Randwick offers up a strong nine race program on Saturday with a number of progressive types highlighting spring is just around the corner.
With the first Group race of the new season just a fortnight away, Saturday’s meeting at Randwick boasts a number of runners who wouldn’t look out of place at stakes level.
The first of which is Spending To Win who contests the Schweppes Benchmark 78 3YO Handicap (1200m).
Spending To Win resumed with a second at Warwick Farm where he defeated a couple of rivals who he again faces here in Parlay Vous and Argent D’Or.
While they again shape as key dangers to the grey, Spending To Win appears set to go one better on Saturday.
The son of Snitzel will be fitter for his first up outing and has placed in each of his prior two second up starts.
Hugh Bowman stays aboard and from barrier 4, the pair should enjoy a favourable run just outside of the anticipated early leader Nictock.
From there, expect the pair to take some holding out.
Spending To Win produced a Timeform rating of 91 on resuming, a figure well below his current master Timeform rating of 104 he ran to when fourth in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1100m).
It highlights just how much room for improvement the Team Snowden-trained runner has in him.
On paper, Saturday’s nine race program shapes as a genuine favourite’s day.
Imanui shapes as the best of the each way prospects contesting the final event of the day, the #theraces Benchmark 85 Handicap (1500m).
While his initial double figure quote from earlier in the week, Imanui still looks set to go around at each way odds in Race 9.
The Ron Quinton-trained gelding was hugely impressive first up where he placed behind Petrossian over 1300m at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago.
Heavily supported into favouritism, Imanui produced a head turner late in what was one of the runs of that meeting.
The way the four-year-old closed was hugely impressive, especially considering how far he got back behind what was an extremely slow tempo set by the eventual winner Petrossian.
Imanui looks well placed on Saturday.
He will appreciate getting up over 1500m and is yet to run out of the money in three prior second up starts.
Considering his get back, run on style, Imanui is much better suited around the more spacious Randwick circuit opposed to Warwick Farm.
The use of Andrew Adkins’ claim sees Imanui carry no weight on his back and expect the pair to take plenty of holding out late.
Sydney Specials: Randwick – July 22
Best Of The Day: R5; #2 Spending To Win @ $2.80
Each Way Play: R9; #16 Imanui @ $7.00
