LOOKIN’ SHARP ‘N’ SMART FOR THE DERBY
Star New Zealand three-year-old SHARP ‘N’ SMART headlines an all-star cast in this year’s $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) from Royal Randwick, Australia on Saturday.
SHARP ‘N’ SMART has been an indomitable force in the Land of the Long White Cloud and in Australia, winning six from 11 and finishing runner-up a further four times. The Redwood gelding was last seen winning his fourth Group 1 when claiming the New Zealand Derby in empathic fashion.
The race looks a match between two as SHARP ‘N’ SMART goes up against talented Godolphin-trained PERCILES, who has champion jockey James McDonald in the saddle from a lower draw.
AMELIA TO LAUNCH 2023 ASSAULT
Quality three-year-old filly AMELIA’S JEWEL is on song to continue her winning ways when she resumes in the $200,000 Group 3 Roma Cup over 1100m from Ascot Racecourse, Australia on Saturday.
AMELIA’S JEWEL has been a star in the making since making her race track debut in March last year. Tasting defeat on just one occasion from seven starts, the Simon MIller-trained talent was last seen tasting her first success at the highest level when she won the G1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m in early December.
With class on her side and well-weighted under Weight-For-Age conditions, AMELIA’S JEWEL looks ready to kickstart her latest campaign in fine style.
LATHAM TO WIN THE PRIZE
Four-year-old mare PRIZE DRAW can return to the winner’s list this Saturday when she contests the $40,000 BM64 race over 1600m at Hawkesbury racecourse, Australia.
PRIZE DRAW is a two-time winner from nine starts and there was plenty of merit to her last start nine days ago. Despite a muddy tempo that day, the Dundeel mare let down well with the fastest final 400m sectional time, checking 2.5 lengths into fourth over this track and distance.
From a decent draw this week, PRIZE DRAW should map closer to the speed and in a field without much depth, she can prove hard to hold out under jockey Keagan Latham.
