The Toy Show Quality will be the last of the feature races at Randwick and it will boast arguably the best field of runners on the day although again hit by scratchings. We take a look at each of runners in the field and give our tips.

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Odds/Results:

Field:

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1. DIAMOND DRILLE – T Berry (2)

Rounded out her last campaign by recording her fifth win and her first at the elite level with a head victory in the G1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m). Gai Waterhouse’s lightly raced 5yo mare returns here off a thirteen week spell but with two trials under her belt and expected further improvement to come after the break, she’s capable of producing a big run fresh. Has won two from three this track and handles the cut out of the track.

2. DEAR DEMI – K McEvoy (6)

Fantastic mare back for yet another campaign where she will undoubtedly apply herself very well. Ran third first up last prep in the G3 Wiggles Stakes (1400m) on a slow track carrying 59kgs. Will face similar conditions this weekend and although she is yet to win first up in five attempts, cannot be ruled out as a genuine place chance.

3. LUCIA VALENTINA – J Bowman (13)

Revelled in the heavy conditions and saved a stack of ground by sticking to the fence when she claimed the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) last campaign. The former NZ mare who transferred to Newcastle trainer Kris Lees earlier this year, then claimed third in the Australian Oaks. She ran third in the G2 Surround (1400m) behind Thump off a new week break last campaign and whilst she’ll be giving them a start from gate thirteen, expect her be hitting the line hard.

4. GYPSY DIAMOND – B Shinn (10)

Formerly with John O’Shea, this Not A Single Doubt mare, who put together a stellar campaign last time which included victory in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes, is now with Peter and Paul Snowden. Her new trainers haven’t asked much from her in two recent trails and best to go on her most recent first up run which saw her flash home to run 3/4 of a length second to Sweet Idea in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes. The Carbine Club win was on a heavy track and with what should be a solid pace up front, expect her to have conditions to suit.

5. THUMP – B Avdulla (11)

Found the WFA conditions and older horse too slick when she returned to racing in last fortnight’s G2 Missile Stakes, finishing last in the field of nine after settling on the pace. She did bounce back after a poor fresh run last prep to claim the G2 Surround Stakes (1400m) second up, defeating Real Surreal and Lucia Valentia, at Warwick Farm on a dead rated track. With a predicted wet track, a wide gate and the likelihood of being kept honest in front around the tougher Randwick circuit, would prefer to go with others.

6. BENNETTA – J Lloyd (5)

She keeps promising to but as yet, the General Nediym mare still hasn’t been able to crack it for that elusive fourth career win. Her last win was in February 2013, the G2 Light Finger Stakes and since then, in eleven starts, has registered four placing including her most recent outing, July’s Listed Civic Stakes. She followed eventual winner Generalife into the straight but just couldn’t match the finishing sprint of that horse and finished second. Been freshened up and did trial very well recently, beating home Tiger Tees.

7. NEENA ROCK – J McDonald (14)

First time Australian’s will see this lightly raced Kiwi mare in action. She’s finished in the quinella ten of her fourteen starts and last campaign, took out a G3 event defeating Zurella. Trialled well for Trainer John Sargent three weeks ago at Randwick when ridden by McDonald, who sticks with her but they’ve drawn the visitors gate and happy to see how she measures up here.

8. INTIMATE MOMENT – S Clipperton (1)

Ron Quinton took his Dubawi mare from a Newcastle Maiden win all the way to a G3 victory in the space of eight starts last campaign. Now a 5yo mare, Quinton has been patient with his galloper who’ll line up for only her sixteenth start on Saturday so we still may see more to come from here this time in. Might be able to produce a cheeky run from the inside draw and has performed well on slow rated tracks in the past.

9. KRISTY LEE – T Clark (7)

Chris Waller’s mare has been racing consistently in lesser grade races this campaign. The Encosta De Lago mare has had her last two starts in Victoria, finishing a disappointing second to last at Caulfield before a much improved effort at Flemington where she claimed third (2 lengths) behind Couldn’t Agreemore, closing well from the back of the field. This is her first attempt at a Stakes race, at start number thirty-one, and given her recent efforts likely to find at least a few here too good.

