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Our Racing Manager, Emma Reeves, aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Newfoundland, Friday 8th December, Canterbury, Race 4: Newfoundland. It was a tricky one this week with a number of horses stepping into the unknown, so while they're talented and I think they can win, it doesn't fit the purpose of this piece. Although it has tripped me up recently, I'm going to stick with the thread of imports, possibly as a biased Brit. It's undeniable that their stayers are superior, and this lightly raced gelding has started favourite on multiple occasions over 2000-3200 metres in Ireland. He also raced at the unrivaled Royal Meeting last year, and didn't finish all that far behind Deauville Legend who ran fourth in the Melbourne Cup a few months later. Maybe I'll finish the day saying he obviously needs further and a bigger track, but I am hopeful that his European class shines through.  

SATURDAY 7th – ROYAL RANDWICK Rail Position: True JUPITER HILLS (Race 5, 2.40pm, 1000m, T Clark, 54kg)  Jupiter Hills is delighting us ahead of her first start. She has made two extremely good impressions when showing plenty of speed in her trials to date. She hasn’t missed a beat since then and Tim was delighted with her gallop in the lead up to the race. She has the gate speed to go forward from barrier 7 and Tim will be positive from there and try to take luck out of the equation. If she can get into a nice rhythm we think it will take a good one to run her down. I’MINTOWIN (Race 6, 3.20pm, 2000m, T Clark, 53kg) I’mintowin has made an excellent start to his preparation with two super efforts at Rosehill Gardens, and Newcastle three weeks ago. He wore his heart on his sleeve in his last start at Newcastle and fought gallantly down the straight, only to be run down in the shadows of the post. The three weeks between runs has given him ample time to get over that terrific effort and he has been bouncing around in the stables this last week. He rises in grade and distance again here to 2000 metres for the first time in his career, but we don’t envisage this being an issue third-up. With even luck in running, he will give another bold show from the front and pose a difficult challenge for the remainder of the field to chase down. SURF DANCER (Race 7, 4pm, 1600m, A Adkins, 56.5kg)  Surf Dancer didn’t handle the heavy track in his last outing at Kembla Grange so you can put a line through that run. He hasn’t missed a beat since and he has been pleasing us in his track work, showing all the signs that a return to form isn’t far away. Andrew will be positive from barrier 23 and get him rolling along into the lead, or close to it. We feel he will benefit hugely from the firmer conditions forecast for Randwick this Saturday, and whilst he has a wide barrier to overcome in what looks a very competitive race, if he can get into a good rhythm we expect him to be fighting out the finish. MISSY MOOLA (Race 9, 5.20pm, 1600m, A Hyeronimus, 58kg)  Missy Moola ran a creditable sixth first up this preparation and she steps up in trip here to 1600 metres which we feel she will relish. She hasn’t put a foot wrong since her first run and we have been delighted with her track work. Adam will be positive from barrier 11 and get her rolling along in the lead, or close to it. If she can get into a nice rhythm and reproduce what she has been showing us in the mornings at track work, we expect her to be fighting out the finish.   SATURDAY 7th – KEMBLA GRANGE Rail Position: +6m 1100m-W/Post, +3m Remainder MADRINA (Race 1, 1.50pm, 1000m, A McLucas, 56kg)  Madrina is delighting us ahead of her debut. She made a huge impression when scooting away for a decisive win in her only trial to date at Randwick. She hasn’t missed a beat since then and we were extremely pleased with her gallop in the lead up to the race. Amy will be positive from barrier 6 to try and take luck out of the equation, and whilst she is conceding race experience to her two main dangers, we think it will take a good one to run her down.      SATURDAY 7th – ASCOT Rail Position: +2m Entire ZOUMON (Race 1, 1.50pm, 1000m, A McLucas, 56kg)  Zoumon relished the step up to 1800 metres second up in the Five Diamonds and ran a terrific race to finish in second place. He seems to have taken the journey to Perth within his stride and hasn’t missed a beat since his arrival. We have been delighted with his work in the lead up to this race and Damien Oliver was very happy with his racecourse gallop on Tuesday morning. Whilst he’s still ultimately looking for further, this race is another good stepping stone to his main target in January. He has shown that he can mix it with quality horses over 1800 metres and has the gate speed to go forward from his wide draw in barrier 15 and get a prominent position. This is a very competitive race on paper, but he is a quality individual and with even luck in running we expect him to be challenging for a long way.     SUNDAY 8TH - NOWRA Rail Position: True PRINCE OF SEPANG (Race 8, 5.45pm, 1200m, J Van Overmeire, 59kg)  Prince Of Sepang improved markedly from his first to second trial and has been pleasing us ahead of this intended assignment. The form of his first two starts from last preparation have worked out extremely well with a total of 16 horses from these fields winning since. He has had a couple of trips away to the beach this week following track work, where he has enjoyed stretching his legs in the water and having a roll in the sand and he appears to be full of confidence. Jean will be positive from barrier 3 to get him rolling along in the lead or close to it. The 1200 metres at Nowra looks to be a good starting point, and although you can expect improvement to come off the back of this run, if he can get into a nice rhythm we expect him to be difficult to run down.