from Keenan first-up at Flemington, you can forgive horses for underperforming down the Flemington straight. Importantly, he’s taken plenty of improvement from the outing and he strips fitter and tighter in condition ahead of this return to racing in Sydney. We can’t fault his recent trackwork, and he’s really switched on in his recent gallops so he’s heading into this race in a great headspace. We were pleased with the way he worked through the line in his latest trial, and he’s open to plenty of improvement second-up stretching out in trip. Billy will be positive from barrier 4 to hopefully get him bowling along towards the head of the field where he can get into a comfortable rhythm and make his own luck from there. We expect to see a much-improved display, and if he puts his best foot forward he's more than capable of bouncing back and giving this race a good shake.
SILENT IMPACT (Race 10, 5.55pm, 1300m, T Clark, 59kg)
Silent Impact has made excellent progress following his short spell on the sidelines. We were pleased with how he worked through the line in his latest trial at Kensington to finish in and around several talented and progressive horses. His three trials have given him a good grounding ahead of this first start of the preparation, and he’s coming up well at this stage in the campaign. He ran very well to finish a close second over 1300 metres in his return at Rosehill last preparation, so we know he’s more than capable over this trip first-up and he goes well fresh with two first-up victories in his career to date. Tim will be positive from barrier 6 to get him into a forward position where he can settle into a comfortable rhythm, either on or just in behind the speed if something wants to go faster than him. We know he’s talented on his day, and if he can enjoy a smooth run in transit we expect to see him hitting the line strongly to get his preparation off to an encouraging start.
SATURDAY 21ST DECEMBER – EAGLE FARM
Rail Position: RAIL - +4.5m Entire
THE PLAYWRIGHT (Race 7, 3.48pm, 1200m, R Bayliss, 55kg)
The Playwright was excellent on debut at Rosehill. She showed plenty of professionalism and battled on extremely gamely under pressure in the closing stages to score an impressive win. She hasn’t missed a beat since, and naturally she's taken plenty of improvement from that race experience. She has settled into our base at Eagle Farm very well and we have been extremely happy with her since her arrival. We expect the step up to 1200 metres to be of great benefit to her second-up, and whilst rising in grade to Group 3 company is a tough ask we think she's up to it and gaining Black Type will only enhance her value going forwards. Regan will look to use her natural speed to her advantage and gain a forward position from barrier 8 to sit on or just behind the speed. With all the rain around in Queensland this last week the track is currently rated a Soft 7 which she handled well on debut, so we're confident she'll deal with whatever conditions she's presented with come tomorrow. The race has attracted a full field compared to the last two renewals which had only 6 and 9 runners, so it's going to be extremely competitive. However, she has shown us she has plenty of ability and with even luck in running we expect her to be challenging at the finish.
SATURDAY 21ST DECEMBER – PAKENHAM
Rail Position: RAIL - True Entire Circuit
GOLDMAN (Race 9, 4.55pm, 2500m, B Mertens, 56kg)
Goldman ran a solid race stepped-up to 2000 metres second-up and he stuck to his task bravely to the line. He’s come through that race in good shape, and he’s settled into our Flemington stable extremely well since his arrival. A change of scenery can do wonders for these older stayers, and he’s open to further improvement third-up stepping out in distance to 2500 metres. The expansive track at Pakenham should suit him well, and Beau will be positive form barrier 4 to get him rolling along into a forward position where he can try to make his own luck from the front, or close to it. He’s an absolute gentleman to deal with and a stable favourite, and whilst he’s run some ok races of late we know he's capable of more than he has produced so far this preparation and we would be delighted to get him back into the Winner’s Circle from you all. He’s in terrific shape and we’re confident he has plenty more to offer over this trip, so we hope to see him fighting out the finish.