Randwick Double?

It is a relatively quiet weekend for Ballymore Stables but we take two very nice, in-form gallopers to the feature meeting at Randwick and are hopeful of bold showings from both.

Kicking off our day is the ever consistent Devonshire Duke (pictured) who takes his place in the opening event, the Tab Early Quaddie Handicap.

A gallant last start third at Moonee Valley, the son of Keeper has, says Michael Moroney, “handled the wet tracks better as he has got older.”

“He travelled up very well,” he continued, “and it is good that he has first use of the track. So long as it is not very very wet he should prove hard to beat.”

To be ridden by Brodie Loy, Devonshire Duke has drawn the outside gate but it is a field of only eight runners.

Hopefully we are cheering on a running double although for our second runner Surpass we are hoping for plenty of rain – the last start Randwick winner a horse who relishes demanding conditions.

“The wetter the better for him,” said Moroney, adding that the Sydney stable has been “very happy with the way he has trained on.”

“It is a stronger race,” he admitted, “but if Sydney gets the forecast overnight rain he will be hard to beat again.”

Just the one runner in Victoria over the weekend, The Hotz second up over 1590m in the sixth race at Wangaratta on Sunday.

Whilst he was big odds when resuming, we were expecting a better performance from him but he drops in class and has progressed nicely.

“He was a bit burly at Sandown and a bit full of himself on the day. But he has trained on well and whilst he will improve again on whatever he shows we are expecting a better run.”