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STAY ON TRACK - SELECTIONS

Christmas Day is just around the corner and there's an excellent race meeting this Saturday at Royal Randwick with one of the feature events the $160,000 James Squire Handicap (1400m) where in an open event, the $4 TAB favourite is Uzziah ahead of Ang Pow ($5), Elettrica ($5.50), Highlights ($7.50) and So Risque ($7.50).

The rail is out 3m the entire circumference with the track rated a Good 4. There is no rain forecast leading up to and including Saturday with a raceday forecast of 28 degrees.
This week’s selections: BG

BEST BET
Race 5, No.1 - DAWN SERVICE ($3.30 favourite on TAB)

Saturday 21st December – ROYAL RANDWICK

7. BRIGHT RED ($4 favourite on TAB) finds a race that lacks depth. Expecting her to improve again third-up out to the mile which makes her the horse to beat. The four-year-old perhaps doesn’t have a lot of upside and boasts just three wins from 17 starts but there aren’t too many other places to turn. First-up she worked home into third over 1300m at the midweeks before trying hard in defeat behind Shangri La Spring, a progressive three-year-old that is undefeated this campaign. That was on a testing heavy track too. Despite being early in her preparation she never shirked the task. Draws a soft gate which should see her camp midfield. Ride her too close and it can dull her finish so it’s a delicate balance that Zac Lloyd has been tasked with getting right.

8. UZZIAH ($4 fav) was beaten 10 lengths in the Festival Stakes last start at Rosehill, however, he had a number of excuses. He pulled up slow to recover, two out of five lame and was said to have not appreciated the soft track. Respect that he jumped a $13 chance in a Group Three. The six-year-old has been given three weeks to freshen up from that, having missed a run in The Ingham as an emergency. He’ll appreciate a drop back in grade, getting back onto a firmer track and coming back to 1400m shouldn’t be an issue. He doesn’t map to have too much company up top and looks well paired with Tim Clark. Prior to the Festival, he found himself in career best form beating a subsequent winner in Inhibitions. Catches a number of his key rivals on the hop with a fitness edge.

1. OUR KOBISON ($4.20 fav) had no excuses in the Starlight Stakes last start other than being eight weeks between runs and that told late. He settled in behind the speed whereby the leader Eagle Nest pinched it from in front. It was impossible for the backmarkers. That form line was franked in the Razor Sharp providing the first three home. Even Aberlour, who ran last, subsequently ran well out to 1400m. Our Kobison does have a history of improving with a run under his belt and he stays at 1100m but that doesn’t look to be a negative. Maps well, gets in nicely after the claim of Molly Bourke, who rides the five-year-old for the first time, and he has a great record at Randwick. Can only run well.

8. LITTLE BEGINNINGS ($19) didn’t handle the heavy track at Rosehill last start, he kept trying but his wheels were spinning. Forget that as it’s not the first time he has failed in the going. Instead, respect how firm he was in betting despite that. He jumped a $3.40 second favourite. The race was carved up by scratchings, granted, but the market has been quick to dismiss him on the back of that ahead of Saturday’s assignment. The reason he was so well found was because of an impressive first-up win at the midweeks, beating Drift Net and Bright Red. He has a few tricks so it’s significant that apprentice Ben Osmond sticks with the five-year-old. Maps to get the right run from the soft draw and he can bounce back at nice odds on top of the ground.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here