3. Vauban performed way above expectation when placing in the Chelmsford at a mile first-up, not so much that he was able to run third, but he sprinted just as well as proven miler Ceolwulf and denied that horse the bronze. The 2000m is a lot more in his wheelhouse, and he did win at the trip back in March. Expect he\u2019ll be just behind the speed, and if he can improve, as he should, he\u2019s the one to beat. 12. Birdman was excellent second-up in the Chelmsford, he was held up behind a couple before switching to the outside, and he made nice ground under conditions that don\u2019t suit him. A bit better off at set weights and penalties, drawn the inside, and 2000m should start to see him really hit his straps. Go well. 1. Arapaho showed he\u2019s come back nicely with his Winx Stakes placing first-up, then boxed on nicely enough in the Chelmsford with Birdman just getting past him late. Another who will only be helped by 2000m, and he can be around the mark again. 11. Elamaz is the one that\u2019s harder to line up. He was heavily backed when winning the McKell Cup from the front in June. He profiles similarly to last year\u2019s winner Eliyass and could have similar upside and on what we\u2019ve seen he\u2019s a chance to measure up.
How to play it: Vauban WIN<\/p>\n
Race 6 – 2.50pm: MYPLATES TEA ROSE STAKES (1400m)<\/p>\n
2. Tupakara looks the best placed of those who finished around her in the Furious two weeks ago, given a nice soft draw and an ability to make some use of it. Had to go right back first-up, and she was breathing down the neck of the winner on the line. Appears to have the better set-up to turn the tables and break through for her first win. 1. Apocalyptic was the winner of that race and was advantaged a little by having the inside gate and tracking through before getting into the clear and getting the job done. She\u2019s drawn out this time and we don\u2019t know what tactical speed she has given she\u2019s only had two starts. She\u2019s also got the most upside, so could overcome some adversity. 3. Within The Law is faced with having to go back once again, as she did in the Furious before running on into fifth, perhaps Tupakara just sprinted a bit better, when staying at 1200m. She\u2019ll appreciate the trip and is sure to be hitting the line. 6. Queen Of Clubs is also on the back foot with a tricky gate, and she\u2019ll probably go back as well. Hard to miss her fresh effort in the Silver Shadow, and she\u2019s missed the Furious to wait for the 1400m. She\u2019s trialled well and galloped nicely in public and is sure to be showing she\u2019s on target for further.
How to play it: Tupakara WIN<\/p>\n
Race 7 – 3.25pm: BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP (1400m)<\/p>\n
10. Kintyre is decent each-way odds, but if all is well with him, he\u2019s more than good enough to go close fresh. Only had the two runs in the autumn and underwent a wind operation, he\u2019s trialled pretty well, particularly in the latest at 1200m. Draws ideally, and while his first-up record doesn\u2019t read great, he did run fifth in the Tramway last year and then a close fourth in this race. Like where he\u2019s drawn, and he has the right scenario to run well. 2. Yellow Brick was probably not the best suited on a Heavy 10 in the Show County a month ago, and the form has held up since then with Lazzura winning again and General Salute running well. He gets to 1400m on a dry track, draws nicely and can only improve on what he did fresh. 17. Royal Patronage is a curious one if he gains a start, which he likely will, given he\u2019s won first-up in his past two preps at 1400m and 1300m. Wide isn\u2019t so much an issue as he\u2019s a go-forward horse, and he\u2019s earned the 61kg. He seems to have come back from Hong Kong well enough, looking at his trials and is right in it. 9. McHale won this race last year and was only having his second run since then when chasing Estadio Mestalla at 1500m at Rosehill three weeks ago. Looks destined to get a nice run again and if he holds his form he\u2019s right in the finish.
How to play it: Kintyre EACH-WAY.<\/p>\n
Race 8 – 4pm: 7 STAKES (1600m)<\/p>\n
5. Gringotts cruised up to them like he was going to win the Wins Stakes first-up, but suspect the heavy 10 got him when the pressure went right on. Don\u2019t mind the month between runs, and he\u2019s had a 1200m trial win in the interim. He\u2019s the type that should be able to land in the box seat from gate one and get the jump on those chasing him. He won four times at the mile and should be right in the finish. It\u2019s a big race for 1. Ceolwulf, who was expected to win the Chelmsford second-up after his excellent return in the Winx, giving a big start and trying to charge down the middle. Things didn\u2019t work out for him last time as he was shuffled back mid-race. He still ran on well, and if he can make some use of the barrier this time, it\u2019d be in his favour. 11. Fangirl is hard to deny in any race, and she won this event last year. Eight of her 11 wins have been at Randwick, and there was nothing in her first-up run to say she hasn\u2019t come back as well as ever. She\u2019ll get back and be charging at them as always. 3. Private Eye has the right set-up drawn alongside Lindermann to get a cart across from the near outside gate and land on the speed. He\u2019s racing in great form and was just ambushed by Pericles in the Tramway who had the drop on him. Can\u2019t leave out.
How to play it: Gringotts WIN.<\/p>\n
Race 9 – 4.40pm: YARRAMAN PARK SHORTS (1100m)<\/p>\n
2. Private Harry has done nothing wrong with wins at all five starts, including his group 1 triumph in the Galaxy, and while this is his biggest tes,t there\u2019s nothing to say he won\u2019t pass it. He\u2019s been sharp in his trial wins coming in, and he\u2019s proven most dynamic on top of the ground so gets conditions to suit first-up. Expecting he\u2019ll find the front from the middle draw, give a kick and be hard to run down. 1. Briasa could well have his back in the run and that makes him dangerous. He\u2019s also trialled impressively on a couple of occasions leading in and is slightly better off at the weights from the Galaxy. He\u2019s either won or run fourth in his 10 starts, and he\u2019ll be a threat. 4. Joliestar would relish a strong tempo, and they should get along nicely enough for her to have her chance to sit back and charge into the finish, which would be the expectation for her major Everest lead-up run. 10. Generosity is a big query runner given we don\u2019t know where she would have finished in the Concorde first-up had she been able to get a run. Draws soft again, and her second-up form reads stronger, so if there\u2019s a real knockout, she could be the one.
How to play it: Private Harry WIN<\/p>\n
Race 10 – 5.15pm: PEACHESTER LODGE SHOOT OUT MILE (1600m)<\/p>\n
Prepared to give 9. Perfumist a chance to find her best form with a theory that her first-up heavy track run knocked her off kilter. She didn\u2019t fire at all second-up, staying at 1200m and has been freshened for the step-up in distance. There was good purpose in how she found the line in her trial recently, and there\u2019s a chance she gets an easy on pace run. Entitled to bounce back. 5. Lord Penman is also up from 1200m, though it\u2019s now been five weeks between runs and no trial since his slashing first-up showing. It might be a case of overthinking it. He\u2019s going to get a perfect run and could well be too good. 6. Pocketing found the 1200m short as well when he resumed in Brisbane, but he found the line quite well and will love the rise in trip. Won the Tulloch at group 2 level in the autumn over 2000m and he\u2019s entitled to be competitive. 1. Quietness hasn\u2019t raced since a game second after leading the Grafton Cup back in July. She\u2019s had just the one trial but is yet to run a bad race and not expecting that to change given she\u2019ll have a nice run in transit and the chance to run on.
How to play it: Perfumist EACH-WAY.<\/p>\n