Dear punters,

We have had a hard month doing some work on our site to make it more user friendly. This weekend is an absolute cracker with the Sydney Carnival dominating. The rain has made things interesting in the main races there.

Here is Jeff's preview of the big races across Australia:

   
THE DONCASTER MILE

There doesn’t appear to be a surplus of speed, meaning favourite Messene  should be able to cross from his wide gate of 18, along with on-pace types El Roca (17) and Dissident (11). Messene  shot into calculations with an effortless win in the Ajax Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill on March 22, and the Lonhro gelding is even better treated at the weights here with 51.5kg. He is chasing an eighth straight win. El Roca  was third beaten a length behind Gordon Lord Byron in the group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 29 and is also suited under the handicap conditions. Premier trainer Chris Waller has six runners and imported galloper Weary  shapes as a tremendous chance after his impressive win in the Doncaster Prelude at Rosehill last Saturday. Of his other starters, the outstanding Boban  must deal with 58kg and gate 19, Sacred Falls  is chasing a second straight win in the race and has been running into form, and Hawkspur and Royal Descent also have strong claims. The Guy Walter-trained Toydini has been tuned to the minute and was a fast-finishing fifth in the George Ryder Stakes last start.

    
SIRES’ PRODUCE STAKES

Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan has four of the top five in betting in this group 1, including likely favourite Believe Yourself. The Sebring filly got home stylishly for fourth in the Golden Slipper at a wet Rosehill last Saturday and shapes as though 1400m at Randwick is ideal. Before that she was strong in winning the group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick on March 15. Fillies dominated the Slipper, filling the first seven positions, and if that trend continues Believe Yourself ’s stablemates Peggy Jean and Lucky Raquie  will also be hard to beat. Peggy Jean  ran second to Bring Me The Maid in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on March 29 and Bring Me The Maid franked the form with a closing third in the Golden Slipper. Lucky Raquie  won the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra on March 9 before a good fifth behind A-graders Earthquake and Mossfun in the Reisling Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill on March 22. She will find this race easier. Of the boys, Time For War is likely to set the pace for apprentice Damien Thornton. Time For War  has won two from two and has ability but also a tendency to be wayward. He held on to beat Kumaon , a rival again here, in the Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill on March 29 over 1200m.

    
AUSTRALIAN DERBY

The New Zealand Derby winner Puccini should be forgiven for failing at his first Australian run in the 2000m Rosehill Guineas on March 29 when he went far too quickly in front. Craig Williams takes over the mount and if he can settle better here over 2400m the son of Encosta De Lago will be in the finish. Criterion  raced away to win the Rosehill Guineas with ease and, although everything fell into place for him there, he is a deserved favourite which should appreciate the 2400m. Teronado  has raced consistently in the lead-up races and the son of Testa Rossa has been crying out for the mile and a half, while the John O’Shea-trained Savvy Nature  is also racing like that distance will suit. Singing Flame  put up an enormous effort when second in the Tulloch Stakes over 2000m last Saturday and he is one of the few in the field that will certainly appreciate sodden conditions. Thunder Fantasy  is a tough and consistent colt which should show up.

    
TJ SMITH STAKES

A clash of the best sprinters around, including Lankan Rupee, which has won the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap in commanding fashion at his past two runs. The Redoute’s Choice gelding has won eight of his 15 starts, including six of his past seven since being gelded, and has the rails alley to aid his cause in the big field. Three-time group 1 winner Buffering  will drive though from gate two to be on the speed with the likes of last-start group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Steps In Time  and runner-up Sweet Idea . Irish galloper Gordon Lord Byron  ploughed through the slow ground to win the George Ryder Stakes over 1500m on March 29 and has a great sprint record. Rebel Dane  has been primed to come into the race first-up from a spell and if the run-on horses are winning earlier in the day he could be value. Zoustar  is a valuable colt which has so far shown a dislike for damp ground and Snitzerland  is a query in the going but her form is hard to fault, particularly her display of sustained speed to win the Lightning Stakes at Flemington over 1000m on February 15.
    
