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By Ray Hickson

January 2, 2026 — 5.00pm

Race 1 – 12.35PM KIA ORA YEARLINGS @ MMGC PLATE (1000 METRES)

There’s something about 3. Outspan that suggests he might be a handy one in the making. Whether that happens here on debut or later remains to be seen. He’s a nicely bred colt, out of a full sister to Lonhro, and he’s been in significant trials won by Paradoxium and By Choice. Expect he’ll be strong at the finish. 2. Knightsbridge ran well at the official trials before making his debut in the Maribrynong Plate where he was favourite, led and was reeled in. Two trials from a short break and he’ll have his chance. 8. Thyme To Go was the winner over Knightsbridge in that second trial of his, and she ran them along in front before holding him off. A big gap back to third. 6. Profitabelle is a big market watch from the Bjorn Baker yard. She’s only had the one trial, settled out the back and ran down the outside to win. Probably faces going back from the outside, but would be keeping her safe.
How to play it: Outspan each way.

Changing Colours (right) wins in style at Rosehill in June. She could have won fresh at Rosehill, and this is much more to her liking.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2 – 1.10PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

There’s a bit of each-way value in 10. Roses Imminente, which is third up after a very handy fourth in a similar Highway two weeks ago. She drew the inside there and found herself held up at a vital stage when she needed to get going. Don’t mind her draw this time and if there’s a bit of pressure on it would aid her hopes. 4. Mount Bona had to do plenty of ducking and weaving from the back before bursting through to win at Rosehill a month ago. Scratched from the Highway a fortnight back when she drew wide. Comes up with the inside alley and sure to be competitive. 1. Navy Buoy could very well repeat the dose from his easy all-the-way win two weeks ago. He was handed the race in front, setting a comfortable tempo, but he gets in well with the claim, and if he’s allowed to dictate we’ve seen what he can do. 8. Snowy had no luck at all from a wide gate in that race and stuck on bravely after facing the breeze three and four deep to run fifth. Placed behind Mount Bona before that and is another good each-way hope.
How to play it: Roses Imminente each way.

Race 3 – 1.45PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

6. Clancy shows plenty of promise, and the form around his two starts reads pretty well for a Midway. Beat group-placed filly Enviable on debut and was close up behind Bartolf at his only other start. Ridden off the pace in his trials this time in and finished off, so that says he’ll likely be conservative from a wide gate. If that’s no negative on the day, he should be difficult to hold out. 4. Zaragoza is hovering around a win at this level and gets the blinkers on after a fourth behind the smart Oui Oui Oui a few weeks back. Didn’t get out until it was all over. Looks a threat. 5. Oakfield Badger is now with Damien Lane, and he wasn’t far away in Midway grade last preparation. Is trialling nicely, winning both hit-outs in December, draws well and the claim is a plus. There’s plenty to like about his chances fresh. 16. Spice Baby may be under the odds on face value, but she’s not done a whole lot wrong in five starts. Just got the job done at Gosford a couple of weeks ago and will need a bit of luck, but not keen to leave her out.
How to play it: Clancy to win.

Race 4 – 2.20PM SPELLING AT COOLMORE MT WHITE HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

13. Hereward is fresh off a maiden win where he dominated from the front at Canterbury and scored with ease. Third horse has since won, which is a boost. Hard to know where he lines up now, but if he is progressive, then he should be competitive at the least. Races forward, which is a plus, so should have his chance. 10. Willie Oppa faces a similar scenario to his win at the same track and over the same distance two weeks ago. He stays down in the weights after a claim and has the blinkers on. If he can hold his form, he’s right in this. 3. Steel Strike is fitter for two runs back for a pair of Warwick Farm placings and looks ready for the step up to the mile. Had his chance in both, but the surrounding form is solid. 14. I Am Carrot was not far behind Hereward at Kensington in May and has returned in good order with back-to-back provincial wins. Question on how he measures up, but wouldn’t surprise if he can play a part in the finish.
How to play it: Hereward to win.

Race 5 – 2.55PM CHANDON HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

10. Alabama Fox was probably just half a run short when she was overcome by Amplify at 1400m two weeks ago. She was off a two-month break and made her move before the turn, hitting the front early. Has to be better for it, and there’s no real speed in this race, so with the light weight, it’s difficult to go past her. 1. Rolling Magic can race on the speed, and he’s not badly placed after the claim following his Nowra Cup win. Back 100m is ideal for him, and he has to be one of the main chances. 7. Pretty Powerful shook off a luckless previous preparation and returned with a strong win at Warwick Farm. Expect he’ll hold his form, and if he can settle that little bit closer it would help his cause. 6. Alabama State is honest as they come and momentarily looked the winner before being picked up when third at Randwick two weeks ago. Has to go 1500m, but he’ll run another handy race.
How to play it: Alabama Fox to win.

