Royal Randwick will host an outstanding nine-race card on Saturday and at the top of the pile is the Group 1 George Main Stakes.
Won by some of Australia’s best-ever milers, the George Main Stakes has drawn just seven horses in 2020, four of which will be saddled by leading trainer Chris Waller.
George Main Stakes – Winner
No. 3 Kolding – Bet Now: $12.00
I concede that race favourite Verry Elleegant will be extremely difficult to beat, but I am tipping the upset and one of her stable mates, Kolding.
Kolding went to another level last spring, returning an outstanding campaign which included wins in the Epsom Handicap and the Golden Eagle most notably.
He simply didn’t come up in the autumn this year, and while he clearly needed the run when he finished down the order in the Winx Stakes, he only just missed Dreamforce in the Tramway a fortnight ago.
I genuinely believe that this race represents Kolding’s best chance of another Group 1 win this prep, particularly third-up and out to a mile.
George Main Stakes – 2nd
No. 6 Verry Elleegant – Bet Now: $2.30
She could very well win, and her second-up record is excellent, but I just wonder if Chris Waller has backed off Verry Elleegant a little into this race, with a view towards being in absolute pristine order for the Cox Plate.
As it stands, she’s won plenty of black type races, several at Group 1 level, and her first-up performance to poke home and win the Winx Stakes over 1400m might very well have been the best of her career to date.
The rise in trip suits, she gets in well at the weights, James McDonald stays in the saddle and she should just be in the finish again.
George Main Stakes – 3rd
No. 5 Star Of The Seas – Bet Now: $8.00
I think that there’s every chance that Waller could saddle the George Main Stakes first four, and Star Of The Seas also rates as a key winning chance.
He hasn’t quite managed to break through for an elusive Group 1 victory, but Star Of The Seas has been a strong and consistent performer for Waller for several seasons now, and finished a bee’s you-know what second in the Doncaster Mile in autumn this year.
He only just missed Verry Elleegant by the barest of margins in the Winx Stakes when resuming this time and hazaar! – He’s another horse that will only improve second-up and out to a mile.
George Main Stakes – 4th
No. 1 Avilius – Bet Now: $4.60
His best racing is certainly behind him, but Avilius returned an enormous performance to finish fifth in the Chelmsford Stakes when resuming, and he has missed a placing just once in six previous second-up attempts.
The multiple Group 1 winner son of Pivotal was a typically strong and consistent performer during the Autumn Carnival this year, and ended his prep with consecutive placings in the Ranvet Stakes and the Tancred Stakes.
He should be able to lob into a nice position in this small field, and he’s certainly still up to a competitive performance.
George Main Stakes Suggested Bets
- 1 Unit E/W #3 Kolding
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below