Defending title holder The Monstar has drawn in close for this year’s Listed $125,000 Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Monstar, above, is chasing back to back Razor Sharp Handicap wins at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Monstar will jump from gate two in the fifteen horse field and trainer Brett Cavanough would love a shower or two at Randwick before the weekend to enhance the seven year old’s chances of claiming back to back victories in the feature Summer Carnival sprint after winning last year on a soft 7 rated track.
“I see there’s a few mills forecast, we’ll keep and eye on the weather and with Randwick being a bit close to the coast it might be more forgiving than Rosehill,” Cavanough told AAP.
“I’ll find out what’s he’s (Randwick racecourse manager Nevesh Ramdhani) doing to it. If there’s good grass cover and it’s not a road he still might go.”
Tommy Berry steered The Monstar to victory in the 2016 Razor Sharp Handicap while Grant Buckley takes over the reins from Jamie Mott who was aboard the gelding last start when third to Rich Charm in the Group 2 $300,000 Multiplier Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on the first day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The well performed James Cummings trained Chetwood has been primed for a solid first up run with two barrier trial wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm but will have to overcome the extreme outside barrier.
Tye Angland gets the ride on Chetwood who hasn’t started since finishing ninth to Happy Clapper in the Group 3 $150,000 Coca-Cola Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle on March 17.
Team Snowden will have three chances in the Razor Sharp with all drawing around the middle of the pack.
Nancy with Glyn Schofield in the saddle has drawn barrier six, Kerrin McEvoy’s mount Calanda came up with barrier seven while Snippets Land will jump from gate nine with Josh Adams booked to ride.
Calanda has the best form of the three Snowden runners and is coming off a last start second to Monsieur Gustave in the Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 2.
The Robert Northam trained Big Money has drawn the rails and will be ridden by Robert Thompson who was aboard the eight year old last start when seventh to Egyptian Symbol in the Listed $125,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on December 2.
Final field for the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x1111x659x | CHETWOOD | James Cummings | Tye Angland | 16 | 59kg | 104 |
| 2 | 221712×700 | KURO (NZ) | John O’Shea | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 59kg | 104 |
| 3 | x031223443 | THE MONSTAR | Brett Cavanough | Grant Buckley | 2 | 59kg | 104 |
| 4 | 650980×786 | JAPONISME | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 10 | 58.5kg | 103 |
| 5 | 7542000×37 | BIG MONEY | Rodney Northam | Robert Thompson | 1 | 56.5kg | 99 |
| 6 | 35x650296x | SNIPPETS LAND | Peter & Paul Snowden | Josh Adams | 9 | 56kg | 98 |
| 7 | 069611×842 | CALANDA | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 55.5kg | 97 |
| 8 | x243279x09 | NANCY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Glyn Schofield | 6 | 53.5kg | 97 |
| 9 | 19x72630x3 | PALAZZO PUBBLICO | Matthew Smith | Jay Ford | 11 | 53.5kg | 97 |
| 10 | 1350×77204 | ZESTFUL | Kris Lees | Christian Reith | 8 | 53.5kg | 97 |
| 11 | 7813311483 | ISORICH | Wayne Seelin | Ms Jess Taylor | 5 | 53kg | 92 |
| 12 | 18120×5718 | SAMANTHA | Gerald Ryan | Andrew Adkins (a) | 14 | 53kg | 92 |
| 13 | 1228461145 | SIR PLUSH (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 12 | 53kg | 92 |
| 14 | 12653×4223 | I THOUGHT SO | David Pfieffer | Ms Rachel King (a/), (late alt) | 3 | 53kg | 89 |
| 15 | 231026×615 | MACHINEGUN JUBS | Angela Davies | Scratched | 13 | 53kg | 83 |
| 16 | x141268045 | PETROSSIAN | Paul Perry | Blaike McDougall (a) | 15 | 53kg | 83 |