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Will Hudson aids us with programming and identifies who he thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Saturday, 8th June, Osmose, Race 7, Eagle Farm: Osmose is the type of horse most people would dream of owning. Since arriving from France and racing in Australia from May 2023, she’s had twelve runs and only finished outside the first four placings on four occasions. She’s the epitome of consistent and she was extremely unlucky to lose out in a photo finish at Doomben a fortnight ago. This is another fillies & mares race so it’s the obvious choice for her, and she ran fourth in last year’s renewal when she was rated 80 whereas she’s now rated 102 so she’s made huge improvement in the last twelve months. The winner of last year’s renewal Foxy Frida reopposes here with the same official rating, having been rated 103 last year, so they’re much more evenly matched and whilst she’s got a bit to find with La Crique on the ratings she’s sure to give her best and be right there at the finish once again.

SATURDAY 8TH JUNE – RANDWICKRail Position: RAIL - TrueMISSY MOOLA (Race 5, 12.45pm, 1600m, A McLucas, 61kg)Missy Moola ran a terrific race first-up where she was unlucky to be outsprinted in the closing stages by a race fit and talented Stakes race winning filly. She's come through the run in terrific shape, and the form of that performance is very strong. She strips fitter and tighter in condition ahead of this contest, and we expect the rise in distance to 1600 metres second-up to bring about further improvement. Amy got a great tune out of her first-up and her two kilo claim helps offset her 61kg burden and brings her down to 59kg. She’s at the top of the weights for a reason though, and she certainly sets the standard here. Amy will be positive from barrier 6 and look to dictate the tempo of the race as she did last time, though we aren't convinced she has to lead to be effective so she'll ultimately settle where she's comfortable in the run. With all the rain around this week the ground conditions are very testing, but she won on a Heavy 9 in New Zealand earlier in her career so we are confident that she will handle the conditions presented. This looks to be a good winning opportunity second-up, and we think it will take a good one to run her down.SIR LUCAN (Race 8, 2.30pm, 2000m, R King, 56.5kg)Sir Lucan ran a terrific race in his last start at Newcastle where he was heartbreakingly pipped in the shadows of the post to be denied a much-deserved victory. He’s come through the run in wonderful order though, and he appears to have taken plenty of confidence from his tenacious display. He has toned up further ahead of this third-up run, and he was clear of the field after 2000 metres in his last start so we don’t foresee the drop back in trip being an issue. Barrier 16 is a tricky but there's already been a few scratchings so he will come in a bit, and Rachel knows him well so she will be positive from there to get him rolling along into a forward position where he can get into a good rhythm. With all the rain around this week the ground conditions are very testing, but he got through the Heavy 9 in his last start at Newcastle and we are confident that he will handle the conditions presented. As you would expect this is another competitive race, but he desperately deserves to get back into the Winner's Circle and he’s in terrific order so we hope to see him passing the post in first place for you all.KIBOU (Race 10, 3.40pm, 1600m, R Bayliss, 54kg)Kibou was the lowest rated horse in the Scone Cup, so whilst he technically wasn't entitled to beat a rival we certainly thought he had the upside to do so and run a bit better than he did. It was an extremely strong race though, almost like a mini Doncaster Handicap, and whilst this is an open handicap with several rivals rated 90+ it doesn't have the same amount of depth to it. He’s come through that start in good shape though, and has toned up further ahead of this outing. He maps to go forward from barrier 8 and lead, so hopefully he can do so without having to do too much work and get into a comfortable rhythm at the head of affairs where he can set a tempo to suit himself. He won his maiden on a Heavy track and has other wet track form, so whilst conditions will be testing we're confident he'll handle it. He needs to be at the top of his game to be competitive, but we think he's capable of bouncing back and giving them all something to chase.SATURDAY 8TH JUNE – EAGLE FARM Rail Position: RAIL - +2.5m EntireSURF DANCER (Race 5, 2.03pm, 1500m, A Hyeronimus, 60kg)Surf Dancer struggled to get into the contest first-up at Doomben over a trip short of his best first-up. There were positives to take from his