Randwick Tips & Preview | Saturday 23 May

Having won on debut back in March, Lady Catalina returned from a freshen up to finish midfield here late last month before producing a tough on-pace performance in last weekend’s Listed Woodlands Stakes, finishing third. On exposed form, this is a weaker race, and she can make all of her own luck up front again.

My Phar Lady hasn’t been seen at the races since late March, but she was a model of consistency through summer and early autumn, winning races at Newcastle and Rosehill and finding form around some credible opposition. With the benefit of a recent trial, she races well on fresh legs.

Neeson was a consistent performer for the Danielle Seib yard last time in, recording a couple of nice wins out in the country, while he returned to action with a fine performance to only just miss in BM74 company out at Wagga. Stripping fitter for that run, he won his only other second up start to date and with luck in the run, he can make his presence felt in something of this quality.

Having returned to action to finish fourth, beaten just over a head in BM74 grade and over a mile at Caulfield last month, King Of The Sea was again only just denied getting out to 2100m at Gosford last time out. A win looks imminent and getting out to the mile this week looks to suit. He’s drawn to receive a lovely run, and any further improvement would see him extremely difficult to toss.

Chispa has been a consistent performer since debuting back in February and has continued to improve with racing and as the bar has been raised. She was sent off a popular favourite at Randwick-Kensington a little over a week ago and didn’t disappoint, kicking away to record a near three-length victory. In peak order this week, this does look a great opportunity for her to step up in grade again, and she’ll be further benefitted by Siena Grima’s claim.

Jellicious returned to action this time with a typically smart performance to finish second, beaten less than a length in BM72 company at Rosehill, but it is fair to say her second up performance last month was well below her best. She’s been freshened, steps out to the 1400m here and gets the services of Nash Rawiller, and she is a horse that has raced well on a rain-affected track several times previously.

Starzintheireyes won two of five starts over in the UK, finishing second as many times and finding form around some classy opposition. Having debuted over 1800m at Hawkesbury a couple of weeks ago, he was only just denied and with natural improvement for that experience, he looks more than capable of going one better.

Spione gets plenty of ticks at Randwick on Saturday but will need luck in the run after drawing the carpark. The consistent son of Showtime has hardly turned in a poor performance in nine career trips to the races, and he returned to action with a fine performance to get up in BM78 company at Hawkesbury. He took improvement into a strong race on Hawkesbury Gold Cup Day most recently to fill the minors, and he’s open to further improvement this week. The mile and a light weight should also prove extremely beneficial to him in a race of this quality.

We haven’t seen Lyles at the races since November, but he was unbeaten through three starts last time in, winning in BM78 company at Rosehill most recently. He has trialled up nicely and even with topweight, I think he’s got most of these covered for ability.

King Tut has won two of four runs back this time, striking over 1200m at Caulfield two back before finishing within a length of the winner in BM84 company on Golden Mile Day at Bendigo. This will be his first attempt at the Sydney way of going, but in peak order and on what is likely to be a soft track, I’m confident he’ll be right in the contest again.