5. Espionage looks to have been too heavily penalised in early betting due to his wide gate. Given how quickly he mustered first up in the Silver Slipper Stakes, the son of Zoustar might be able to get himself outside of the likely leader 3. Straight Charge. It’s game on if that’s the case. Don’t expect Nash Rawiller to take a backward step early. Espionage will need to turn the tables on his stablemate second up but he raced keenly in the early stages after being restrained to find cover yet was chipping away late. His closing splits were the fastest across the meeting. Well placed to improve out to 1200m. 6. Switzerland wasn’t as impressive in the Pierro Plate as the quinella in the Silver Slipper but you get the impression that there is more to come.
How to play it: Espionage to win.

Race 6 – 3.25PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS CHALLENGE STAKES GROUP 2 (1000m)

6. Passive Aggressive won this race 12 months ago at a similar price and this year’s edition isn’t any harder. There’s no Eduardo or Giga Kick and they are the two sprinters that filled the minors behind her. The gamble is that she is 44 weeks between runs, having failed to get in foal so her career as a broodmare was put back another season. She looked as sharp as ever when matching motors with the likes of Bella Nipotina and Imperatriz in the trial before winning her 800m jumpout in good time for the morning. Looks the leader and is a proven 1000m horse. 3. Remarque was well held by Passive Aggressive in the Challenge Stakes last year but he was second up. Tackles the race fresh and his first-up stats read 6:4-0-1. He too has a handy record over 1000m and should land on the back of the speed.
How to play it: Passive Aggressive towin.

Race 7 – 4PM JAMES SQUIRE CANTERBURY STAKES (1300m)

1. Think About It is the best horse in the race. That doesn’t mean he automatically wins, but he’s entitled to be a short-priced favourite given the CV he has compiled in 13 career starts. The five-year-old has done everything required of him in his two trials, suggesting that he has returned at least as well as last campaign. The caveat is that this campaign he isn’t being trained to peak second up over 1200m. There are Doncasters and Queen Elizabeths on the agenda. It’s his determination which constantly gets him over the line, a quality that is hard to quantify. 6. Espiona swerves the G1 Newmarket to run here. Her first-up run in the Lightning Stakes over an unsuitable 1000m in an unsuitably slowly run race was outstanding. She ran Imperatriz and Private Eye to less than a length.
How to play it: Think About It to win.

Race 8 – 4.35PM THE AGENCY RANDWICK GUINEAS (1600m)

3. Celestial Legend put a gap on his rivals in the Hobartville Stakes out to 1400m for the first time. He got to the right part of the track, granted, but it’s hard to make a case for anything from that race to turn the tables given his late dominance. His last 200m split was over a length-and-a-half faster than the next best. That screams that the son of Dundeel with relish a mile now, as does his pedigree. He exploded to record a new peak last start and he sets up to improve again. The case for 1. Militarize is obvious and he is entitled to be favourite. His form is more exposed than Celestial Legend but splitting Fangirl and Think It Over at WFA first up reads as an exceptionally strong form reference for this. It’s been the plan all along to tackle the Guineas second up. He draws perfectly.
How to play it: Celestial Legend to win.

Race 9 - 5:15PM MOSTYNCOPPER ASPIRATION QUALITY (1600m)

4. Lekvarte is in career best form. The five-year-old grey won three on the bounce as she worked her way through the grades, culminating in a Belle Of The Turf win at Gosford. She reappeared six weeks later in the G2 Millie Fox Stakes and despite running fifth, she rattled home in the fifth quickest last 600m split across the meeting. That race had a lot more depth than this. Out to the mile is perfect, as is the prospect of a drier track. 1. Thalassophile won this race narrowly last year. She carries an extra 5kg twelve months on despite not having won since. Did enough first up against the boys over 1400m. Back to mares company, out to the mile and finds James McDonald. 3. Osmose should hold a spot from the draw and get the impression there’s more to come from this import.
How to play it: Lekvarte to win.

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Race 10 – 5.55PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS WENONA GIRL QUALITY (1200m)

3. C’est Magique was beaten fair and square by Semana and Olentia in the G3 Triscay Stakes first up, and either would be short-priced favourites here. This field is double the size but has a longer tail. Tim Clark sticks with the four-year-old and maps to get similar run. The fact that Begg was happy to run her in the G1 VRC Stakes over the spring gives you an indication of highly he regards her. 6. Wee Nessy is another Melbourne-based mare for Mick Price and Micheal Kent Jnr. We’ve only seen her once in Syndey before and she ran Aft Cabin to a narrow margin in the Arrowfield Stakes. It’s been eight weeks since 11. Miss Hellfire was beaten by Lady Laguna at the Gold Coast. Only has to hold that form and she has trialled nicely.
How to play it: C’est Magique to win.

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au

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