10. ANGEL BEE – T Marshall (3)

Has had two starts back from a fifteen week spell and on both performances, would think she’ll struggle here. She was flat first up when seventh of eleven in a BM 84 before being ridden to the lead in a BM 85 but proving no match for I’ve Got The Looks late, finishing fourth (1.7 lengths). Will push forward again from an inside gate but as was the case last start, had to see her holding off the challengers in a stronger race.

11. GOLD EPONA – K O’Hara (15)

Recorded her fourth career win after securing a rails run in a BM 84 and defeating I’m In The Money and I’ve Got The Looks but at her following and most recent start, the Stratum mare found herself in plenty of traffic in the straight and never with the opportunity to let down. Should’ve finished closer than her eighth (3.2 lengths) behind I’ve Got The Looks last start but will not find the step up in grade here easy to handle given she’s drawn the outside gate.

12. MISS PROMISCUITY – J Collett (9)

Lightly raced Magnus mare from the Anthony Cummings yard who is building a solid if short resume. She won three of her first four starts before running a head second in the G3 Typhoon Tracy to Jazz Song – who was good over the Winter Carnival – before being spelled. She had her second run back form a spell in a BM 85 at Randwick a fortnight ago where from an inside draw, she settled on the leader’s back. She just had to wait for the run to open in the straight as the leader kicked on and the field bunched. Her effort to finish third (long neck) to I’ve Got The Looks was a good one but further improvement still required to be winning here.

13. MY SABEEL – G Schofield (8)

Frustratingly for connections and trainer Kevin Moses, this 7yo mare has filled a place in each of her past three starts, beaten less than a length each time. She was caught wide on pace when collared late by La Venta two starts back before again being caught in the shadows of the post when a neck third to Sensualism last week in a BM 75. Going well but will not find this any easier than her past couple.

14. SUCH A PRINCESS – W Costin (4)

Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker has brought his 5yo mare to town regularly during the course of her career but aside from her Maiden win at Canterbury, she’s missed filling a place in seven starts in the big smoke – all in races much easier than this. Looks well out of her depth.

15. LESLEY’S CHOICE – (12)

She’s had two starts back from an eighth month spell, starting 5/2 favourite in both. The first up effort saw her in need of the run and finish sixth (2.4 lengths) behind Mineko at Canterbury before her trainer David Vandyke travelled her to Wyong where she won a Class 2 by a long neck. Shooting to high here.

RACE OVERVIEW

Great competitive mares race with some smart performers resuming. No surprise to see those at the top of the weights prominent in the market. Although all resuming with reasonable weights on what will likely be a wet track, their class will take them a long way. Taking a deep breath, conditions might suit Bennetta here. She hasn’t won for a while but has competed strongly in some smart races, has residual fitness on her side compared to some of those returning from a spell and recently trialled smartly From gate five, Jeff Lloyd should be able to keep the leaders in his sights.

1. GYPSY DIAMOND
2. BENNETTA
3. DEAR DEMI
4. INTIMATE MOMENT

News:

Joe Pride insists it would wrong to consider Terravista a risk on a rain-affected track.

But just in case he has any reason to doubt himself ahead of Terravista’s return in the Show County Quality at Randwick, Pride need only to check out a neighbouring horse stall for reassurance.

Terravista is a half-brother to stablemate Tiger Tees, one of the main chances in the Warwick Stakes on Saturday and a horse whose formidable record in the wet includes a Galaxy win at Group One level.

Their mother is the Gold Brose mare Parfore and producing wet-track winners is her forte but Pride says the influence of Terravista’s sire Captain Rio shouldn’t be ignored.

“Captain Rios are really good wet trackers and he’s out of a mare whose horses handle wet tracks,” Pride said.

Pride said Terravista failed in the George Ryder Stakes because of several factors but soft ground wasn’t one of them.

“He had a torrid run. The weight-for-age maybe played a part in it but it was nothing to do with the track,” he said.

Terravista will kept to a sprinting campaign in the spring and he will resume as a well-supported favourite against Cluster in Saturday’s Group Three race over 1200m.

The Pride-trained siblings have already won on the same day on February 22 with Terravista successful in Sydney and Tiger Tees in Brisbane.

It’s an achievement Pride says can be bettered with a stakes double at the same racetrack.

“That would be lovely,” he said. “A double for the brothers.”