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.
Newcastle Gold Cup – Winner
No. 1 Mugatoo – Bet Now: $2.15
Mugatoo has recorded two wins from as many starts this preparation, and the Newcastle Gold Cup looks the perfect race for him.
The six-year-old son of Henrythenavigator hasn’t run a bad race since arriving in Australia, winning each of his first three starts in autumn, including the Listed Canberra Cup, and ending his campaign sixth in the Tancred Stakes most notably.
He couldn’t have been much more impressive in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup last time out, and getting out to 2300m at this point of his prep looks ideal.
Newcastle Gold Cup – 2nd
No. 2 Hush Writer – Bet Now: $6.00
Hush Writer will enjoy good improvement from his eye-catching effort for third in the Wyong Cup when resuming, and he can fight out the finish of the Newcastle Gold Cup.
The Rulership gelding has recorded four wins and six minor placings from his twenty career starts so far, and does tend to keep his best racing for earlier in his preparations.
Barrier 11 might be a little bit sticky, but he is certainly up to the class of this race and the booking of Tim Clark to ride is positive.
Newcastle Gold Cup – 3rd
No. 8 Paths Of Glory – Bet Now: $12.00
Paths Of Glory took a couple of runs to find his feet when arriving in Australia, but he has been outstanding at his last two, and can continue his rise through the grades in the Newcastle Gold Cup.
The Team Freedman-trained stayer finished down the order in the McKell Cup at Rosehill in June, but was an eye-catching winner in BM94 company at Kensington before winning the Wyong Cup last time out.
He is at peak fitness for this race and needs only even luck in running to be in the finish again.
Newcastle Gold Cup – 4th
No. 6 Big Duke – Bet Now: $26.00
Nine-year-old Big Duke is still racing well in decent company, and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish of the 2020 Newcastle Gold Cup.
The Raven’s Pass gelding is unlucky not to have won a Group 1 race during his career, but he has been a cult hero for many seasons now, and he returned plenty of big efforts and results.
He returned from a freshen-up to finish fourth in the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Randwick in mid-August, and I like that his runs are being spaced.
Newcastle Gold Cup Suggested Bets
- 4 Units straight out #1 Mugatoo
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below