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FRIDAY 24th JULY - ECHUCA

Rail Position: True

KNIGHTS EMPEROR, Race 1, 2100m, 12.35pm, J Stanley, 59.5kg
Knights Emperor built upon his promising first-up run with a brilliant second at Sale last time. He was unlucky to be reeled in late there by a horse who made its run down the middle of the track, but he was well clear of the rest of the field. He’s certainly trending the right way, and he is going to relish getting over 2100 metres here so we’re confident it will bring about further improvement. Jett learned a lot about him last time and it’s only a very small field so he should be able to control things to suit himself. He looks ready to win third-up under the right conditions so we hope he can do just that.

SATURDAY 25th JULY - RANDWICK

Rail Position: +11m 1000m-W/Post, +8m Remainder

LADY INVICTUS, Race 4, 1300m, 1.05pm, T Clark, 56.5kg
Lady Invictus showed fantastic determination to win at Canterbury last time. She’s done everything right since that run, and she’s coming into this in great shape. She was third at Rosehill two back when she last contested this same grade of race, but that was over 1100 metres and we think this additional distance is what she needs at this stage of her preparation. Tim will be positive from barrier 9 to try and get across and control the race to suit himself, and if she shows her trademark turn of foot at the top of the straight we see no reason why she won’t take plenty of beating once again.

SLY BOOTS, Race 6, 1800m, 2.15pm, R King, 59.5kg
Sly Boots is as reliable as the sunrise and whilst he hasn’t yet won this time in, he’s earned plenty of prizemoney and he more than pays his way. He's been in great form since his last run and he's been enjoying some trips to the beach to keep him nice and fresh, and as you can see in the video below he loves getting nice and deep and having a good swim. This is his first time contesting a Benchmark 78 race this preparation, so it’s a slightly easier grade and whilst he’s got a bit more weight as a result we’re hopeful that this can help him find his way back into the Winner’s Circle. Rachel got a great tune out of him last time so we’re delighted she retains the ride here, and this course and distance suits him well. He handles heavy tracks but he’s probably more effective on a drier surface, so the more it dries out between now and race day the better and we see no reason why he won’t be in the finish once again here.

SATURDAY 25th JULY - KEMBLA

Rail Position: +3m 1100m-W/Post, True Remainder

FLYING ARTISAM, Race 7, 1500m, 3.54pm, Z Wadick, 59.5kg
Flying Artisam gave us such a thrill when winning so authoritatively at Wyong last time. He relished the additional distance there, and we’re confident this further step up to 1500 metres has the potential to bring about even more improvement. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 2 so Zac will let him land where’s comfortable from there, and he will be able to enjoy a favourable run in transit. This more expansive track probably plays to his strengths better than somewhere like Wyong too, so that’s another tick in his favour. The first run outside of maiden grade is never easy but a Class 1 Handicap is about as gentle a progression as you can get, so it’s a lovely steppingstone for him and we think he’s got the upside to be challenging at the finish.