Sydney Specials

3 minute read

For those willing to forgive, Our Desert Warrior looks one of the best bets at Randwick on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding resumed at Randwick a fortnight ago where well fancied however was upstaged by his stablemate Almighty Charge.

Under a big weight first up over 1400m, Our Desert Warrior ran a close fifth with his condition perhaps just giving out over the concluding stages.

He will have taken benefit from the outing however and on Saturday appears poised to strike in the Cyren Restaurant & Bar Benchmark 95 Handicap (1600m).

The son of Desert King is well suited both up in trip and class.

Our Desert Warrior looks nicely poised above the limit weight in an event where the weights are compressed favourably for the five-year-old.

Tommy Berry is reunited with the galloper with the pair having won two of their three starts in partnership.

While untried on rain affected ground which is anticipated for Randwick on Saturday, Our Desert Warrior’s full brother Desert War did handle the softer going.

That is probably the main query as the Gai Waterhouse-trained runner doesn’t face much in terms of opposition.

Our Desert Warrior’s main danger is arguably Monton who tends to spin his wheels in the wet.

The other three horses who sit inside the handicap are struggling for form while the remainder of the field on the limit weight don’t appear suited at all.

Close to even money is available about Our Desert Warrior as of Friday morning which shapes as a solid wager early in the day at Randwick.

Stablemate Sweet Idea is second favourite in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).

Four time Group 1 winner Guelph is currently the odds-on favourite for the event which looks short on genuine winning chances.

While no denying her class, Guelph isn’t at her best over 1200m and with Group 1 goals over further later into her preparation, the filly won’t be fully wound up for this assignment.

Enter Sweet Idea.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained filly doesn’t know how to run a bad race having finished in the money at each of her nine career starts.

She returns to Sydney off a freshen up following a comfortable win in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast last month.

Sweet Idea has been kept ticking over with a Randwick trial and now kicks off her Sydney prep in what looks a very suitable race for the Snitzel filly.

Her fresh, track and distance stats are all strong as are her wet track credentials having won the Silver Slipper Stakes and placed in the Golden Slipper on rain affected.

Expect nothing but a forward showing from Sweet Idea who will be hard to catch in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).

Joe Pride saddles up two runners in the Southern Cross Stakes, Terravista and That’s A Good Idea.

It is a strong hand with the pair currently the top two in betting.

There are a few concerns however regarding That’s A Good Idea.

That’s A Good Idea resumes off a breakout campaign for Joe Pride earlier this season where he won four of his six starts.

Even with the scratching of Not Listenin’tome, Saturday’s Southern Cross Stakes shapes as one of That’s A Good Idea’s tougher assignments.

There must be minor queries about the gelding both first up and on rain affected ground while the addition of Glue On Shoes hardly inspires confidence either.

Jim Cassidy will send That’s A Good Idea forward however the final furlong could prove telling for the Flying Spur gelding.

That’s A Good Idea sits marginally outside of the handicap and because of that, meets better performed horses such as Dances On Stars and Albrecht on equal weight terms.

There appear too many queries about That’s A Good Idea to warrant taking the $4 on offer about the gelding.

Sydney Specials

Banker: R2, #4 Our Desert Warrior @ $1.95

Lay Of The Day: R4, #7 That’s A Good Idea @ $4.00