performance though, as he travelled with plenty of enthusiasm throughout but just struggled to pick up in the rain affected going in the closing stages. He’s come through that run in good shape though, and we feel that he is in need of further at this stage. As such, we expect the rise in distance to 1500 metres to bring about additional improvement and the slightly steadier tempo of the race over this trip should enable him to get into a better rhythm in the middle stages of the contest. He’s been enjoying the warmer Queensland climate since his arrival, and we are hopeful that the change of scenery could be what he needs to bring back the spark he had earlier in his career. On his best form he's more than capable of winning a race like this and he typically improves with a run under his belt, so hopefully he gets into a good position and enjoys a smooth run in transit and can show us all that he's still capable of winning at this level.POWER BALLARD (Race 6, 2.38pm, 1200m, R Moloney, 55kg)Power Ballard struggled to get into the race first-up at Doomben. She didn’t enjoy the deteriorating and testing ground conditions and was posted four wide in the run so she was entitled to get tired in the closing stages. She’s taken plenty of benefit from the outing though, and she strips fitter and tighter in condition ahead of this intended start. The step up in trip to 1200 metres will be of great benefit at this stage in her preparation, and we expect her to get into a better rhythm in the middle stages of the race as a result. She defeated several talented fillies last preparation so we know she’s got plenty of ability, and the track's currently rated a Soft 5 so the sounder underfoot conditions here will be much more to her liking. Barrier 14 isn’t ideal, but she’s got good gate speed and Ryan will be positive from there to hopefully get across into a more favourable position where she can travel comfortably. It's a competitive race, but expect to see a much-improved display second-up and if she puts her best foot forward she should be in it for a long way.ZIA (Race 6, 2.38pm, 1200m, A Hyeronimus, 55kg)Zia ran a very solid race when resuming at Scone. She showed up well for a long way and just got tired in the closing stages, which we can be forgiving of given she was first-up from a long absence in very testing ground conditions. She’s come through that start in terrific order though, and she strips fitter and tighter in condition ahead of this contest. She has settled into our base at Eagle Farm extremely well since her arrival and she looks a picture of health at present. She will relish the step out in distance to 1200 metres second-up and Adam will be positive from 6 to get her rolling along in a prominent position on or just behind the speed, but hopefully she can get to the front and make her own luck from there. This is a competitive race, but she won a Listed race at Doomben this time last year so we know she is capable of performing well at this level and we expect her to be challenging at the finish.OSMOSE (Race 7, 3.13pm, 1600m, A Hyeronimus, 57kg)Osmose ran a terrific race in her last start at Doomben and just ran out of ground in the closing stages when a fast finishing second. It was another excellent effort, and she’s a pleasure to train as she always gives her all and is a model of consistency. She’s come through that outing in great shape, and she has a wonderful constitution and continues to thrive on her racing. Adam knows her well and will try to sit as close to the pace as he can from barrier 9, as the less ground she has to make up on the leaders the better. As you would expect for the money on offer, this is another very competitive race but she desperately deserves to get back into the Winner's Circle and we hope to see her passing the post in first place for you all. AMAZONIAN LASS (Race 8, 3.52pm, 2200m, A Hyeronimus, 56.5kg)Amazonian Lass was disappointing in her most recent start at Doomben. She had to do plenty of work in the early stages to get across from her wide barrier, and this extra effort just told late in very testing ground conditions. She had been in great form prior to that so far in Queensland and we feel that you can put a line through that performance. She’s come through her last start in good shape and still looks terrific at this stage in her preparation. We were delighted with her gallop in the lead up to this race on Tuesday morning and she is back firing on all cylinders ahead of her Grand Final. Barrier 18 is far from ideal, but she’s got good gate speed and Adam will be positive from there to hopefully get across into a forward position close to the rail where she can travel comfortably, without using too much petrol. She is a very talented filly, and it would be a