A crack program of racing has been assembled for this Saturday at Randwick, with the feature race being the $175,000 Group ll McGrath Agents Missile Stakes (1200m). With five Group l winners and four Group l performers engaged, the race promises to be the perfect platform heading into the Spring. The three year olds will also get to strut their stuff when they contest the $100,000 Listed Rosebud (1200m) where all eyes will be on boom Godolphin youngster Sarajevo.

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Race One (12:30pm) : TAB Early Quaddie Handicap (81) 2400m

Back Me: Small field of five, but very hard to pick the winner. I think the horse with the most upside is Georgey Aeroplane, who comes back to Sydney after starting his prep in Victoria, winning two back on the Geelong Synthetic (Metro) before being held by Vintage Lad, who was narrowly beaten by Bagman, a stablemate of the top tip who would towel this field if he ran. Horse to beat for mine.
Big Danger: Saigon Tea has been a most consistent mare this time in, but is finding it very hard to greet the judge. She looked the winner last time out at Kensington, and in normal viewing she was, but the photo finish said otherwise and Orential Lady held on. A firm track is definitely against her, but the small field and her good form warrants her to be the main threat.
Roughie: Tohunga gets a nice little weight pull on Saigon Tea from their meeting at Kensington. He meets the mare 2kg better off at the weights for a two length defeat, and while he did have his chance there, I think a more aggressive ride here from Tim Clark and a cheap sectional could bring him right into the mix.

Race Two (1:05pm) : Instagram @Atc_races Handicap (85) 1300m

Back Me: I think the most interesting runner across Australia this weekend is As Needed. He is a sparely raced five year old gelding resuming for Anthony Cummings after a strong opening prep in the Autumn, yielding three wins from four outings and a failure on a bog Warwick Farm surface. He went to the trials last Friday at Randwick and went outstanding, sitting near the speed and winning the trial under a hold. Hard to say where he can get to this prep, but I’d say, with natural improvement, he could be an ideal Epsom horse, so I am very keen to see how he returns here in a very strong race.
Big Danger: Society Man could not have been ridden any better by Tye Angland last time out at Kensington, getting the gun trail behind Paederos, peeling off his back on the turn and just failing to pick him up. nine placings from 15 outings is a concern, but Bowman takes over and he comes back to 1300m. Last chance.
Roughie: Rock Hero has performed at the highest level in recent company and has been competitive without looking likely. Was last seen in the Australian Guineas and not much went right on that occasion, so he was sent to the paddock and given a good spell in readiness for the Spring. He has looked quite sharp in recent barrier trials, so look out for him.

Race Three (1:40pm) : Hahn Super Dry 3.5 Handicap (82) 1600m

Back Me: Very ordinary race. Specific Choice finally delivered what we have been waiting for- a demolition job of his rivals. He did it in style over 2000m here four weeks back, sitting out the back before pouncing on the turn and kicking clear late. Month between runs is of no concern to me and coming back to a mile also doesn’t bother me. One to beat, but as we know, he can be very hard to follow.
Big Danger: The Alfonso is also coming back from 2000m at that same meeting, but he ran in the three year old race, where he ran third to Tarangower and Pajaro, and it was evident he doesn’t run 2000m, so coming back to the mile looks perfect and gets the blinkers for the first time.
Roughie: The up and comer in this race is Cocktail Time, who has been absolutely flying in recent times, and deserves a crack at Saturday grade after a super win at Warwick Farm last week, getting the box seat trail and showing a sharp turn of foot to win. Carries no weight and is on the up whereas the top two are coming back.

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Race Four (2:15pm) : The Wallabies Handicap (75) 1800m

Back Me: Saintly Lad showed his best form last time out at Canterbury with a booming final sectional to sweep past his rivals close to home and win by a nice margin with plenty left in reserve. He has always promised to be at this level and beyond, and now he is just starting to realise that potential. Hard to beat.
Big Danger: Tarangower comes to this race off the back of a strong on pace win over 2000m here a month back, toughing it out strongly when challenged. Hasn’t run since, but did look very sharp in a Randwick barrier trial win last Friday, so fitness won’t be an issue and will run the 1800m out with no worries.
Roughie: Mr Scary has been struggling for decent form of late, but returned to some sort of form with an eye catching third over 1850m on a bog Newcastle track a couple of weeks back, plugging away strongly on the worst part of the track. Prefers a wet track, but is capable on dry and gets a gun draw.

