Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
* Please note due to COVID-19 restrictions the Royal Randwick meeting has been moved to Rosehill
The King every chance
Belmont, G3 Breast Cancer Research Centre of WA-Strickland S., $200,000, 2000m
The Velvet King (Universal Ruler) is every chance of making amends for his luckless last-start performance here over 1600 metres.
Before that he was successful over 1400 metres fresh in the G3 Belmont Sprint and is proven at the 2000 metre journey third-up.
Leading Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) finished right behind The Velvet King last start and profiles exactly the same for this event after winning over 1400 metres first-up.
William Pike sticks with her third-up here at a track and trip she has proven successful over previously.
Naughty By Nature (Trade Fair {GB}) was narrowly denied by Leading Girl on resumption before taking out a BM71 1600 metre event here last fortnight.
A race of this calibre is a rise in class but she is up to the challenge with luck in running from barrier two.
Dance Music (War Chant {USA}) will make her own luck up on speed under Brad Parnham and will get an easy path to the front from barrier six.
This is her first time stepping out over 2000 metres and could prove a detrimental factor.
Can he snatch it?
Rosehill, Listed Taylor Civic S., $150,000, 1400m
Trainer Kris Lees has opted to press on with Wandabaa (Wandjina) after she finished a narrow second over 1100 metres at Rosehill last start.
The ever consistent 4-year-old is yet to taste success this time in but has been right around the mark against a similar class.
This race is arguably stronger on paper but she looks suited stepping up to 1400 metres.
Bandersnatch (Casino Prince) presents here third-up after finishing 1l behind a smart type last month. He enters this affair a month between runs but has proven successful with his runs spaced in the past.
Ranier (Lonhro) held out stablemate Kementari (Lonhro) to secure a long-overdue victory last start at Eagle Farm. He draws perfectly here in barrier five and can score a lovely run with cover under Koby Jennings, while Threeood (Star Witness) is capable of winning this second-up with only 53kgs on her back.