huge thrill to see her challenging at the finish in this Group 1 contest. She’s in great order, so we are hopeful that she will give us all something to shout about in the closing stages.MONDAY 10TH JUNE – CANTERBURYRail Position: RAIL - True Entire Circuit STEEL STRIKE (Race 1, 12.15pm, 1250m, T Clark, 56kg)Steel Strike was slightly disappointing on debut where he ran below expectations. He’s come through that start in good shape though, and we can't fault his subsequent trackwork. He was off the bridle at halfway and might just need further, so he'll be suited to this longer trip second-up. Canterbury is a track where we have a lot of success and he’s drawn to do no wok in barrier 2, so Tim will be positive from here to get him rolling forward into a position where he can travel comfortably on or just behind the speed. With all the rain around this week the ground conditions are currently a Heavy 9, but with a dry weekend forecast we're confident it'll improve come Monday afternoon. We expect to see a much-improved display second-up with the benefit of race experience under his belt, and if he puts his best foot forward he'll be hard to run down. EXCEED PERFECTION (Race 3, 1.25pm, 1250m, T Clark, 56kg)Exceed Perfection gave us all a huge thrill when winning so determinedly first-up at Kembla. He settled into a lovely rhythm in the lead before quickening impressively at the top of the straight, and he clung on determinedly when challenged in the run to the line. He’s come through that run in fantastic order and appears to have taken plenty of confidence from it, so he's going into this in a great headspace. He was going five weeks from his trial into his last race so we feel as though he is entitled to plenty of improvement for this second-up effort. Canterbury is a track where we have a lot of success and Adam and will be positive from barrier 4 to hopefully get across and gain a favourable position on the rail, or close to it where he can look to set the fractions to suit himself from the front once again. He's stepping up in grade from provincial maiden company to a race in town which is never easy, but it's rare to have a city-grade Benchmark 64 race and especially one that's restricted to three year olds, so we're keen to take advantage of it. He's in wonderful order and we expect him to be hard to run down. VANQUISHED (Race 4, 2pm, 1550m, A McLucas, 61.5kg)Vanquished ran well for a long way in his most recent start at Kembla and just got tired in the closing stages under his big weight. He took a few runs to reach his peak last preparation, and he should be ready to start hitting his straps third-up this campaign here. We expect the rise in distance to 1550 metres to bring about further improvement as this stage in his preparation, and Amy’s additional two kilo claim is a big advantage and will offset his weight and bring him down to 59.5kg. Canterbury is a track where we have a lot of success and Amy will be positive and utilise his good gate speed from barrier 8 to get him rolling along into a forward position when he can get into a flowing rhythm. With all the rain around this week the ground conditions are currently heavy, which isn’t ideal but with a dry weekend forecast we're confident it'll dry out noticeably by Monday afternoon. He's a genuine gelding and we think he'll relish the right turning Canterbury circuit, so hopefully he'll be very hard to run down. FRANKLY ELEGANT (Race 8, 4.25pm, 1900m, T Clark, 57.5kg)Frankly Elegant is thriving at present. She has been in tremendous form winning her last two starts this preparation, and she battled on gamely in the closing stages yet again in her most recent start here at Canterbury to score in a competitive race. It’s never easy for horses to secure two wins in a row when rising in the weights, and even more so when taking on their male counterparts, but she has overcome each of these obstacles to score determinedly. She hasn’t missed a beat since and is maintaining her condition extremely well. Her coat looks terrific at this time of year, and she is full of confidence at present. She returns to the scene of her last win and remains at 1900 metres which she appeared to relish in her last start. Adam knows her very well and will be positive from barrier 5 in a bid to repeat the successful front-running tactics. With all the rain around this week the ground conditions are very heavy, but she got through the Heavy 9 at Kensington two starts ago so we are confident that she can handle the conditions presented, especially as it's likely to dry out a little between now and Monday. She is in career best form at present, and whilst she's up in grade from two Benchmark 64 races we are confident that she's progressive enough to strike again in this contest.