The Queenslanders may have been humiliated in Game One of the State Of Origin but they will be bathing in the sunshine on Saturday for the running of the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and the Group 1 JJ Atkins. The cold and the wet in Sydney will see racing at Randwick on a rain affected track while it’s also a heavy surface at Sandown.
Freedmans – Outside the box
NSW Tycoons trainers Michael and Richard Freedman are currently on fire and constantly thinking “outside the box”. The brothers sent last start Sire Produce winner Tiger of Malay for a freshen up to Olympians Peter and Michelle McMahon with the equestrian champions mixing up the colt’s preparation for the Group 1 JJ Atkins. The stable is in tremendous form and there’s no reason to jump off the Tiger now. The boys also have Park Avenue in the first at Randwick on Saturday, with the stable scratching Warrior Hero, Park Avenue looks a solid bet. The Freedmans also have a horse called Allusionist in Race 8 at Newcastle, Tommy Berry rode the horse at trackwork this week and was super impressed.
BET: Tiger of Malay – Each Way (Eagle Farm)
BET: Park Avenue – Each Way (Randwick)
BET: Allusionist – Win (Newcastle)
MARK NEWNHAM – I’m Going There To Win
Zaaki may just be the best horse in the country at the moment, but Tycoons trainer Mark Newnham believes Spirit Ridge is capable of causing an upset in the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm. “100 percent we are going there to win, Zaaki is obviously the horse to beat coming off a peak performance but we’ll keep him honest” said Newnham.
BET: Spirit Ridge – Place
BRUTALITY AT RANDWICK
There’s one bloke who won’t mind the rain continuing to tumble down in Sydney – Joe Pride. Pride has a noted wet tracker in Brutality lining up in Race 6 at Randwick on Saturday. Two of his 4 wins have come on a heavy track so there’s no drama regarding the conditions. Normally barrier 1 would be considered an advantage, the only concern is the inside might not be the place to be late in the day.
BET: Brutality – Win
BLESS HER at SANDOWN
There’s no more in form Melbourne stable currently than Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. The Vic Husslers duo are having a real purple patch and we reckon it will continue at Sandown on Saturday. You’ll have to be patient, the pair saddle-up Bless Her in the last event (Race 9) she’s building a tremendous record and has only been unplaced twice in twelve starts including five wins. Bless Her was great first-up last start on a firm track, but gets through the going and we can finish the day with a bang.
BET: Bless Her – Each Way
DURRANT THE MAN
There’s certainly no reason to jump off the Adam Durrant bandwagon at Belmont on Saturday. Blackwater Bay (Race 9) look to be a stayer with a big future, he’s won his last two and while he’s drawn a little awkwardly in barrier 10, he is definitely a horse up to the challenge.
BET: Blackwater Bay – Win.