A classy field of three-year-olds contest Saturday’s Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick.
The $150,000 Group 3 sprint will act as a launch pad for many as they work toward greater goals in the autumn.
With a majority of the field resuming, it is an intriguing event however the Chris Waller-trained Counterattack appears to have the form on the board.
The colt kicks off after a spring campaign where he became a dual stakes winner and concluded the preparation with a third to stablemate Japonisme.
His Brian Crowley success returned a Timeform rating of 117 and off that mark, the son of Redoute’s Choice appears well suited under the Set Weights Plus Penalties conditions of the Eskimo Prince Stakes.
Counterattack furthermore has an excellent record fresh, yet to finish out of the money in four prior career outings.
His two best career wins to date along with his master Timeform rating have come at Randwick.
Wolf Cry has shapes as a main danger off a strong win in the lucrative Magic Millions Maiden on the Gold Coast (1200m) four weeks ago.
The colt recorded a Timeform rating of 98 on that occasion and encouraging about that is the fact there is room for improvement considering his master Timeform figure sits at 108.
He will strip fitter second up and is one of the few who enters this contest with the benefit of race fitness under their belts.
Dual Group 1 winner Pride Of Dubai makes his long awaited return off a two-year-old autumn campaign which saw him claim the Blue Diamond Stakes – Sires Produce Stakes double.
The colt is a classy individual and must be respected despite being likely to take benefit from this outing in what looks a less than perfect race to kick off in.
Spill The Beans resumes after a spring campaign where he ran second to Counterattack in the Brian Crowley Stakes.
Gerald Ryan’s colt meets Counterattack 2.5kg better at the weights for the three-quarter length defeat and his trial in readiness over 840m at Randwick was electric.
His effort behind Counterattack returned a Timeform rating of 109 and with the weight swing in his favour, on that figure can keep things sporting.
Zoutenant is an intriguing runner making his stable debut for Gai Waterhouse.
Group 2 placed behind Exosphere at the end of his last campaign, Zoutenant ran to a rating of 115? On that occasion, nine pounds clear of his prior master figure.
While potentially a once off performance, the effort showed what Zoutenant is capable of producing.
If anyone can get the best out of a sprinting colt, it’s Gai Waterhouse.
The colt has trialled well in readiness for this at Randwick and is drawn to receive all of the favours from barrier 1 with Brenton Avdulla engaged.
A watch of both betting and parade rings is an absolute must for the son of Zizou.
Tarquin shapes as another value player.
The colt returns off just a short break which followed a one start race campaign through the summer where he ran second to a rival here in Torgersen over the Randwick 1400m.
The Hard Spun colt should possess some residual fitness from that outing and while likely better over a bit more ground, his career best win did come over this trip almost 12 months ago when taking out the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes.
