G2 Villiers S., $750,000, 1600m
Criaderas (Lonhro) was third as favourite in this race last year and has had excuses at his two runs this time in. Rachel King takes the ride and she was successful 12 months ago aboard Greysful Glamour (Stratum).
Bandersnatch (Casino Prince) looks nicely primed third-up as does Gem Song (Your Song) who has had no luck so far this preparation. I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) was run down only late in Group 3 company in Melbourne last start and popular fellow Victorian So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) has been racing in solid form.
Ranier (Lonhro) is proven at the trip as is the in-form Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) who held off a late charge from Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G3 Festival S. last start. The up-and-comer of the field looks to be Steely (All Too Hard) who has won three of his last four. Also consistent is Lease (Choisir) who has held form through a lengthy campaign.
R. Listed Inglis Nursery, $400,000, 1000m
Two of these 15 juveniles are already winners; Athletica (Exceed And Excel) leading throughout in good time at debut and Calgary Stampede (Snitzel) showing good fight at Rosehill.
Another four have raced - the Victorian stablemates Boldinho (Brazen Beau) better for his debut experience (looming to win only to have the promising Ebhaar by I Am Invincible fight back) and El Padrino (Street Boss {USA}) catching the eye with a strong finish in trying conditions at Cranbourne.
Lord Of The Hunter (Lord Of The Sky) has another tricky gate contend with having worked hard at debut whilst Mandalong Missile (Smart Missile) has been solid at her first two starts.
Glint Of Silver (a Rubick colt from the family of Racing To Win by Encosta De Lago) and Wild Irish Rover (by No Nay Never {USA} out of the good 2-year-old Fast And Sexy {Fastnet Rock}) are both trial winners.
Others to have performed well at the trials include Himalaism (an I Am Invincible son of the Group 1 mare Snitzerland by Snitzel), Valspar (a Spieth {NZ} descendant of Denise’s Joy by Seventh Hussar {Fr}), Paved With Gold (a Capitalist daughter of the stakes winner Brook Road by God’s Own) and The Seven Seas (a Merchant Navy half-sister to Snitzel’s stakes winners Away Game and Modern Wonder).
Listed Razor Sharp H., $140,000, 1200m
Victorian visitor Snapdancer (Choisir) is looking to pay tribute to his marvellous sire who died during the week. Proven over this trip at Randwick, he is having his first run since last summer and his trial form has been most encouraging.
Vulpine (Snitzel) looked good leading throughout in the Listed Starlight S. in which Dream Circle (Dream Ahead {USA}) was a fast finishing second. Southern Lad (Ocean Park {NZ}) was below his best in the Heavy conditions that day whilst Surreal Step (Sidestep) found late trouble.
Vulpine is one of just two last-start winners here, the other being topweight Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) who boasts a good strike rate with the concern being his less than stellar Randwick record.
Listed Christmas Cup, $140,000, 2400m
Chris Waller-trained horses are always tough to get past in staying features and topweight Mightybeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is racing in great heart with his pedigree (he hails from the family of Might And Power {NZ}) suggesting that he will relish the 2400 metres.
Already proven at the trip is Hush Writer (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) and has trialled nicely since his last outing. Fellow import Skymax (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) has won three times at the trip and did not have the easiest of runs at Flemington last time out.
Victorian visitors Herman Hesse (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and King’s Charisma (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (both members of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable) command respect, the former good after facing the breeze last start, the latter below his best last start but in good form in Melbourne previously. Fellow Victorian Lion’s Share (Animal Kingdom {USA}) was good in the Listed Sandown Cup.