CHAIRMAN’S HANDICAP

The Offer  won as he liked in the group 3 Manion Cup over 2400m on heavy ground at Rosehill on March 29 and should be even better suited in this group 2 over 2600m. The former Irish galloper relishes rain-affected going and has the services of Tom Berry from gate one. He rises 3kg on that win though he did beat Opinion , a rival again here, by 3.3 lengths. Opinion  is from the Chris Waller stable and is rock-hard fit after a win and two seconds at his past three starts. Victorian galloper Sertorius  must contend with 59kg but is a classy performer and ran well in The BMW when fourth behind Silent Achiever last Saturday. If he copes with the quick back-up he will find this easier and the Galileo gelding will handle the wet conditions and 2600m without too many problems. Tremec  could give cheek if allowed to roll along in front.

    
KINDERGARTEN STAKES

Big watch on Kaepernick  from the Team Hawkes stable at his first race start. The Fastnet Rock colt won a 900m trial at Rosehill on March 31. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Donelle  gave a sight when fourth in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on March 29 and should again set the tempo along with the speedy I Am Snippety , which bolted away with the Wellington Boot last start on March 23. Klammer  is an ultra-consistent type, while Hallowed Crown  impressed winning his only start on the Kensington track on March 26 and steps up in class. First-starter Redoutable Heart is closely related to star stallion Snitzel.

    
CARBINE CLUB STAKES

Gypsy Diamond  is a smart filly from the John O’Shea stable which concedes weight to the males in this. Last start she was midfield beaten only 3.4 lengths in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on March 22 and she has trialled since at Randwick on April 4. James McDonald takes the reins and he rode her when she was fourth in the Victoria Oaks in the spring. She is a filly with class on her side. Liberty’s Choice  is a front-running type and although he has won only once from 10 starts he has been placed a further seven times. The Peter Snowden-trained pair of Sinjoren  and Malice are on upward spirals, while Cast In Stone could surprise at big odds.

    
PJ BELL STAKES

A 1200m dash for three-year-old fillies and there are plenty of chances. Champagne Cath  races on the speed and she is better than what she showed when 11th in the Surround Stakes at Warwick Farm on March 8. The John O’Shea-prepared Papillon Rouge  is capable of showing up while fresh and her stablemate Bound For Earth  has slowly built up to full fitness and just missed in the Darby Munro Stakes behind Sidestep last start at Rosehill on March 29. Chris Waller’s Calming Influence has won four of eight and could fire fresh, while Miniature  and Dublin Lass  won’t be far away.

    
ADRIAN KNOX STAKES

A group 3 2000m race for fillies to close the card, and the Peter Moody-trained Metaphorical  looms as an improving type which should be suited. The Dylan Thomas filly won her first two starts, including on a wet track at Bendigo. This campaign she has improved as the distances have risen and was third behind top filly Zanbagh in the Keith F. Nolan Classic at Kembla Grange on March 8. Amanpour  was only ninth in that race after jumping awkwardly but before that won back-to-back races over 1800m and 1900m on the Kensington track and Canterbury and should race more forward here and be hard to catch. Missvonn  ran on well for sixth in the group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes last Saturday and will find this easier, while Arabian Gold  can improve quickly.

VICTORIA:
    
GALILEE SERIES FINAL

Bring Something  broke through to win his first race at his ninth start over 2025m at Cranbourne on March 28 when he romped in by 6.5 lengths. He could go on with it now and the 2400m at Caulfield should suit him admirably. Dancing May from the Peter Moody camp has blinkers on here and likewise is improving as the distances stretch out. De Little Engine , Family Pride  and Calendar Lad  could all win without surprising.

    
SA SIRES’ PRODUCE

The David Hayes-trained Eastern Cape should be improved by his only start when second over 1300m at Bendigo on March 27. Go Indy Go  chased home a smart one when second to London Lolly at this track over 1200m on March 29 and has the blinkers on, while Feels Like Home  should also be in the finish.

    
SCHWEPPERVESCENCE STAKES

Girl In Flight was third in the Alexandra Stakes, a strong form race, behind Marianne at Moonee Valley over 1600m on March 21. She is a smart Commands filly which has won three of her six starts but she will need to be good to upstage topweight May’s Dream , which returned to something like her best to win over 1523m at Moonee Valley on March 29. Strong chances must also go to Love The Rock and Perfect Company.

    
RN IRWIN STAKES

An 1100m sprint and dual group 1 winner Platelet  looks hard to beat. She finished quickly to win over 955m at Moonee Valley last start. Local hope Conservatorium  has class as does Sydney raider Driefontein , but they’ll have to be at their very best to beat Platelet  over the short trip. Molto Bene  will start at each-way odds but could surprise fresh.

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