Horse Racing Preview Weekend 04 04

In this weekly horse racing preview the ThoroughbredNEWS team take a fresh look at the form ahead of the weekend’s domestic and international action. We hope to get a good run for our money, the experts certainly are of the opinion that they’ve unearthed some interesting points of view and as such these

Saturday

Randwick Race 1 – 12:25pm Group 3 Widden Kindergarten Stakes (1100m)

The two-year-olds feature twice on the programme with the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Race 6 at 2.30pm and the sprinters opening the card here. The Ryan and Alexiou trained KING OF POP won the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes over 1200m at Canberra on March 9th under Zac Lloyd and was subsequently given the proverbial mountain to climb in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Barrier 16 was mission impossible and after going forward under Lloyd to mid-field, the Farnan colt faded to 12th. Back in grade with barrier 1 and King Of Pop and Lloyd should be ready for action.

Randwick Race 4 – 2:10pm Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)

SWIFTFALCON looks ideally placed over the Randwick mile and with a subtle drop in grade. Close up minor placings at Group 1 level behind Linebacker (NZ) in the Randwick Guineas and Broadsiding in the Rosehill Guineas are proof positive that the first-crop Exceedance gelding is a high-class galloper and he is deserved of a win of this stature. Evaporate (NZ) won’t prove to be any walk-over but Swiftfalcon has hometown advantage and the Hawkes-Schiller combination is at the top of its game.

Randwick Race 8 – 4:35 Group 1 The Doncaster Mile (1600m)

LINEBACKER (NZ) is a deserved favourite for the Doncaster after a brilliant last-start victory in the Randwick Guineas — plus at least three other major factors. In addition to 3-year-olds having a notable record in the feature, 49kg sees him receiving lumps of weight from older rivals by no means in the same form. Having Zac Lloyd in the saddle is also a massive plus, the rising star not appearing to be phased by anything put in front of him. Distant and more recent history would indicate that Linebacker (NZ) will go close to landing the odds in another fantastic renewal of this celebrated Sydney autumn event.

Caulfield Race 9 – 4:55pm Group 3 Sportsbet Victoria Handicap (1400m)

CHORLTON LANE (IRE) has been freshened up for this quality contest after a series of eye-catching efforts in very strong summer events. Placings behind Here To Shock (NZ) and Duke de Sessa (Ire) now appear to be better than they did at the time, while a last start fourth behind Rise At Dawn (NZ) isn’t a bad measuring stick either. In reality, Chorlton Lane (Ire) probably can’t win from an extreme outside barrier at a notorious starting position, but he rarely runs a bad race and can play a part in the finish in one form or another.

Randwick Race 10 – 5:50pm Group 3 Precise Air PJ Bell Stakes (1200m)

The final race on the Doncaster Mile programme might give us a rare sight, Ryan Moore leading from the barriers. Usually Moore has the cream of the O’Brien battalions to stalk fields, a tactic he is very good at. However, here he has the Waterhouse and Bott trained CLEAN ENERGY with barrier 8 and it will be pace on from the outset. The Zoustar filly has won three from four with the last the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy over 1200m at The Valley on March 22nd. Unusually at The Valley she came from off the pace to win by 3/4L, but on Saturday the stable will no doubt revert to the usual on-pace running to bring the favourite home for her supporters.