Race 6 – 3.30PM 2026 INGLIS YEARLING SALES SERIES HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

2. Changing Colours ran too well when resuming not to want to follow her into a winnable race. Arguably should have won fresh at Rosehill, but the bottom line is she charged through when a gap presented and 1400m is much more up her alley. Placed in both second-up attempts, so expect she’ll run well again. 11. Cinsault was placed at her first nine starts before she finally cracked it for a maiden win. Switched stables and resumed with a tidy effort to score again at Canterbury. Up in class and distance, but drawn well, and perhaps she’s got that winning feeling now. 1. Yes Lulu was beaten 82 lengths at her last start on December 13, but she did have cardiac arrhythmia, so the run can be forgotten. They often bounce back quickly and her previous form was consistent, so she has to be given another chance. 12. Bella Corazon was badly held up for runs when switching to the inside here last time out and the beaten margin is a bit unfair. Started favourite when beating Changing Colours before that, and while drawn out again, she’s not to be overlooked.
How to play it: Changing Colours each way.

Race 7 – 4.05PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

She’s better known for running multiple placings, but can’t see where 9. Dollar Magic will get a better opportunity to win another race in town. Her two runs back have been excellent against up-and-coming sprinters such as Hawker Hall and King’s Secret, she can make her own luck up on the speed in a race with not a lot of tempo and she’s third up so she should be ready for 1200m. No way she runs a bad race, and she should be in the finish. 4. Goodlucktome is a big query here first up. Ran in the Eskimo Prince at this track and distance in February last year and has campaigned in Queensland since with a couple of wins in the early autumn. Not exposed in the trials and resumes in blinkers, so wary of him. 3. Cigar Flick finds the right set-up now and then, and when she does, she’s very effective. Ran on well into fourth behind King’s Secret first-up and will run well again here. 2. Romeo’s Choice started big odds but was game in defeat after a wide run in the Razor Sharp behind Weeping Woman. Bit of weight off helps, and he’s more than capable.
How to play it: Dollar Magic to win.

Race 8 – 4.45PM TAB HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

1. Cool Jakey ran too well first up not to be on the bandwagon now given his excellent second-up record and the fact he might well find some control up front. He ran some excellent sectionals when resuming behind King’s Secret at 1100m, the 1400m suits him and he’s going to take some beating. If there is a query, the blinkers aren’t on as yet, but he didn’t have them on fresh either. 9. Sunshineinmypocket was far from disgraced when switching states and finishing midfield behind Know Thyself in a stronger race. Run probably better than it looked as not much made a lot of ground in that event. 7. Step Aside ran a nice race fresh then somehow was a drifter in betting when scoring at 1300m two weeks ago. He has an honest record, gets down in the weights with the claim again and is sure to run well. 6. Sir Artie could be the big improver with a much better set-up than he had in the Know Thyself race last time out. Drew wide, went back and couldn’t get into it at all. He’s an each-way chance.
How to play it: Cool Jakey to win.

Race 9 – 5.20PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

5. Monte Kate has not won first up previously, but hard to miss how well she is trialling leading into this event, which looks a truly run affair. Her form was a bit mixed last time in, but happy to go with what we’ve seen of her in the mornings and expect she’ll run a cheeky race. 2. Hawker Hall was beaten by a handy one when resuming, then did a good job leading all the way at Rosehill four weeks ago as a short-priced favourite. Bit of a test for him with 60kg in a race that should have a bit more pressure, but he’s promising and a definite chance. 7. Candlewick has her first run for Joe Pride, and she’s shown enough promise in her career to date to be wary of her fresh. Past two starts were in group 3s, and before that, she was coming through the grades well. Keep safe. 3. Eye Of The Fire was a shade below par last preparation, though not entirely disgraced in four runs in Victoria. Drawn nicely and capable of running well fresh.
How to play it: Monte Kate each way.

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Race 10 – 5.55PM YARRAMAN PARK HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

9. Full Hao arrives at 2000m after an excellent effort when dropping to the mile two weeks ago on the back of a win at 1800m. Up a notch in grade, but gets a nice drop in the weights, draws nicely in the big field and difficult to see her not being on the podium. 3. Bella Montagna has been placed at this trip, and she backs up after running on late behind the placings in the Belle Of The Turf at Gosford last weekend. Just the one win to date, but chance to improve on that. 17. Deal N’ Dash finished alongside Bella Montagna at Randwick on December 13 as he ran on from the back behind Hyperbolic. He should love getting to the 2000m now, his previous attempt was in the Tulloch on a heavy track, and if he’s going to measure up to this level, he has a good chance here. 6. Éclair Encore is racing consistently without winning. Runner-up to Full Hao two runs back, then solid at Canterbury. Drops 4kg and is an each-way chance again.
How to play it: Full Hao to win.

_Supplied by Racing NSW
_Full form and race replays available at** racingnsw.com.au**