Race Five (2:55pm) : The Rosebud 1200m

Back Me: Best bet on the card, and Australia, in the shape of future Group l winner Sarajevo, who could well develop to be the next star of Australian racing. He has only had one career start, back in April at Kensington, and he created a big impression, missing the kick, coming very wide and rounding them up in the straight like a very good horse. When Snowden left, the one horse he said he would love to bring with him is this horse…O’Shea has nominated the same horse, as has McEvoy. They are three very good judges, and the way this horse has trialled, their judgement will be correct.
Big Danger: Better Land has only had the one career start, back in April at Sale where he took care of a fairly average lot, winning by three lengths. Hasn’t been seen since, but did win a recent barrier trial at Doomben in sharp fashion. Bred to be a superstar sprinter, so he is a watch horse.
Roughie: Scissor Kick comes here after a dominant first up maiden win at Canterbury. Unsure what he beat, but the manner in which he did it was very good and he ran good time compared to the older horses on the same afternoon. Has to step it up a couple of notches to match it with the top tip, but he is a very progressive type.

Race Six (3:35pm) : McGrath Agents Missile Stakes 1200m

Back Me: Messene took all before him in the Autumn, starting off with an outstanding win in the National Sprint at Canberra before taking out the Ajax and earning himself a crack at the Doncaster mile. He didn’t let down as well as we know he can, largely due to the fact it was his first time he has raced on rain affected going. He was beaten, but far from disgraced. He looks to have come back a much bigger, better, and stronger horse this time in, and has looked very sharp in a couple of barrier trials.
Big Danger: Rebel Dane  was brilliant during the Autumn without winning. First up he ran second to the worlds best sprinter, Lankan Rupee, in the T J Smith, then was solid without being super in the All Aged. Freshened up, and went to Doomben for the 10,000 where he was huge in defeat behind Spirit Of Boom, then was much the same again in the Stradbroke where he came from last to run seventh in a race dominated by the two horses up on the speed. Spelled, trialled well and is a lethal horse fresh.
Roughie: Boban is the interesting runner for mine. It was around this time last year that we first saw a glimpse into what he’d achieve in the 2013 Spring, and elevated him to one of the best gallopers in the country. He came back in the Autumn, and overall, he was quite poor, but he did manage a Group l win over It’s A Dundeel in the Chipping Norton. But he looks back on track given how well he is trialled, in particular his latest trial behind Sarajevo. Big watch on him fresh.

Race Seven (4:15pm) : TAB Rewards Handicap (85) 1000m

Back Me: A fast run 1000m might just be what old stager Earnest Ernest  is looking for. He has been a model of consistency in recent times, finishing either in the placings or just outside in six of his past eight outings. Worked home strongly near the rail last time out at Kensington behind Hurrara after settling near last. He’ll get back again, but the expected hot tempo will suit him perfectly.
Big Danger: Target In Sight resumes for new trainer Joe Pride after formerly being with John O’Shea. He was very good during the Summer/Autumn, winning three of six and placing on another two occasions. Five starts back he beat home Big Money over 1000m, and that horse has since gone on to win at stakes level, so his form runs deep, and I loved the way he went about a recent barrier trial.
Roughie: Maysson resumes here for Team Hawkes after a mixed campaign in the Summer/Autumn. He broke through for his maiden in at Gosford before being freshened up and winning again under the lights at Canterbury. He eventually ended up at Stakes level at Randwick and was far from disgraced in the Fireball behind Shamalia. Trialled well and is very good when produced fresh.

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Race Eight (4:55pm) : Hyland Race Colours Handicap (85) 1200m

Back Me: I’ve Got The Looks for me in the last. A sweet ride by Blake Shinn got the mare home first up at Rosehill before being transferred to Team Snowden and running a couple of weeks back at Kensington where she tried her guts out, running third to Gold Epona. She is better when cuddled up and saved for the final sprint, and from the gun draw with Shinn back aboard, that scenario should eventuate.
Big Danger: I fancied Angel Bee first up in that Kensington raced mentioned above, but she was tardy away and was forced to go back to last, and that really isn’t her go. She is a better horse when ridden up on top of the speed or close to it. McDonald will no doubt look to get her firing over early given there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of early speed engaged here, so she is the knockout runner at odds.
Roughie: Missvonn resumes for David Vandyke after formerly being with Guy Walter. She had a pretty solid Autumn prep, culminating with a second to now stablemate Arabian Gold in the Adrian Knox and a midfield finish in the Oaks to Rising Romance. Hasn’t trialled, so may need the run, but her first up record is pretty good.

[showbest best=”Race Five Number 4 Sarajevo” next = “Race Eight Number 1 I’ve Got The Looks” value = “Race Seven Number 4 Earnest Ernest”]

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 4

Leg Two: Field

Leg Three: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9

Leg Four: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7

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All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.