3 minute read

Zoustar should take a power of beating this Saturday in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick while value can be found in the final events on the program.

The Chris Waller-trained colt was dominant in the Golden Rose, overcoming a wide barrier as he stormed home to victory against some of the best three-year-olds in the country.

It was a well deserved Group 1 win for Zoustar who hasn’t run a bad race in six career outings to date and now finds a race of noticeably less quality at Randwick on Saturday.

Zoustar takes on just seven rivals in the Roman Consul Stakes and off his Golden Rose run, boasts a master Timeform rating six pounds clear of Va Pensiero.

The race doesn’t offer much in terms of depth it would appear and Zoustar looks the class horse by some margin.

The Northern Meteor colt is a tractable sort as evidenced by having won between journeys of 1100m and 1400m.

His ability to race both on the speed and from worse than midfield is also to his advantage in a small field.

Even money about the colt certainly does appeal prior to the quaddie commencing the following race.

The Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) rounds out a cracking day of racing at Randwick where Julienas can run a bold race at his current each way price.

Julienas was rewarded for his consistency last start when taking out the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).

With Nash Rawiller in the saddle, Julienas got away with murder during the early and middle stages up front as he led the field around at a snails pace.

The UK import kicked away with a bit up his sleeve and now appears suited again in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Run under handicap conditions, weights in the event are noticeably compressed.

Those under Prince Cheri sit outside of the handicap while Julienas gets a weight swing in his favour from when he last clashed with the David Vandyke-trained import.

Julienas ran a two length third behind Prince Cheri in the Kingston Town Stakes and now meets him 2.5kg better off three weeks later.

Looking for a Lay Of The Day, it would be easy to take on a favourite in both the Gimcrack Stakes and Breeders Plate but instead we’ll head towards the Dulcify Quality.

Rock Hero looks a very talented type but appears under the odds considering what he has produced on the race track to date.

The David Payne-trained galloper broke maiden status last start when posting a six length victory at Canterbury over 1550m on September 25.

It could best be described as a soft kill against just three rivals.

While he did run strong time figures on that occasion, Rock Hero now faces a noticeable class rise at Randwick on Saturday.

The son of Fastnet Rock has been installed as favourite in the event where he takes on Group performed gallopers such as Equator and Vilanova.

A number of promising three-year-old staying types also contest the event including Thunder Fantasy, Electric Dee Jay and Saintly Lad.

Rock Hero defeated Liberty’s Choice last start and now meets the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt a massive 7.5kg worse at the weights.

Trainer David Payne has a big opinion of the colt who is out of former stable star Gallant Tess but being installed as favourite for a stakes event after the easy kill he just enjoyed in a weak Canterbury Benchmark looks an overreaction.

Currently embarking on his maiden race preparation, it will be Rock Hero’s fifth start in seven weeks and just tempering expectations at this stage might be advisable.

SYDNEY SPECIALS

BANKER: R5, #1 Zoustar @ $2.00

LAY OF THE DAY: R6, #4 Rock Hero @ $3.20