3 minute read

A rain soaked Randwick faces punters on Saturday with the first kicking off at 11:25am - you little beauty!

There's certainly no doubt that Winter has set in and such is the case this time every year, we have to start assessing whether or not a horse can perform up to their peak under such circumstances.

Three I've selected on Saturday all look to tick that box, key word being "look".

Three-year-old Sesar steps out on debut for Team Hawkes and appears well placed to make a winning return in the Winter Dash.

Formerly trained by Steven O'Dea, Sesar won two of his seven starts, most notably winning the Roman Consul Stakes in dominant fashion last year.

Under very similar conditions to what he'll face on Saturday, Sesar ploughed through the going to score easily and ran good time in the process.

While the form now looks patchy, you can't fluke time and he is certainly a talent — his effort to finish fourth in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins [1600m] was also very good behind The Autumn Sun.

Off the scene for 231 days, Team Hawkes have kept him on the fresh side with just the sole trial in the lead up.

Steven O'Dea followed a similar program leading into the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes [1200m] and if able to perform up to that level of form on Saturday, he should prove very hard to beat.

In the seventh event Sweet Victory also appears well set up following a game performance last weekend, when narrowly beaten.

An eye catcher in both starts to begin this preparation, she should be right at her peak racing third up (won 2/3) and is also set to relish the quick back up.

In four attempts she has won twice, finished second and the only time she finished out of the money was when simply outclassed in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf [1600m] at Gosford.

Robbie Dolan takes over and possesses a handy strike rate with the Mark Newnham stable.

She's drawn to get into a lovely spot midfield and should prove hard to hold out late.

Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips For Sky Sports Radio:

Race 4 #7 Sesar @ $5.50

Race 7 #12 Sweet Victory @ $4.20

Race 8 - #4 Southern Lad @ $4.80